India - That is Bharat

Learning Objectives

• Understand the various historical names of India, including 'Jambudvipa', 'Bharat', and those derived from the Indus River such as 'Hindu' and 'India'.
• Explore the geographical features of the Indian Subcontinent, including major mountain ranges like the Himalayas and Hindu Kush, and river systems such as the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra.
• Analyze the cultural and historical unity of India as described by figures like Sri Aurobindo and depicted in historical texts and artifacts.
• Examine the constitutional reference to 'India, that is Bharat', highlighting the dual nomenclature used officially.
• Investigate the influence of foreign cultures on Indian nomenclature, including Persian, Greek, and Chinese influences resulting in names like 'Hind', 'Indoi', and 'Yindu'.
• Identify regions and kingdoms mentioned in ancient Indian texts like the Mahabharata, illustrating the historical and cultural landscape of ancient India.

Chapter Notes

Historical Names of India

• Jambudvipa: An ancient name for India, meaning 'the island of the jamun tree'.
• Bharat/Bharatavarsha: Derived from the Rig Veda, referring to the land of the Bharatas, a Vedic group. It is used in the Indian Constitution as 'India, that is Bharat'.
• Sindhu: Refers to the Indus River, from which many foreign names for India are derived.
• Hindu: A Persian adaptation of 'Sindhu', used to describe the region around the Indus River.
• Indoi/Indike: Greek names for India, derived from the Persian 'Hindu'.
• Yindu: Chinese name for India, also derived from 'Sindhu'.
• Hindustan: First used in a Persian inscription around 1,800 years ago.

Geographical Features of the Indian Subcontinent

• Mountain Ranges: The Himalayas and Hindu Kush are major mountain ranges.
• Rivers: Major river systems include the Indus, Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapti, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
• Bodies of Water: Bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east.
• Coordinates: Spans from 5°N to 40°N latitude and 70°E to 95°E longitude.

Cultural and Historical Unity of India

• India has a deep spiritual and cultural unity, as emphasized by figures like Sri Aurobindo.
• Ancient texts and artifacts depict a unified cultural identity across the subcontinent.

Constitutional Reference to India

• The Indian Constitution uses the phrase 'India, that is Bharat' to denote the country's dual nomenclature.

Influence of Foreign Cultures on Indian Nomenclature

• Persian Influence: Introduced names like 'Hind' and 'Hindu'.
• Greek Influence: Names like 'Indoi' and 'Indike' were used.
• Chinese Influence: Referred to India as 'Yindu'.

Regions and Kingdoms in Ancient Indian Texts

• The Mahabharata lists many regions such as Kashmir, Kurukshetra, Bengal, Assam, Kutch, and Kerala.
• Terms like 'Bharatavarsha' and 'Jambudvipa' are used to describe the entire subcontinent.

Additional Notes

• Vishnu Purana: Describes India as the land north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains.
• Ashoka's Inscriptions: Use 'Jambudvipa' to describe the Indian subcontinent, including parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Questions for Reflection

1. Discuss the meaning of the quotation at the start of the chapter.
2. True or False: The Rig Veda describes the entire geography of India.
3. What motivations might have led people to travel to India in ancient times?