‘Bharat Hai Toh…’ RSS General Secretary Calls For ‘Decolonisation’ Of Minds In Bharat Vs India Debate
Dattatreya Hosabale’s comments signal an intensified push by the RSS to popularise ‘Bharat’ over India, a campaign that has gained traction in political and cultural discourse
Bharat should be called ‘Bharat’ and not its anglicised name, RSS national general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has said, reigniting the Bharat vs India debate.
Hosabale questioned why institutions like the Reserve Bank of India or the Constitution should still carry the English name when Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself referred to the country as the ‘Republic of Bharat’ during the G20 dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan last year.
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Hosabale asserted that Bharat is more than just a geographical entity or a constitutional framework; it embodies a profound philosophy and a spiritual legacy. Speaking at the launch of the book Vimarsh Bharat Ka, published by Suruchi Prakashan, at the Panchsheel Balak Inter College auditorium, Hosabale emphasised the need to embrace Bharat’s identity over India. The event was organised by Prerna Shodh Sansthan Nyas, an RSS-inspired organisation.
“Desh ka naam Bharat hai, toh Bharat hi Bolo. India toh angrezi naam hai," he said, pointing out contradictions such as the Constitution of India and Reserve Bank of India still carrying the “colonial" name.
From India to Bharat
Urging citizens to question this duality, referencing how the G20 dinner hosted by PM Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan mentioned the country as the ‘Republic of Bharat’ in the invitation card.
Hosabale linked the issue to a broader need for ‘decolonisation of mind’, arguing that British rule left a deep imprint that still continues to shape Indian consciousness. He cited historical instances of cultural erasure, from the destruction of temples and gurukuls during the invasion by the Mughals to the imposition of English as a dominant language.
“Mughals invaded Bharat, destroyed our temples, gurukuls, ancient culture, dominated us, but it did not make us feel inferior to the extent the British did. British rule made us feel that they were better than us. The idea of ‘Engraziyat’ still persists. That is why the business of English medium schools flourishes here," he said, calling for a shift from colonial-era mindsets.
He also dismissed Left-liberal historical narratives as ‘misleading’, accusing them of portraying Bharat’s past rulers as oppressors. “They want us to believe that all our kings were oppressors. They made that narrative, which was misleading."
Hosabale invoked VS Naipaul’s critiques of post-colonial societies, emphasising the need for an intellectual reset. “A new wave must sweep across the nation, one that does not diminish others or demean other nations but reclaims our own identity," he said. “Bharat will never stand for Dadagiri (one up-manship), or to destroy other countries. Bharat will always stand for global good. But, before that, we have to stay united and lead by example," he added.
Hosabale’s comments signal an intensified push by the RSS to popularise ‘Bharat’ over India, a campaign that has gained traction in political and cultural discourse.
News18 had earlier reported on government-initiated efforts to make ‘Bharat’ appear on official documents more than before. Starting from G20 documents to naming new programmes and also naming the new penal code, the government used ‘Bharat’ or ‘Bhartiya’ in place of ‘India’ or ‘Indian’. However, senior officers said there would not be any retrospective effect.
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