Why the name "India" was a good choice for the former British colony

[pc_alt]

It's kind of weird that India still proudly go by their colonial name as others find it quite humiliating.

Most of the former colonies changed their names after decolonization, except for India, some sub-saharan African countries and small island states.

India is not an insulting name. It is just a Greek / Latin way of pronouncing 'Hindu'.
Due to Sindhu river, the people on this side of the river were called Hindu by Persians. Greeks heard this from Persians and due to no 'H' in their pronunciation, called it Indu which became India later.

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

Extremely clever. And when the same India created a dumpy swamp as a nation - for marketing purposes it once again showed how clever it was by naming it Bangladesh. Ideal name would have been Kangladesh but everyone from Indira Gandhi to Manekshaw were in a charitable mood.

OP and posters from his origin nation on this thread probably thought getting subcontinent history education from the same chaddi stitching vocational center would be a very good idea

OP is probably not aware what our countrymen call each other in our native languages

 

[Realtalk108]

"India" is actually a clever choice for the continent sized country that the British left behind. The Indus is equally foreign to all regions of India. It doesn't run through Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, UP etc. etc.

Any other name would not work. Ganges Republic would not make sense for the Southern states. Dravida Nadu does not make sense for the Northern states. Bharat would be atrocious, no empire in India's history called themselves Bharat (an early Indo-Aryan tribe who looked nothing like modern Indians). The only logical choice would be Republic of Former British Empire in South Asia (RFBESA), but that would hurt the brown man's ego. 'India' (land of Indus) saved the day because it's not associated with any region in this new 'India' so no one can object to regional domination.

In a way it's similar to how English language was chosen as the official language of India. It's equally foreign to all regions, so one region's language does not dominate the rest and no one objects.

And that's how it's the only country in the (old) world having a name that is not of native origin.

Many countries are known by a name that is not of native origin. A lot of very serious countries like Deusthland, Nippon and Zhonguo. It's a sign of maturity to not reeeee over what other people call you. We are a mature people you know, unlike you.

Weird that you thought Bharat would be atrocious. Wdym? Btw Bharat is the official name.

This recent Pakistani cringe is particularly weird. "Your country is named after our river vro!" Well, congrats. You are associated with something much bigger and better than you. Cherish it.

 

[Species]

India is not an insulting name. It is just a Greek / Latin way of pronouncing 'Hindu'.
Due to Sindhu river, the people on this side of the river were called Hindu by Persians. Greeks heard this from Persians and due to no 'H' in their pronunciation, called it Indu which became India later.

In Bangladesh, Hindus generally prefer to be referred to as "Shonaton dhormalombi" or followers of Sanatan dharma and not Hindus.

 

[pc_alt]

In Bangladesh, Hindus generally prefer to be referred to as "Shonaton dhormalombi" or followers of Sanatan dharma and not Hindus.

Not just in BD but all over, as 'Hindu' name was given by Persians. Locally, the way of life was and is called 'Sanatan Dharma'.
But "Hindu" is a geographical term based on the river and is not an insulting word. Since 'India' is derived from 'Hindu', there is no humiliation in keeping this name.

 

[Realtalk108]

It's kind of weird that India still proudly go by their colonial name as others find it quite humiliating.

Most of the former colonies changed their names after decolonization, except for India, some sub-saharan African countries and small island states.

Bhai bhai bhai...

'India' is a Greek word. It's an ancient word that evokes images of limitless grandeur and wisdom among scholars all over the world.

And please don't credit the Greeks, of all people, for conquering the subcontinent.

 

[Maula Jatt]

Many countries are known by a name that is not of native origin. A lot of very serious countries like Deusthland, Nippon and Zhonguo. It's a sign of maturity to not reeeee over what other people call you. We are a mature people you know, unlike you.

Weird that you thought Bharat would be atrocious. Wdym? Btw Bharat is the official name.

This recent Pakistani cringe is particularly weird. "Your country is named after our river vro!" Well, congrats. You are associated with something much bigger and better than you. Cherish it.

