The chapter begins with a thought-provoking quote from Sri Aurobindo about India’s spiritual and cultural unity, setting the context for understanding India as more than just a geographical entity.
The main content is structured around understanding India through different historical perspectives:
First, we examine how India was different across various time periods – 500 years ago, 2,000 years ago, and even 5,000 years ago. The chapter emphasizes that the region we call the “Indian Subcontinent” has evolved over time with changing boundaries and names.
Then, we explore how Indians themselves named their land. This includes ancient names like:
- “Sapta Sindhava” from the Rig Veda, meaning the land of seven rivers
- Regional names mentioned in the Mahābhārata like Kāshmīra, Kurukshetra, and Vanga
- “Bhāratavarṣha” and “Jambudvīpa” as names for the entire subcontinent
- The evolution of the name “Bhārata”
The chapter then moves to how foreigners named India:
- The Persian adaptations: Hind, Hidu, or Hindu
- The Greek derivations: Indoi or Indike
- Chinese references: Yintu/Yindu and Tianzhu
- The later term “Hindustān”
Throughout the chapter, we see how these various names reflect different perspectives on India’s identity and how they evolved over time. The chapter concludes with exercises and questions that encourage deeper thinking about India’s historical identity and naming.