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NEW DELHI: Guru Ghasidas Central University in Chhattisgarh, a central university, will now use “Bharat” instead of “India” on its marksheets and official communications, Vice Chancellor Alok Kumar Chakrawal said on Saturday.According to Chakrawal, the Bilaspur-based university’s standing committee passed a resolution on this about six months ago.“At present, university marksheets and degree certificates carry references to both India and Bharat in English and Hindi respectively. Under the new decision, India appearing in English will also be replaced with Bharat,” he told PTI.He added that the change will be implemented once the existing stock of marksheets and degree certificates is used up.Explaining the decision, the Vice Chancellor pointed to the use of “Bharat” during the G20 Summit held in India in 2023.“During the G20 meetings, the Honourable President used the word ‘Bharat’ in an official dinner invitation. When the highest constitutional authority in the country follows this tradition, we are also following it. It is a matter of our tradition,” Chakrawal noted.He also emphasised that the term “Bharat” has deep historical and cultural roots.“Historically, the region of Aryavarta and Jambudweep has been referred to as Bharat. The name India was given by foreigners for their convenience. We need not be guided by what outsiders thought. Our culture and tradition have always referred to the country as Bharat, and we are making an effort to reinforce that tradition,” he added.Meanwhile, officials from some state universities, including Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya in Raipur and Atal Bihari Vajpayee University in Bilaspur, clarified that no such decision has been taken by their institutes so far and no official guidelines have been issued.