A- Not a Pakistani
B- WTF are you talking about I am loling

Bigger population density
yeah because y'all fucked like pigs and bred like rabbits for 100s of years - congratulations

Better
That's why India is known as the most poverty stricken nation on earth,
that's why tourists are dismayed at levels of homeless and people living like insects?
India is associated with garbage and stink world over
Your capital city

Forget this most Pakistanis can't travel to India for obvious and those who do are themselves taken back by sheer levels of homelessness and poverty - and thats someone from 3rd world country just like you
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]
23:20
Some comedians and thier experience how your society is IRL
and this is not just one it's literally anyone who manages to visit India
go online and it's written all over the place

@Areesh , @Rafi, @RangeMaster , @indusPakistani Pajeets and Thier delusions while most of the population is treated like scum of the earth by Thier own gov and people!

 

[pc_alt]

A- Not a Pakistani
B- WTF are you talking about I am loling

Bigger population density
yeah because y'all fucked like pigs and bred like rabbits for 100s of years - congratulations

Better
That's why India is known as the most poverty stricken nation on earth,
that's why tourists are dismayed at levels of homeless and people living like insects?
India is associated with garbage and stink world over
Your capital city

Forget this most Pakistanis can't travel to India for obvious and those who do are themselves taken back by sheer levels of homelessness and poverty - and thats someone from 3rd world country just like you
[

]
23:20
Some comedians and thier experience how your society is IRL
and this is not just one it's literally anyone who manages to visit India
go online and it's written all over the place

@Areesh , @Rafi, @RangeMaster , @indusPakistani Pajeets and Thier delusions while most of the population is treated like scum of the earth by Thier own gov and people!

Reported for a derogatory, offensive and off-topic post.

 

[Species]

Bhai bhai bhai...

'India' is a Greek word. It's an ancient word that evokes images of limitless grandeur and wisdom among scholars all over the world.

And please don't credit the Greeks, of all people, for conquering the subcontinent.

Well, the term "Persia" also possesses similar "qualities" but Iran doesn't go by Persia, you know why.

 

[Realtalk108]

A- Not a Pakistani
B- WTF are you talking about I am loling

Bigger population density
yeah because y'all fucked like pigs and bred like rabbits for 100s of years - congratulations

Better
That's why India is known as the most poverty stricken nation on earth,
that's why tourists are dismayed at levels of homeless and people living like insects?
India is associated with garbage and stink world over
Your capital city

Forget this most Pakistanis can't travel to India for obvious and those who do are themselves taken back by sheer levels of homelessness and poverty - and thats someone from 3rd world country just like you
[

]
23:20
Some comedians and thier experience how your society is IRL
and this is not just one it's literally anyone who manages to visit India
go online and it's written all over the place

@Areesh , @Rafi, @RangeMaster , @indusPakistani Pajeets and Thier delusions while most of the population is treated like scum of the earth by Thier own gov and people!

Your diction is quite atrocious. Are you a halflingual by any chance, like many of our Chinese friends here? Punctuation bro, punctuation.

There is a good reason why most Pakistanis can't travel to India. It's called 'being unable to afford'. Seen the exchange rate recently? Man!

 

[Realtalk108]

Well, the term "Persia" also possesses similar "qualities" but Iran doesn't go by Persia, you know why.

We don't care about what Iran does, or doesn't do. We don't care about what you or anybody else think either. We are chill with our own.

 

[Species]

We don't care about what Iran does, or doesn't do. We don't care about what you or anybody else either. We are chill with our own.

Good, being humble and carrying humility is the way to go.

 

[pc_alt]

Good, being humble and carrying humility is the way to go.

Now that we have established why India should remain India, lets talk about Bangladesh.

In 1971, you were more in numbers than West Pakistan. Clearly, the smaller party should have been made to select a new name and you retaining the country name 'Pakistan'. Why it happened the other way round?

 

[Species]

Now that we have established why India should remain India, lets talk about Bangladesh.

In 1971, you were more in numbers than West Pakistan. Clearly, the smaller party should have been made to select a new name and you retaining the country name 'Pakistan'. Why it happened the other way round?

Because 'Bangladesh' is the native term to describe Bengal.

 

[pc_alt]

Well, the term "Persia" also possesses similar "qualities" but Iran doesn't go by Persia, you know why.

Dont know.. May be because the original inhabitants of Persia ran away to India (we call them Parsis) when Islam started its conquest there. The new settlers and converts probably wanted a new name for the land.