What is the history of India's name?

 The history of India's name is a complex and fascinating one, involving various sources, languages, and cultures. Here is a brief summary based on the web search results:

- The name India was derived from the Indus River, which was called Sindhu in Sanskrit. The ancient Persians, who conquered the region in the 5th century BCE, called it Hindu or Hindush, which later became India in Greek and Latin. The name India was used by the British colonial rulers and became the official name of the country after independence in 1947⁶⁴⁵.

- The name Bharat has its roots in the Hindu epics and Puranic literature, where it refers to the land ruled by the legendary king Bharata, who was the ancestor of the Rig Vedic tribe of the Bharatas. The name Bharat also denotes the cultural and religious unity of the subcontinent, where the Brahmanical system of society prevails. The name Bharat was used interchangeably with India in the Constitution of 1950, which states: "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States."³⁷⁸.

- The name Hindustan is a combination of Hindu and -stan, which means "land" in Persian. The name Hindustan was used by medieval Muslim invaders and rulers to refer to the northern part of India, where most of the Hindus lived. The name Hindustan was also adopted by some Indian nationalists and freedom fighters, who wanted to emphasize the Hindu identity and heritage of the country⁵⁸.

These are some of the names that have been used to describe India throughout history. They reflect the diversity and richness of India's culture, history, and geography. They also show how India's name has been influenced by various political and social factors over time.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 9/9/2023

(1) undefined. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/203/etymology-of-the-name-india/.

(2) When and how did Bharat became India? - Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/when-and-how-did-bharat-became-india/articleshow/103384141.cms.

(3) Wondering Who Named Our Country India? | Origination Of The Name India. https://www.scoopwhoop.com/life/the-origin-of-the-names-india-bharat-and-hindustan/.

(4) India, that is Bharat: A short history of the nation's names. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/india-bharat-name-history-8925757/.

(5) undefined. https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/india-bharat-history-names-special-session-parliament-constitution-g20-invite-13082462.html.

(6) undefined. https://medium.com/industoindia/how-india-got-its-name-e222f5ad94e1.

(7) India (given name) - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_%28given_name%29.

(8) . https://bing.com/search?q=history+of+India%27s+name.