In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indian residents find no confusion in the use of both “India” and “Bharat” when referring to their homeland. This perspective emerges amid recent discussions surrounding the nomenclature for the country. According to a report by thenationalnews.com, Indian expatriates believe that this debate serves as an unnecessary distraction from more pressing matters.
Punnakkan Muhammed Ali, a prominent social worker hailing from the southern Indian state of Kerala, deems the controversy as superfluous. He views it as a deliberate attempt to divert attention and potentially divide the Indian community residing in the UAE. Ali asserts that the discourse should revolve around evaluating the achievements and shortcomings of the Indian administration rather than engaging in a political controversy for ulterior motives.
Among the expatriate community, there is a prevailing suspicion that this controversy may serve as a deliberate distraction from pressing economic concerns, such as inflation and rising food prices, in the lead-up to federal elections scheduled for the following year
Some residents choose to remain neutral on the matter, awaiting official guidance from the government regarding the use of “Bharat” to replace “India.” Sheela Menon, the principal of Ambassador School in Dubai, which follows the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) curriculum, emphasized the need for clarity. She suggests that the school board and the government of India may issue notifications to provide guidance. She also points out that students have yet to inquire about the issue, as it is still in its early stages. People are likely to have personal preferences on whether to continue using “India” or adopt “Bharat.”
Among the expatriate community, there is a prevailing suspicion that this controversy may serve as a deliberate distraction from pressing economic concerns, such as inflation and rising food prices, in the lead-up to federal elections scheduled for the following year. Bipin Jacob, the general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress International, believes that the government should not meddle with the names of well-established institutions like the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Railways. Jacob insists that the nation should prioritize addressing more critical issues rather than diverting the public’s attention.
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