India, That Is Bharat
"In India at a very early time the spiritual and cultural unity was made complete and became the very stuff of the life of all this great surge of humanity between the Himalayas and the two seas." — Sri Aurobindo
The Big Questions
- How do we define India?
- What were the ancient names for India?
The Indian Subcontinent
Today, India is a modern nation with defined borders, defined states, and a known population. However, it was very different 500, 2,000, or 5,000 years ago. This region, often called the 'Indian Subcontinent', has had many different names and shifting boundaries throughout history.
Geographical Boundaries:
The subcontinent is defined by distinct natural boundaries: the mighty Himalayas and Hindu Kush mountain ranges in the north, and surrounded by the ocean waters (Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean) on its other sides.
How Indians Named India
Inhabitants of the region used several ancient texts, inscriptions, and literature to identify their land:
- Sapta Sindhava: The Rig Veda, India's most ancient text, names the northwest region 'Sapta Sindhava' ("the land of the seven rivers"). 'Sindhava' originates from 'Sindhu', referring to the Indus River or rivers in general.
- Regional Names in Literature: The Mahābhārata names distinct regions like Kāshmīra (Kashmir), Kurukshetra (Haryana), Vanga (Bengal), Prāgjyotisha (Assam), Kaccha (Kutch), and Kerala.
- Bhāratavarsha: Used in the Mahābhārata and texts like the Vishnu Purāņa to encompass the entire subcontinent. It means "the country of the Bharatas," named after the Vedic group and legendary kings.
- Jambudvīpa: Means "the island of the fruit of the jamun tree." Used in texts and by Emperor Ashoka in his inscriptions (c. 250 BCE) to define the entire subcontinent, including present-day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and parts of Afghanistan.
"uttaram yat samudrasya himādreścaiva dakşiņam varşam tad bhāratam nāma ..."
Translation: "The country that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bhārata."
The Indian Constitution opens in English with the phrase "India, that is Bharat". In the Hindi version, it is phrased as "Bhārat arthāth India".
How Foreigners Named India
Visitors, travellers, and foreign empires derived names for India based on their interaction with the Indus River ('Sindhu'):
- Persian (6th Century BCE): Derived 'Hind', 'Hidu', or 'Hindu' from 'Sindhu'. In ancient Persian, 'Hindu' was purely geographical and did not refer to religion.
- Greek: Adapted from Persian sources into 'Indoi' or 'Indike', dropping the initial 'h' sound as it was absent in Greek.
- Chinese: Referred to India as 'Yintu' or 'Yindu'. Another term used was 'Tianzhu', meaning "heavenly master," reflecting deep reverence for India as the land of the Buddha.
- Hindustan: First appeared in a Persian inscription around 1,800 years ago and later became widely used by invaders and travellers to describe the subcontinent.
Summary of the Many Names of India
| Language / Source | Name Used | Origin / Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit / Ancient Indian | Sapta Sindhava, Bhāratavarsha, Jambudvīpa | Land of Seven Rivers, Country of Bharatas, Island of Jamun Tree |
| Persian | Hind, Hidu, Hindu, Hindustan | Adapted from 'Sindhu' |
| Greek | Indoi, Indike | Derived from Persian 'Hind' / 'Hindu' |
| Latin / English | India | Derived from Greek 'Indoi' |
| Chinese | Yintu, Yindu, Tianzhu | Derived from 'Sindhu' / Meaning "Heavenly Master" |
| French | Inde | Derived from Latin 'India' |