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India, That Is Bharat

NCERT Class 6 · Social Science Based on NCERT Class 6 Social Science textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter explores the many names by which India has been known throughout history, both by its own inhabitants and by foreigners. It explains how the Indian Subcontinent, with its natural boundaries of the Himalayas and the oceans, has been called 'Sapta Sindhava', 'Bhāratavarṣha', 'Jambudvīpa', 'Bhārata', 'Hind', 'Indoi', 'India', and 'Hindustān'. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that the name 'India' and 'Bharat' both have ancient roots, and the Indian Constitution officially recognises both names, stating 'India, that is Bharat'.
Key Concepts (14)
Indian Subcontinent
The region of the world that includes modern-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and parts of Afghanistan, with natural boundaries of the Himalayas in the north and the oceans on the east and west.
e.g. When we look at a physical map, the Indian Subcontinent is the large landmass south of the Himalayan mountain range.
Sapta Sindhava
The name given to the northwest region of the Indian Subcontinent in the Ṛig Veda, meaning 'land of the seven rivers'.
e.g. The Ṛig Veda uses 'Sapta Sindhava' to describe the area around the Indus River and its tributaries.
Sindhu
The ancient Sanskrit word for the Indus River, or at times a river in general, from which many later names for India are derived.
e.g. The word 'Sindhu' is the root of 'Hind', 'Hindu', 'Indoi', and finally 'India'.
Bhāratavarṣha
An ancient name for the entire Indian Subcontinent, meaning 'the country of the Bharatas', used in the Mahābhārata and later texts.
e.g. The Mahābhārata uses 'Bhāratavarṣha' to refer to the whole region from the Himalayas to the oceans.
Jambudvīpa
An ancient name for the Indian Subcontinent, meaning 'the island of the fruit of the jamun tree', used in the Mahābhārata and by Emperor Aśhoka in his inscriptions.
e.g. Emperor Aśhoka, around 250 BCE, used 'Jambudvīpa' in his inscriptions to describe the whole of India, including parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Bhārata
The name generally used for the Indian Subcontinent in later ancient texts like the Viṣhṇu Purāṇa, and still used today as 'Bharat' in north India and 'Bharatam' in south India.
e.g. The Viṣhṇu Purāṇa says: 'The country that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bhārata.'
Hind / Hidu / Hindu
The names used by ancient Persians in the 6th century BCE to refer to India, derived from 'Sindhu' (the Indus River). In ancient Persian, 'Hindu' is a purely geographical term, not referring to the Hindu religion.
e.g. A Persian emperor in the 6th century BCE called the region of the Indus River 'Hind' in his inscriptions.
Indoi / Indike
The names used by ancient Greeks for India, derived from 'Hindu' by dropping the initial 'h' because that letter did not exist in the Greek language.
e.g. The Greeks called the region 'Indoi' or 'Indike', which later became 'India' in Latin and English.
Yintu / Yindu / Tianzhu
Names used by ancient Chinese for India, derived from 'Sindhu'. 'Tianzhu' could also be understood as 'heavenly master', reflecting respect for India as the land of the Buddha.
e.g. Chinese texts refer to India as 'Yintu' or 'Yindu', and the traveller Xuanzang visited India in the 7th century CE.
Hindustān
A term first used in a Persian inscription about 1,800 years ago, later used by most invaders of India to describe the Indian Subcontinent.
e.g. Many invaders from Central Asia used the term 'Hindustān' for the land of the Indus River and beyond.
India, that is Bharat
The official phrase used in the Indian Constitution, first written in English, and in Hindi as 'Bhārat arthāth India', recognising both ancient and modern names for the nation.
e.g. The first page of the original Constitution of India shows the phrase 'India, that is Bharat'.
Constitution
A document that spells out the basic principles and laws of a nation. The Indian Constitution came into force in 1950.
e.g. The Indian Constitution begins with the phrase 'India, that is Bharat'.
Inhabitants
People who live in a particular place.
e.g. The inhabitants of ancient India called their land 'Bhāratavarṣha' or 'Jambudvīpa'.
Xuanzang
A Chinese traveller who visited India in the 7th century CE, travelled for 17 years, collected Buddhist texts, and translated them from Sanskrit into Chinese.
e.g. Xuanzang (formerly spelt Hiuen Tsang) is one of several Chinese scholars who visited India over the centuries.
How It Works
How the name 'India' evolved from 'Sindhu' through Persian and Greek languages
  1. Step 1: The ancient Sanskrit word 'Sindhu' referred to the Indus River.
  2. Step 2: Ancient Persians adapted 'Sindhu' as 'Hind', 'Hidu', or 'Hindu' in their language.
  3. Step 3: Ancient Greeks borrowed from Persian sources and dropped the initial 'h' (which did not exist in Greek), creating 'Indoi' or 'Indike'.
  4. Step 4: The Latin and English name 'India' came from the Greek 'Indoi'.
💡 Students often forget that the 'h' was dropped by the Greeks, not the Persians. The Persian 'Hindu' became Greek 'Indoi'.
How the Chinese name 'Yindu' evolved from 'Sindhu'
  1. Step 1: The Sanskrit word 'Sindhu' was adapted by Persians as 'Hindhu'.
  2. Step 2: The Chinese further adapted it to 'Indu' and then 'Yindu' or 'Yintu'.
  3. Step 3: Another Chinese word 'Tianzhu' also derived from 'Sindhu' but was understood as 'heavenly master'.
💡 Students often confuse the Chinese names with the Greek names. The Chinese 'Yindu' comes from 'Sindhu' via Persian, but the Greek 'Indoi' comes from 'Hindu'.
