If the Shiv Sena had its way .....
In the last few years, a sort of pseudo-nationalistic fervour has gripped Indian politicians and they have gone on a name changing rampage ....
Madras - Chennai
Bombay - Mumbai
Calcutta - Kolkata
and countless others ...
This, however is not limited to India ...
In South Africa, the capital Pretoria is going to have its name changed to Tshwane, Zimbabwe's capital Harare used to be called Salisbury and Mozambique's capital's name was changed from Louren Marques to Maputo
Closer home, Rangoon went back to its ancient name of Yangon as did Peking to Beijing.
Which got me thinking, is India a really "Indian" name ?
The name India is derived from the river Indus.
The river Indus had seven main tributaries and so the local inhabitants called it Sapta-Sindhu (Land of seven rivers). As the seven tributaries are part of the one river, the entire river system came to be known in time as Sindhu.
Persian explorers spelled Sindhu as Hindu as was their practice. The Greeks dropped the 'H' and called the country "Indos".
And this is the coolest thing .....
It's name was given to the entire subcontinent by the Romans, who adapted it to the current "India". The word India is the form used by Europeans over the ages !!
If Mr. Thackeray ever becomes the PM, I guess I wont be an Indian anymore, I will be a Sapta-Sindhuan !!
Madras - Chennai
Bombay - Mumbai
Calcutta - Kolkata
and countless others ...
This, however is not limited to India ...
In South Africa, the capital Pretoria is going to have its name changed to Tshwane, Zimbabwe's capital Harare used to be called Salisbury and Mozambique's capital's name was changed from Louren Marques to Maputo
Closer home, Rangoon went back to its ancient name of Yangon as did Peking to Beijing.
Which got me thinking, is India a really "Indian" name ?
The name India is derived from the river Indus.
The river Indus had seven main tributaries and so the local inhabitants called it Sapta-Sindhu (Land of seven rivers). As the seven tributaries are part of the one river, the entire river system came to be known in time as Sindhu.
Persian explorers spelled Sindhu as Hindu as was their practice. The Greeks dropped the 'H' and called the country "Indos".
And this is the coolest thing .....
It's name was given to the entire subcontinent by the Romans, who adapted it to the current "India". The word India is the form used by Europeans over the ages !!
If Mr. Thackeray ever becomes the PM, I guess I wont be an Indian anymore, I will be a Sapta-Sindhuan !!
Comments
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1407052,0008.htm
I think India should right be called either Bharat or Hindustan. Bal Thackarey doesn't have a personal agenda against names by Europeans. Rather, parties like the INC want to project a "secular" image for political gains. of course, it goes both ways, but I personally think that going back to our roots is a good idea.