-Ramesh Sharma Bhopal
India is the only country in the world whose history is filled with both the highest glory and the deepest pain. The glory lies in introducing the world to words, numbers, knowledge, and science. India was once called the “World Teacher” and the “Golden Bird.” But the pain is unmatched—no other country has endured such invasions, massacres, and the tragedy of partitioning its own land. Over the last two and a half millennia, there have been 24 divisions, and between 1873 and 1947 alone, seven major partitions took place. The last division uprooted millions and witnessed the brutal killing of countless innocent citizens.
The geography of today’s independent India represents barely ten percent of its glorious past. This land, illuminated by Vedic culture, was once known as Jambudvipa, a name still remembered in traditional worship recitations: “Jambudvipe Bharat Khanday Aryavarte…” Now, it survives mostly in history books. Over time, India has been known as Aryavarta and Bharatvarsha, with the Himalayas at its center and its highest peak called Gaurishankar—renamed Mount Everest by the British. Countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Myanmar, Tibet, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, along with Cambodia, Iraq, Iran, and Indonesia, were once part of India. In those days, Cambodia was called Kamboja, and Indonesia was Deepantar.
Evidence of ancient Indian culture and tradition can be found in nearly every country in the world. Many local languages still contain Sanskrit words. This is due to two main reasons: first, the regions that were once part of Bharatvarsha, and second, the spread of culture through travel. The vastness of India can be understood from a single mantra still recited in worship: “Jambudvipe Bharatkhande Aryavrat deshantargate…” meaning within the Jambudvipa lies Bharat Khand, and within Bharat Khand lies Aryavarta.
In Vedic times, Jambudvipa was surrounded by salty seas, resembling today’s Asian continent. Bharatvarsha was divided into four empires:
Anarta – from south of the Narmada to the ocean, including Sri Lanka.
Brahmavarta – between the Narmada and the Ganga.
Aryavarta – from the Ganga to the Himalayas.
Parsavarta – later known as the Persian Empire.
At the time of Alexander’s invasion, it was called the Persian Empire. Alexander’s wife Roxana was a princess from Bactria, which is mentioned in the Mahabharata as “Vahyika,” where Vedic Aryan culture thrived. Rome itself was founded by Vedic Aryans. Aryavarta was undoubtedly the center of knowledge, science, and research, but the whole of India was not Aryavarta—different lifestyles developed in different ways. The word “Arya” referred to a way of life, not a race, which is why the Rigveda expresses the resolve to make the whole world Arya.
Rigveda (10/75) describes rivers flowing through Aryan lands, including Kubha (Kabul River), Krugu (Kurram), Gomati, Sindhu, Parushni (Ravi), Shutudri (Sutlej), Vitasta (Jhelum), Saraswati, Yamuna, and Ganga—geographically covering the area from the Ganga to the Himalayas.
Up to the 13th century, Vedic Aryan and Buddhist traditions prevailed in Indonesia. Ancient dynasties there bore names like Srivijaya, Shailendra, and Mataram. In Sumatra, Vedic Aryan traditions lasted until the 9th century, and similar cultural continuity was seen in Vietnam and Cambodia. But over the last 2,500 years, these lands drifted away from India.
Even without delving too far into ancient history, between 1876 and 1947 alone, India was divided seven times, losing two-thirds of its land. Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar were all separated during this period. The groundwork for this was laid after the 1857 revolt. The British followed the policy of “divide and rule,” breaking the vast Indian Empire and creating buffer states around it.
In 1876, Afghanistan was separated; in 1906, Bhutan; in 1935, Sri Lanka; in 1937, Burma (Myanmar); and in 1947, Pakistan was carved out of Indian soil—only to split again in 1971, giving rise to Bangladesh. In 1876, India’s area was 8.3 million square kilometers; by 1947, it had shrunk to just 3.3 million square kilometers, meaning 5 million square kilometers of Indian land was lost in just 71 years.
The final partition took place on August 14, 1947. For this reason, August 14 is observed as Akhand Bharat Diwas (Undivided India Day). Millions of Indians believe that changing one’s religious practices does not change one’s ancestors, and political borders should not diminish national unity. Many social organizations and millions of citizens still feel a deep connection with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Tibet, hoping for a day when India will once again be whole. The observance of Akhand Bharat Diwas is meant to remind society of the nation’s historical grandeur and to inspire the resolve that can lead India toward reunification.