How ancient Indians defined the boundaries of Bhārata
  1. Step 1: The Viṣhṇu Purāṇa states: 'The country that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bhārata.'
  2. Step 2: The 'snowy mountains' refer to the Himalayas.
  3. Step 3: The 'ocean' refers to the Indian Ocean to the south.
  4. Step 4: Ancient Tamil literature also describes the same boundaries: from Cape Kumari in the south to the great mountain (Himalayas) in the north, and from the oceans on the east and west.
💡 Students often forget that the 'snowy mountains' are the Himalayas, and 'Cape Kumari' is Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing 'Hindu' as a religious term in ancient Persian
✗ 'The Persians called India 'Hindu' because the people followed the Hindu religion.'
→ In ancient Persian, 'Hindu' was a purely geographical term derived from 'Sindhu' (the Indus River) and did not refer to the Hindu religion.
✓ The ancient Persians used 'Hindu' as a geographical term for the region of the Indus River, not as a religious term.
⚠ Thinking 'Bhārata' was given by foreigners
✗ 'Bhārata is a name given to India by foreign travellers.'
→ The chapter clearly states that 'Bhārata' was a name used by the ancient inhabitants of India, not by foreigners. Foreigners used names like 'Hind', 'Indoi', and 'India'.
✓ 'Bhārata' is an ancient Indian name for the Subcontinent, used in texts like the Mahābhārata and Viṣhṇu Purāṇa, and is still in use today.
⚠ Mixing up 'Sapta Sindhava' with the entire Subcontinent
✗ 'The Ṛig Veda describes the entire geography of India as Sapta Sindhava.'
→ The Ṛig Veda uses 'Sapta Sindhava' only for the northwest region of the Subcontinent (the land of the seven rivers), not the entire geography of India.
✓ The Ṛig Veda names the northwest region 'Sapta Sindhava', meaning 'land of the seven rivers'. The entire Subcontinent is described later as 'Bhāratavarṣha' or 'Jambudvīpa'.
⚠ Assuming 'Jambudvīpa' means 'island of jamun' literally
✗ 'Jambudvīpa means an island made of jamun fruits.'
→ It means 'the island of the fruit of the jamun tree', but it is a metaphorical name for the Indian Subcontinent, not a literal island of fruit.
✓ 'Jambudvīpa' means 'the island of the fruit of the jamun tree' and was used as a name for the Indian Subcontinent in ancient texts and inscriptions.
⚠ Thinking 'Hindustān' was first used by Greeks
✗ 'The term Hindustān first appeared in a Greek inscription.'
→ The chapter states that 'Hindustān' was first used in a Persian inscription about 1,800 years ago, not a Greek one.
✓ The term 'Hindustān' first appeared in a Persian inscription about 1,800 years ago.
Compare & Contrast
Meaning and origin
Bhāratavarṣha
Jambudvīpa
Bhāratavarṣha means 'the country of the Bharatas' and comes from the name of a Vedic group. Jambudvīpa means 'the island of the fruit of the jamun tree' and is a descriptive name based on a native tree.
Origin of the name
Names given by Indians (e.g., Bhārata, Jambudvīpa)
Names given by foreigners (e.g., Hind, Indoi, India)
Indian names like 'Bhārata' and 'Jambudvīpa' were coined by the inhabitants of the Subcontinent. Foreign names like 'Hind', 'Indoi', and 'India' were derived from the word 'Sindhu' (Indus River) by Persians, Greeks, and others.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: This chapter typically appears with 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 short answer question (3 marks) on the names of India, and 1 long answer question (5 marks) on the evolution of the name 'India' or the description of Bhārata in ancient texts.
Most asked: The various ancient names of India (Sapta Sindhava, Bhāratavarṣha, Jambudvīpa, Bhārata) · How the name 'India' evolved from 'Sindhu' through Persian and Greek languages · The constitutional phrase 'India, that is Bharat' · Natural boundaries of the Indian Subcontinent (Himalayas and oceans)
Don't skip: Explain how the name 'India' evolved from the word 'Sindhu'.; What are the different names given to India by its inhabitants and by foreigners?; Describe the natural boundaries of the Indian Subcontinent as mentioned in ancient texts.
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. The Indian Subcontinent has natural boundaries: the Himalayas in the north and the oceans on the east, west, and south.
  2. The Ṛig Veda calls the northwest region 'Sapta Sindhava', meaning 'land of the seven rivers'.
  3. 'Sindhu' is the ancient Sanskrit word for the Indus River.
  4. 'Bhāratavarṣha' means 'the country of the Bharatas' and refers to the entire Subcontinent.
  5. 'Jambudvīpa' means 'the island of the fruit of the jamun tree' and was used by Emperor Aśhoka.
  6. The Viṣhṇu Purāṇa defines Bhārata as the land north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains (Himalayas).
  7. Ancient Persians called India 'Hind', 'Hidu', or 'Hindu' — a purely geographical term.
  8. Ancient Greeks called India 'Indoi' or 'Indike', dropping the 'h' from 'Hindu'.
  9. Ancient Chinese called India 'Yintu', 'Yindu', or 'Tianzhu'.
  10. 'Hindustān' first appeared in a Persian inscription about 1,800 years ago.
  11. The Indian Constitution uses the phrase 'India, that is Bharat'.
  12. The Mahābhārata lists many regions like Kāshmīra, Kurukṣhetra, Vanga, and Kerala.
  13. Xuanzang was a Chinese traveller who visited India in the 7th century CE for 17 years.
  14. In ancient Tamil literature, India is described from Cape Kumari in the south to the great mountain in the north.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. The ancient name 'Sapta Sindhava' means ________.

