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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Hannah Ellis-Petersen South Asia correspondent

INSANE: India or bharat g20 invitations throw up question dating back centuries | Rare Historical Photos

Picture of Narendra Modi next to the word Bharat on a mobile phone
The ruling BJP, led by Narendra Modi, has denied rumours of an official name change, but officials have said ‘Bharat’ will increasingly be used in official communication. Photograph: Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

India or Bharat? As the history books show, this is a question that goes back centuries.

As India prepares to host the G20 summit this weekend, state-issued invitations sent to world leaders using the word “Bharat” have ignited rumours that Narendra Modi’s nationalist government might plan to phase out the English name.

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