Whither patriotic fervour?

If only the name 'Bharati' were to be accepted, perhaps there would not have been so much of objection to Hindi as the Official Language

“AISF, AIYF representatives bash constable for shouting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ ...Kanhaiah Kumar was at the scene, remains a mute spectator; Police intervene to disperse students," (Obviously alleging that it is an ABVP slogan) (THI, July 29).
Where are we leading to?

After a meaningful debate, the Constituent Assembly unanimously adopted the Article 1 (1) that "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States."

The Assembly was not elected on the basis of universal adult suffrage. The Muslims, Anglo Indians and Sikhs were given special representations as minorities. Although a large part of the Constituent Assembly was drawn from the Congress Party, it included a 'wide diversity of opinions — from conservative industrialists and radical Marxists to Hindu revivalists —all of whom participated in the process.

The ABVP may be claiming that the slogan "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" as its own. But the fact is, it is older than the birth of all the Hindu outfits, just as the khadi and handloom movements are older than the Congress. The discussions in the Constituent Assembly would reveal how the nationalism was roused through the slogan.

The Assembly sat on Sunday, the 18th September 1949, with the President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, in the chair. Seth Govind Das said: “…The naming of the country has been disturbed by the speeches so far delivered.

Naming has always been and is even today of great significance in our country. We always try to give a name under auspicious stars and also try to give the most beautiful name, I am glad to find that we are giving the most ancient name to our country but, India, that is, Bharat,” Govind Das had earlier raised the question of Official Language, which was amicably resolved as Hindi in Devanagari Script and English.

Govinda Das traced the name ‘Bharat’ from history and scriptures and produced evidence to prove that India was not found in the Vedas.

Mahavir Tyagi intervened to ask: “Should it be understood that the word India is the product of the international form?” Govind Das narrated how the Greeks deriving inspiration from the river Sindhu, which ultimately became the land of the Sindhu, Indus and India. In support of this argument, he quotes Encyclopedia Britannica. Das’ view was held progressive “befitting our history and culture.”

The following portion of Govind Das’s speech is worth noting by all: “We fought the battle of freedom under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi by raising the slogan: ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai.’ It is a matter for pleasure that we are going to do a correct thing today, may not be in a beautiful way. Whatever way we may do it, our country is going to get the name of Bharat.” “Immensely pleased,” he “congratulated the Assembly.’

Kallur Subba Rao, “Heartily supporting the ancient name,” quoted the verses from Rugveda and Vayupurarrana. "Oh, Indra all this progeny of Bharata"... So, the name Bharat is very ancient. He goes a step further: “We can now call 'Pakistan as Hindustan because the Indus river is there.

Sind has become Hind: as ('sa)' in Sanskrit is pronounced as (Ha) in Prakrit. Greeks pronounced Hind as Ind. Hereafter it is good and proper that we should refer to India as Bharat.” He also requested, “Seth Govind Das and other Hindi friends to name the language also as Bharati: “I think for the name Hindi the name Bharati should be substituted, as the former denotes the Goddess of Learning.”

Along with Dr B R Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, K M Munshi, H V Kamath, Tirumala Rao, Shanakraoo dev, Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, Rajesara Prasad, S Nagappa, K Santhanam, P S Deshmukh, Moulana Mosrat Mohani, Prof KT Shaw, R K Sidhwa, B M Gupte and others participated in the debate.

There are many lessons for Indians. There was debate, at times acrimonious, but no walkouts, no wastage of even a minute and no disruption of the proceedings. Their homework, anyone preparing for the Union Public Service Examinations cannot match. They consulted libraries and purchased books for reference.

Hence, the Members had voluminous knowledge of diverse subjects. For example, Kalluru Subba Rao was a school dropout and Dr Prasad used to address him as ‘Jail Graduate.’

If only the name 'Bharati' were to be accepted, perhaps there would not have been so much of objection to Hindi as the Official Language. Members' daily allowance was Rs 50 and salary was Rs 250 pm. Some members were earning Rs 1, 000 per day as advocates. Total expenses up to the 22nd of November came to Rs 63, 96,729. They sat on a Sunday to reach the deadline; November 26, 1949. Can the present Parliament achieve such a target?

By K C Kalkura