  • A. Island of jamun fruit
  • B. Land of the seven rivers ✓
  • C. Country of Bharatas
  • D. Heavenly master

Answer: B — Sapta Sindhava comes from the Rig Veda and refers to the northwest region as 'land of the seven rivers,' with 'Sindhava' relating to the Sindhu/Indus River.

Q2. Which ancient Indian emperor used the name 'Jambudvipa' for India?

  • A. Chandraggupta
  • B. Vikram
  • C. Ashoka ✓
  • D. Samudragupta

Answer: C — Emperor Ashoka, around 250 BCE, used the name 'Jambudvipa' (island of jamun fruit) in his inscriptions to describe the entire Indian Subcontinent.

Q3. The phrase 'India, that is Bharat' appears in which important document?

  • A. Rig Veda
  • B. Mahabharata
  • C. Indian Constitution ✓
  • D. Ashoka's inscriptions

Answer: C — The Indian Constitution begins with 'India, that is Bharat' to show that both names refer to the same nation, recognizing both English and Indian terms.

Q4. Why did the Greeks call India 'Indoi' instead of adopting the Persian name 'Hindu' exactly?

  • A. They wanted to create their own name
  • B. The letter 'h' did not exist in Greek language ✓
  • C. They disagreed with Persian geography
  • D. They thought it was a more beautiful name

Answer: B — The Greeks dropped the initial 'h' from 'Hindu' because the letter 'h' did not exist in their language, resulting in 'Indoi' or 'Indike.'

