Understanding Why India is Called 'India' in English

Celebrating India's 75th Independence Day

This year, India is set to commemorate its 75th Independence Day. As is tradition, the Prime Minister will hoist the national flag at the Red Fort and deliver a speech addressing the nation. Since childhood, we have heard numerous tales about our freedom struggle and the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our independence. However, there are still many questions that linger in people's minds. One such question is particularly intriguing: while countries like Japan, the USA, and even our neighbor Pakistan are referred to by the same names in English as in Hindi, why is India called 'India' in English?

The Origin of the Name 'India'

Historically, India was known as Aryavarta, a name used during the era of sages. However, when the British established their rule here, they found it challenging to use the term Aryavarta. Consequently, they began to refer to the land in ways that suited their convenience; some called it Sindhu, while others referred to it as Hindustan. According to a report by the BBC, the name 'India' has its roots in both Iranian and Greek influences. In ancient Persian, the term Sindhu evolved into Hindu, leading to the term Hindustan. Meanwhile, the Greeks referred to it as Indo or Indos. This 'A' eventually made its way into Latin, resulting in the name 'India'. Initially, this was not universally accepted, raising the question of why we should adopt a name created by others. However, as the British began to use 'India' in their documents and conversations, the local populace gradually adopted this name as well. Thus, the English name for our country became widely recognized as India. It's worth noting that the credit for the terms Hindustan and India largely goes to the Iranians and Greeks, as they were among the many who came to India during the British trade expansion.