Akhand Bharat means India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh as one nation. It’s been more than 77 years since the partition of India. You can undo the land partition, but you cannot change the behavior of people. At this moment, India might be wanting Akhand Bharat, but the two sovereign nations of Pakistan and Bangladesh should also think on the same lines, which is just not possible. So, Akhand Bharat remains only an emotional idea. World politics always moves towards the split of countries, not the union or reunification of countries. People find it very hard to live together, especially when they have already split up in history.
Even if India acquires Afghanistan, Pakistan, or these countries, people will come with them. Additional geography comes with people. We are not able to manage anti-nationals within India. Crackers burst when Pakistan wins against India and whatnot. There are clear Pakistan supporters in every city in today’s India, coming from some Muslim sections. Akhand Bharat will have a double Muslim population, with many Muslim-majority states. Can you imagine the result of the elections? In a house of 750 members, you need 376 seats to win, Without much change in Hindu seats. Even Modi would find it impossible to form a government. Can you imagine the level of appeasement in politics? How secular will politics be then?
If you are ambitious, why limit yourself to South Asian geography? Why not think of the world? There are a lot easier chances out there if you open yourself up. Do not cling to a single idea. This is the world of democracies. If you are more numerous, then many countries can be yours. And there are countries full of natural resources but lacking population growth. We just need to migrate there; within 20 years, that country will be ours. I am not naming any countries, but it’s easy to find.
In countries with a low population, where Indians are already around 5% to 15 per cent. If you double the migration rate to these countries, we can reach more than 30% in 40–50 years. We are never expansionists or exploiters. The countries will still be vibrant democracies. This will just be a spiritual and more balanced world. There are easy opportunities lying out there in the entire world; why Akhand Bharat? Understand the changing dynamics of the world and use them in our favor.
Historically, Indian empires occasionally conquered a few portions of Afghanistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. I don’t remember any period when Tibet was a part of any Indian empire. Yes, during the ancient and medieval ages, Indian Hindu and Buddhist culture did spread to these regions, but that doesn’t make them a part of India.
If you talk about forming an EU- or ASEAN-like intergovernmental organization, then yes, that can work. It will be beneficial for all the nations in the Indian subcontinent and beyond. But the India-Pakistan rivalry is a big hurdle. That is why SAARC couldn’t succeed. And in such organizations, India can and should not play big brother. In the EU and ASEAN, all countries are equal partners. We also cannot agree on open borders due to security issues and demographic threats.
Even the BJP’s core members know Akhand Bharat is wishful thinking. There are naive people who don’t live beyond their daily routine of struggling to put two square meals on the table. These people think that annexation is a cakewalk. Akhand Bharat refers to the Idea that India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, and other nations have been a part of India. But we were separated from India because of invaders from Muslims and the West. Afghanistan was called Gandhara, the parent’s place of Gandhari in Mahabharat. This entire area had the same culture, same lifestyle, and same dress style (dhoti, shawl, saree, etc.) in those days. Even so, there were numerous kingdoms ruled politically by various kings. Even these kings were fighting wars against each other. War between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. War between Ram and Ravan. The Kalinga Wars, and many more.
Politically, let there be Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, etc.; no problem. But the way of living should be the same everywhere. All these States should acknowledge our ancestors as well as our values. All the present-day political States should be emotionally united, and that is the root of Akhand Bharat.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said that ‘Akhand Bharat, or undivided India, will be a reality before today’s young generation gets old. Since then, the Opposition has been alleging that the Modi government is planning to drop India and stay with just Bharat as the country’s name.
Congress claimed that the alliance of like-minded opposition parties named I.N.D.I.A. has worried the BJP, which is now trying to drop India and keep only Bharat as the country’s name. Mohan Bhagwant had made a strong pitch for the use of the word ‘Bharat’ instead of India. Bhagwat emphasized that the name of our country has been Bharat for ages. Whatever the language, the name remains the same.
Akhand Bharat is a concept that says India is united. As long as there is casteism in India, as long as there are political differences, as long as there are “Hindus or Muslims” and not Indians,” and as long as people cannot accept ideas that contradict their beliefs, there will never be an Akhand Bharat.
Listen, the vast majority of Indian Hindus do NOT want to add 400 million extra Muslims to India’s population. India will no longer be a Hindu country. Anybody calling for a so called “Akhand Bharat” should be literally murdered on the spot. India will no longer be a Hindu country. The author of this piece (Vaidehi Taman) should think twice before writing such stupid and anti-Hindu proposals.