Q5. All the foreign names for India (Hindu, Indoi, Yindu) originally came from which ancient geographical feature?

  • A. The Himalayas
  • B. The Indus River (Sindhu) ✓
  • C. The Ganges River
  • D. The Western Ocean

Answer: B — All foreign names trace back to 'Sindhu,' the name of the Indus River, because ancient Persians first encountered and named this region based on this river.

Q6. Which text lists many regions of ancient India such as Kashmir, Bengal, Assam, and Kutch?

  • A. Rig Veda
  • B. Mahabharata ✓
  • C. Vishnu Purana
  • D. Ashoka's edicts

Answer: B — The Mahabharata lists numerous regions and kingdoms like Kashmira, Vanga, Pragiyotisha, Kaccha, and Kerala, covering the entire geography of the Subcontinent.

Q7. In ancient Persian texts, what was 'Hindu' primarily used to refer to?

  • A. A religious community
  • B. A geographical region ✓
  • C. A dynasty of kings
  • D. A type of trade route

Answer: B — In ancient Persian times, 'Hindu' was a purely geographical term referring to the region around the Sindhu/Indus River, not referring to a religion.

Q8. The Chinese word 'Tianzhu' for India could also mean __________, showing their respect for India.

  • A. The great kingdom
  • B. The land of abundance
  • C. Heavenly master ✓
  • D. The sacred river

Answer: C — The Chinese word 'Tianzhu' could also be understood as 'heavenly master,' reflecting the ancient Chinese respect for India as the land of Buddha.

Q9. According to the Vishnu Purana, Bharat extended from the Himalayas in the north to __________ in the south.

  • A. Cape Kumari (Kanyakumari) ✓
  • B. The Deccan Plateau
  • C. The Eastern Ocean
  • D. The Narmada River

Answer: A — The Vishnu Purana and ancient Tamil poetry describe Bharat as extending from the snowy mountains (Himalayas) in the north to Cape Kumari in the south.

Q10. Look at the map of regions mentioned in the Mahabharata. These regions cover which geographical area?

  • A. Only the Gangetic plains
  • B. The entire geography of the Subcontinent ✓
  • C. Only the coastal regions
  • D. Only the northern territories

Answer: B — The map shows regions listed in the Mahabharata spread across the entire Indian Subcontinent, from north to south and east to west.

Flashcards

What does 'Sapta Sindhava' mean?

It means 'land of the seven rivers' and was the ancient name for the northwest region of India in the Rig Veda.

Who was Ashoka and what name did he use for India?

Ashoka was an ancient Indian emperor around 250 BCE who used the name 'Jambudvipa' (island of jamun fruit) to describe all of India in his inscriptions.

What does 'Bharatavarsha' mean?

'Bharatavarsha' means 'the country of the Bharatas,' a name used in the Mahabharata for the entire Indian Subcontinent.

How did the Persians name India and why?

The Persians called India 'Hindu' or 'Hind' based on 'Sindhu,' the name of the Indus River, which they came into contact with during military campaigns.

Why did the Greeks call India 'Indoi' instead of 'Hindu'?

The Greeks dropped the initial 'h' from 'Hindu' because the letter 'h' did not exist in the Greek language.

What does the phrase 'India, that is Bharat' mean?

It is the opening phrase of the Indian Constitution showing that India and Bharat are two names for the same nation, recognizing both Indian and English terms.

Name two ancient texts that mention regions of India.

The Rig Veda mentions the northwest region as 'Sapta Sindhava,' and the Mahabharata lists many regions like Kashmir, Bengal, Assam, and Kerala.

What is the connection between 'Sindhu,' 'Hindu,' and 'India'?

All three names come from the Indus River: Sindhu became Hindu in Persian, which became Indoi in Greek and eventually led to the English word 'India.'

What did the ancient Chinese call India and what did it sometimes mean?

The Chinese called India 'Yindu' or 'Tianzhu,' where 'Tianzhu' could also mean 'heavenly master,' showing their respect for India as the land of Buddha.

According to the Vishnu Purana, what were the natural boundaries of Bharat?

According to the Vishnu Purana, Bharat lay north of the ocean (sea) and south of the snowy mountains (Himalayas).

