Bharat, India & Hindustan

Recently read an enriching post from Colonel Anil A Athale on Rediff. The post surmised a differentiation between Bharat, Hindustan and India as well an interesting commentary on the 3 entities. This post is my take on why the entropy between these interspersed entities defines not only the fault-lines in a country but are also a precursor to the evolution of a nation-state formed in 1947.

The Past

There are interesting facts about the different sobriquets associated with India, Bharat and Hindustan. In short, Bharat is the most ancient form of salutation. Named after an ancient King, Bharat, who came from the lineage of Pandavas and Kauravas, in the post Mahabharata era. The area ruled by the king presumably spread over current day India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal etc. The entity, Bharat links current days India’s with civilizational roots over and above 5,000 + years.

Hindustan as a sobriquet will find it roots in the word “hind” coined by Arabs to describe lands beyond river Sindhu or Sindhu valley civilization. The word got further consolidation post invasions by tribal, violent and religious looters from western borders of modern India, who sought to destroy the old civilizational values. The formation of new language, Ordu / Urdu, colloquially called as “Hindustani” still thrives in certain parts of modern India.

India as a nation-state is the newest entity of all. The name comes from river Indus. Even though river Indus does not entirely pass through India’s territorial boundary! It came into being as a nation-state on 15^th August 1947. A British and western construct post World War II, which was accepted by India’s main political class at that moment of time.

The Chasm

These 3 names representing a mass of 1.3 billion odd people not only reflect a civilizational history, but also a state of constant friction within the aspirations of ruling class, proletariat and everyone else.

Bharat with its civilizational history represents the aspirations of a civilizational continuity. A class of people from faiths originating in the sub-continent. Inclusive of Hinduism (a non-textbook entity, comprising syncretic traditions from far and wide representing entire length and breadth of the country), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Plus, animists, tribals, non-conformists, descendants of those who found succor from persecution in their native lands.

Hindustan is more colloquial entity with even the language Hindustani (aka Urdu or Hindi / Urdu mix) represents a section of population that grew primarily in the light of invasions in the sub-continent. India the newest entity defines a class of people who imbibed not only large section of constitution from colonial masters, but also the way of ruling the proletariat as well as others.

Post 1947, for a large part of independent history and in the aftermath of a partition (genocide of Hindus, Sikhs in erstwhile Pakistan and Bangladesh), ruling class has represented India and Hindustan interests primarily with some cherry-picking of Bharat based forces. This period looked at communist ideas, appeasement instead of empowerment, western styled secularism (added in the constitution in 1976/1977) and so on. The forces linked to Bharat found resonance starting the Ayodhya temple movement and came to power briefly in later 1990’s. They have further consolidated the grip on country’s manifesto in 2014 under Shri Narendra Modi, much to the dislike of Hindustani forces and to a bit inimical to those representing India!

The Future

Year 2020 AD puts the country of 1.3 billion on the cusp of a modern evolutionary exercise. The daily friction between forces representing Bharat, Hindustan and India notwithstanding. This incessant friction keeps new channels and aggregators busy 24/7 and 365 days a year.

From the last national elections in 2019 the trajectory and inclination has put “Bharat” in the ascendancy. This will continue for a foreseeable future and possibly will be in the best interest of nation’s evolution. It will put the country in direct confrontation with the forces of “Hindustan”, whilst some trepidation from India based forces too, like one saw recently in the passing of Citizenship Amendment Act.

Connecting people with 5000+ civilizational ethos and culture while taking modern India drive through science, space and technology will be the way ahead for this nation state named India. Hindustan with its history and culture, needs to tag along and acquiesce in order to not miss out on the growth path!