Test: India, That Is Bharat - 1 - Class 6 MCQ

The Ṛig Veda is India's most ancient text and refers to the northwest region of the Subcontinent as 'Sapta Sindhava,' meaning 'land of the seven rivers'. An interesting fact is that the word 'Sindhava' comes from 'Sindhu', which refers to the Indus River.

The name 'Bharatavarsha' is derived from the name 'Bharata,' which refers to a group of people mentioned in the Rig Veda. The term 'Bharatavarsha' refers to the entire Indian Subcontinent and has its origins in the ancient literature, such as the Vishnu Purana, where it means the "country of the Bharatas."

On the other hand, the other names Hind, Yindu, and Indoi are derived from the word 'Sindhu', which refers to the Indus River. The Persians adapted 'Sindhu' to 'Hind,' the Greeks modified it to 'Indoi,' and the Chinese used 'Yindu' (derived from 'Sindhu').

Thus, 'Bharatavarsha' is not derived from 'Sindhu,' unlike the other terms.

The ancient Tamil literature praises a king whose name is not specified in the given context but is known "from [Cape] Kumari in the south, from the great mountain in the north, from the oceans on the east and on the west." This indicates the extent of the king's renown across the Indian Subcontinent. An interesting fact is that Cape Kumari refers to the southernmost point of India, also known as Kanyakumari.

Emperor Aśhoka, around 250 BCE, referred to the Indian Subcontinent as 'Jambudvīpa' in his inscriptions. This name means 'the island of the fruit of the jamun tree' and reflects the common tree native to India. An interesting fact is that Aśhoka's inscriptions have been crucial in understanding ancient Indian history and geography.

The Mahābhārata, one of India's most famous texts, lists many regions such as Kāshmīra, Kurukṣhetra, and Vanga. These names correspond to modern-day regions in India, like Kashmir, Haryana, and Bengal. An interesting fact is that the Mahābhārata is a vast epic, considered one of the longest literary works in the world.

The Persians were the first to refer to India as 'Hind'. This term was derived from 'Sindhu', the ancient name for the Indus River, which was the major river in the region. The Persians, after coming into contact with the people living around the Indus River, adapted the term 'Sindhu' into 'Hind'. This was a geographical term, not related to the Hindu religion at the time.

• A (Greeks): The Greeks later adapted this Persian term and used 'Indoi' or 'Indike' to refer to the region.
• C (Chinese): The Chinese referred to India as 'Yindu' or 'Yintu', which was derived from 'Sindhu', but they did not use 'Hind' first.
• D (Romans): The Romans used the term 'India', derived from the Greek 'Indos', but again, did not use the term 'Hind'.

Therefore, the Persians were the first to refer to India as 'Hind'.

The ancient Greeks used the name 'Indoi' or 'Indike' for the region of India, derived from the Persian term 'Hindu'. An interesting fact is that the Greeks dropped the initial 'h' because it did not exist in their language, resulting in 'Indoi'.

The name 'Jambudvīpa' is associated with the jamun tree, also known as the Malabar plum tree or 'Syzygium cumini'. The term 'Jambudvīpa' means "the island of the fruit of the jamun tree" and was used in ancient Indian texts, such as the Mahābhārata and inscriptions by Emperor Ashoka, to refer to the Indian Subcontinent. The jamun tree is native to India and holds cultural and medicinal significance in the region.

• A (Banyan tree): The banyan tree is not associated with 'Jambudvīpa'.
• B (Peepal tree): The peepal tree is also significant in Indian culture but is not linked to 'Jambudvīpa'.
• D (Neem tree): The neem tree is important in India, but it is not the tree associated with 'Jambudvīpa'.

Thus, the jamun tree is the correct tree associated with 'Jambudvīpa'.

The phrase 'India, that is Bharat' in the Indian Constitution signifies the historical names of the country. It acknowledges that the country has been known by different names over time—'India' in the modern context and 'Bharat' in ancient texts and languages. The phrase emphasizes the continuity of India's identity through both its ancient and modern nomenclature.

• A (India's geographical diversity): While India does have geographical diversity, the phrase specifically refers to the historical names, not geography.
• B (India's cultural heritage): Though India's cultural heritage is significant, this phrase focuses on the historical names rather than cultural aspects.
• D (India's independence): The phrase does not directly address India's independence but rather the names by which the country has been known throughout history.

Thus, the phrase 'India, that is Bharat' reflects India's historical names.