India or Bharat? Sadhguru’s views on renaming the nation

Recent events have fuelled rumours about a change in the name of our nation. A picture going viral all over social media, of the invitation sent to foreign delegates, inviting them for dinner at Bharat Mandapam by President Draupadi Murmu has addressed her as President of Bharat and not as the President of India. This picture has given hints about a possible change in the country’s name and people have mixed thoughts about the same. While some are ready to accept the change attributing it to history, others remain skeptical about what would then ensue. A change in currency or change in names of institutions? Or would it all remain the same?

Amidst all the rumours and reactions, Sadhguru shared an old video on his X (formerly Twitter) account of his interview with Dr. Kiran Bedi where he explains ‘Why Bharat.’

In the post, Sadhguru wrote, “‘Nation’ is just an idea. When this idea burns through your mind and sinks into your heart and your passion rises towards the idea, we have a Nation. ‘Bharat’ is a cultural identity that resonates in everybody’s mind and can evoke this passion. India is an English name. Bharat as an utterance itself reverberates in everybody’s hearts and minds.”

In the interview, Sadhguru explains why Bharata is a name profound with pride and wisdom.

Sadhguru says, “Bharat comes from bha – ra – ta. Bhava means sensation. Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching are different types of sensations. Your whole experience of life is sensory right now. Or in other words, sensations are the basis of your experience. Bha means sensation, out of which emotion arises. Ra means raga or the tune. The tune is not yours – existence has already set it. Now you have to find the rhythm, which is the tala. If you find the right rhythm, you are a fantastic human being. If you miss the rhythm, you get crushed by the process of life.”

He also explained that some people think the country was called Bharat after the great kings but the vice-versa is true.

Further, when Kiran Bedi questioned Sadhguru about whether changing the name was a mistake, he emphatically responded, stating that it was indeed a grave error. He elaborated on the idea that when a foreign entity takes control of a nation, one of their first tactics is to alter the name of the land. This act, he explained, is a strategic method of asserting dominance and control over the people. Sadhguru drew a parallel with the historical treatment of African slaves, where renaming them was a means of stripping away their identity and heritage.

Sadhguru argued that the name “India” holds no intrinsic meaning and does not resonate with the diverse population of the nation. He proposed that after gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947, one of the first things that should have been done was to rename the country in a manner that would deeply connect with every individual. He emphasized the importance of selecting a name that would evoke a sense of pride and unity among all citizens.In another video where Sadhguru was addressing a large crowd, he emphasized that “India” itself is an English-imposed name, lacking the cultural significance and power of the original name, “Bharat.” Sadhguru provided a compelling example to illustrate this point: calling someone by their given name, such as “Padmanabhan,” elicits a sense of pride and dignity, whereas using a meaningless or derogatory name, like “cuckoo,” diminishes one’s sense of self-worth. He concluded that “Bharat” carries a profound cultural and historical resonance, making it a far more suitable and empowering name for the nation.So, India or Bharat, which name resonates the most with you?