The proposed renaming of India to Bharat has sparked intense debates among politicians and prompted experts to delve into the financial implications of such a monumental rebranding endeavor.
An intellectual property lawyer, renowned for his innovative approach to calculating the cost of renaming a country, has crunched the numbers, and the results are staggering. According to this legal expert, the estimated cost of this name change would be a colossal Rs 14,304 crore.
The genesis of this financial calculation method can be traced back to 2018 when South Africa’s Darren Oliver introduced it during the renaming of Swaziland to Eswatini, a move aimed at shedding its colonial legacy. In Oliver’s original analysis, the transformation of the African nation was projected to cost $60 million. He adapted this formula to evaluate the potential expenses associated with renaming India, factoring in the country’s revenue as a crucial determinant.
To arrive at this substantial figure, Oliver considered the typical marketing budget allocation for a large enterprise, which hovers around 6 percent of its total revenue. To put this staggering sum into perspective, it’s worth noting that this amount closely parallels the monthly expenditure of the Central Government on its vital food security program, a lifeline for 80 crore Indians.
The Outlook Business report highlights this striking parallel, emphasizing the enormity of the financial commitment involved in the proposed renaming.
While the fate of this ambitious name-changing proposal remains uncertain, recent international events suggest that steps are being taken in that direction.
Foreign heads of state, for instance, have begun attending G20 Summit events with the President of Bharat as the official title.
An invitation to a G20 dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu referred to her position as “President of Bharat.” Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi represented “Bharat” during the G20 Summit’s commencement on September 9, making his opening remarks as the leader of the renamed nation. This shift in nomenclature reflects the ongoing deliberations and transformations on the horizon for this diverse and culturally rich subcontinent.