Important Board Questions

What does 'Sapta Sindhava' mean? (1 mark) [1 mark]

It is a name from the Rig Veda referring to the northwest region; 'Sapta' means seven and 'Sindhava' comes from 'Sindhu' (Indus River).

Name any two ancient names used for India and explain what each name meant. (2 marks) [2 marks]

Choose from: Bharatavarsha (country of Bharatas), Jambudvipa (island of jamun fruit), or Sapta Sindhava (land of seven rivers). Give the meaning of each.

How did foreign names for India (like 'Hindu' and 'Indoi') develop from the same root word? Explain with an example from the chapter. (3 marks) [3 marks]

Trace the path: Sindhu → Hindu (Persian adaptation) → Indoi (Greek version without 'h' sound). Explain that Persians encountered the Indus River and named the region after it; Greeks then changed the Persian name to fit their language.

The Indian Constitution uses the phrase 'India, that is Bharat.' Explain why both names are important and how ancient Indians understood the boundaries of Bharat. (5 marks) [5 marks]

Discuss: (1) Constitutional significance—both names recognize English and Indian traditions; (2) Ancient understanding—the Vishnu Purana and Tamil poetry described Bharat as extending from Himalayas (snowy mountains) in north to Cape Kumari in south, between oceans east and west; (3) Evidence from texts like Mahabharata showing knowledge of entire subcontinent's regions.

True or False: Emperor Ashoka used the name 'Bharatavarsha' in his inscriptions around 250 BCE. Give one reason for your answer. (2 marks) [2 marks]

False. Ashoka used 'Jambudvipa' (island of jamun fruit) in his inscriptions, not 'Bharatavarsha.' The name 'Bharatavarsha' appeared earlier in the Mahabharata.

Assertion-Reason Questions for India, That Is Bharat

Q1. Assertion (A):

The Ṛig Veda is the oldest Indian text that gives a name to part of India.

Reason (R):

The Ṛig Veda calls the northwest region 'Sapta Sindhava' (land of the seven rivers), and this is several thousand years old.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why the Ṛig Veda is the oldest text to name a part of India—it gives us this ancient geographical term.

Q2. Assertion (A):

The word 'Jambudvīpa' refers to a land between mountains and seas.

Reason (R):

It means 'the island of the fruit of the jamun tree', which is a native Indian tree.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true—'Jambudvīpa' does refer to land the ancient Indians knew (the subcontinent), and it does mean 'island of the jamun fruit'—but the reason does not explain why it describes a land between mountains and seas; the reason just explains what the word literally means.

Q3. Assertion (A):

The ancient Chinese word 'Tianzhu' for India shows the respect they had for the country.

Reason (R):

The word 'Tianzhu' could also mean 'heavenly master', reflecting that India was seen as the land of the Buddha.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion—the word 'Tianzhu' ('heavenly master') shows respect because India was valued as the land of the Buddha and its spiritual teachings.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for India, That Is Bharat

Case Study:

Priya's mother took her to a museum in Delhi where they saw ancient inscriptions. The guide explained that Emperor Aśhoka, who ruled around 250 BCE, had written messages on stone pillars across his kingdom. In one inscription, Aśhoka had used the word 'Jambudvīpa' to describe his entire empire, which included areas that are today India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan. Priya was amazed to learn that this ancient name meant 'the island of the jamun fruit tree', a tree she had seen in her grandmother's garden!

Q1. According to the passage, what did Emperor Aśhoka use 'Jambudvīpa' to describe?

  • A. Only the city of Delhi
  • B. His entire empire, which included areas of today's India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan ✓
  • C. Only the southern part of India
  • D. The northwestern region of the Indus River

Answer: B

Q2. Why was Priya amazed when she learned the meaning of 'Jambudvīpa'?

  • A. Because she did not know that jamun trees exist in India
  • B. Because ancient names usually do not relate to things we see in our daily life, but this one meant 'island of the jamun fruit tree' which she had seen in her grandmother's garden ✓
  • C. Because Emperor Aśhoka had lived thousands of years ago
  • D. Because museum guides usually do not explain word meanings

Answer: B

Q3. From Priya's experience at the museum, we learn that ancient Indians:

  • A. Did not use words from nature to name their land
  • B. Only used foreign names to describe their country
  • C. Named their land using natural things they saw around them, like trees ✓
  • D. Never left written records of their names for India

Answer: C

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