India to Bharat or Bharat to India? Here are some countries that changed their names

The Narendra Modi-led government is likely to bring a resolution to change India’s official name to ‘Bharat’ during the special session of Parliament later this month.

 

 

It is being said that the Centre may bring a bill in the five-day special session of Parliament called from September 18-22. The buzz was triggered after an invite for a G20 summit dinner with 'President of Bharat' inscribed on it surfaced on social media.

 

Many of the countries were renamed after the 1950s during post-colonialism and the new name signified a change towards autonomy, leaving behind colonial legacy. Here are some countries that have changed their names:

 

- Reason: Myanmar changed its name from Burma after gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1948. The name change was part of a broader effort to assert a national identity distinct from the colonial era.

- Reason for Name Change: Sri Lanka was previously known as Ceylon under British colonial rule. After gaining independence, it changed its name to Sri Lanka to reflect its Sinhalese and Tamil cultural heritage and assert its national identity.

 

- Reason: Swaziland changed its name to Eswatini in 2018 to emphasize its identity as the "Land of the Swazis" and mark the 50th anniversary of its independence from British colonial rule

 

- Reason: Namibia changed its name after gaining independence from South African colonial rule in 1990, asserting its distinct national identity.

- Reason: Kenya adopted its native name upon gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1963, symbolizing its rejection of colonialism and affirmation of African identity.