The 2023 G20 summit has sparked a major debate in the host country. Recently a dinner invitation was sent which referred to President Droupadi Murmuas as ‘President of Bharat’ instead of ‘President of India’. This seemingly innocuous call caused panic and debate among citizens. There are numerous countries in the world that have officially changed their names throughout history. In this article, we will look at 8 countries that have changed their names.
These are the countries that changed their names:
1. Burma -> Myanmar
2. Ceylon -> Sri Lanka
3. East Pakistan -> Bangladesh
4. Czech Republic -> Czech Republic
5. Turkey -> Türkiye
6. Siam -> Thailand
7. Persia -> Iran
8. Swaziland -> Kingdom of eSwatini
Fun fact: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) disintegrated into 15 countries in 1991. Russia was created after the collapse of the USSR. The USSR is NOT the former name of the Russian Federation. |
Also read | G20 Summit New Delhi 2023: Schedule, Venue and Participating Countries. Everything you need to know.
Countries that have changed their names
1. Burma -> Myanmar
Source: On the Go Tours
In 1989, the Southeast Asian nation’s government changed its name from the “Union of Burma” to the “Union of Myanmar.” The change was made to remove traces of colonization after independence.
In 1886, the British officially recognized the nation, which before colonization was called by various names, the “Union of Burma”. The name is derived from the dominant ethnic group called “Bamar”.
2. Ceylon -> Sri Lanka
Source: National Geographic
In 1972, after “Ceylon” became a republic nation, its name was changed to “Sri Lanka”. The name change was again motivated by the goal of erasing colonial traces from the nation.
In 1978, the name of the island nation was again changed from “Republic of Sri Lanka” to “Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka”.
3. East Pakistan -> Bangladesh
Source: Britannica
In 1971, the region of East Pakistan became a separate nation and became officially recognized as “Bangladesh”. Internal conflicts between West Pakistan and East Pakistan, such as economic differences, refusal to accept Bengali as an official language, and oppression by the West Pakistani military led to the Bangladesh Liberation War.
As violence between the two escalated, numerous refugees flocked to India’s capital, New Delhi, prompting the Indian government to intervene. On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani army conceded defeat and signed the Simla Agreement, which later led to the creation of the independent state of Bangladesh.
4. Czech Republic -> Czech Republic
Source: Hotels.com
In 2016, the United Nations officially recognized the Czech Republic as the official name of the Central European country. The state changed its name to make it easier for businesses and sports teams to use its name on products and equipment.
However, the name Czechia is still unknown both in the world and in the country. In fact, even the current prime minister was not aware of the fact that his country’s name had been changed to the Czech Republic.
5. Turkey -> Türkiye
Source: National Geographic
In June 2022, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavuşolu appealed to the United Nations to officially change “Turkey” to “Türkiye”. The appeal was based on a directive issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who stated that Türkiye “best represents and expresses the culture, civilization and values of the Turkish nation”.
The name became widely accepted after a series of earthquakes devastated the nation, with prominent media sites using Türkiye instead of Turkey.
6. Siam -> Thailand
Source: Hotels.com
In 1948, the name “Siam” was officially changed to “Kingdom of Thailand”. The name was chosen to represent the nation as a more modern and independent nation.
The name “Thailand” means “Land for Thais” which gave a new sense of belonging to the citizens.
7. Persia -> Iran
Source: Immigrant Invest
Until March 1935, the Middle Eastern country of Iran was known as Persia. The change was initiated by the Middle Eastern nation’s then-king, Reza Shah, to mark new beginnings for the country.
The country was heavily influenced by Western nations. In order to erase Western influences, the term “Iran” was chosen because of its association with the Aryan race, which represents all the ethnic groups within the nation.
8. Swaziland -> Kingdom of eSwatini
Source: Pinterest
In 2018, the small South African country of Swaziland officially changed its name to eSwatini. The country’s monarch, King Mswatti III officially changed his name to celebrate liberation from Britain.
The name eSwatini, meaning the land of the Swazi (indigenous people) was chosen to create a stronger sense of belonging in the hearts of its citizens.
Will India change its name to Bharat?
It hasn’t been decided yet. Both India and Bharat are the official names of the country. The government led by Prime Minister Modi will appear in a special session of Parliament to decide on a course of action. The session will be held from September 18 to September 20.
Related | India Vs Bharat: Check, What Does Constitution Say About Name?
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education