How was our country named India and Bharat
The country’s name in Hindi (which is a co-official language with English) is Bharat. This is from the Sanskrit name Bharata for the land that is now South Asia. Hindi as a highly simplified great-granddaughter of Sanskrit (via Prakrit, then merging with Farsi and Arabic to form Hindustani then splitting with Urdu..) took the same word for the land.In English it is India, which is derived from Hindu (as the Persians called it) which is derived from Indu/Sindhu. Hindu-”Stan” is a Persian suffix.We’re not the only countries with different names in the native language(s) and different ones in English:
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How was our country named India and Bharat
Origin of the name India and Bharat
India is derived from the word "Indus," which originates from the Old Persian word "Hindu." The Greeks referred to the country as "Indoi," which eventually became India. On the other hand, Bharat is the traditional and historical name of the country.
India
- The name India has been in use since ancient times, evolving from various foreign languages.
- It was first mentioned in the Avesta, the sacred scriptures of Zoroastrianism, where it referred to the land of the Indus River.
- The Greeks referred to the country as "Indoi," which later became India.
- The name India was officially adopted after independence in 1947.
Bharat
- Bharat is the traditional name of the country, derived from ancient Indian texts.
- It is believed to have originated from the legendary emperor Bharata, a figure in Hindu mythology.
- The name Bharat is mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts like the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
- The term Bharatavarsha was used to refer to the Indian subcontinent in ancient times.
Usage of both names
- The country is officially known as the Republic of India, as per the Constitution of India.
- The name Bharat is also recognized as an alternative name for the country, along with India.
- The dual nomenclature symbolizes the country's rich cultural heritage and historical significance.
How was our country named India and Bharat
Because of the Iranians and the greeks
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