Akhand Bharat

Akhand Bharat is the term that is used to denote the idea of ‘Undivided India’. It includes all the areas that were once part of India before the partition of India by Britishers. Though this term is not politically recognised by Government of India but it has been widely used by Hindu right wing to present their political ideas. Akhand Bharat do not find its mention in any of the ancient texts (ancient texts refers to India as Jambudvipa and Bharatvarsha), it is relatively new idea that came into existence during 1940’s as a result of nationalist activities in India. Hindu religious groups like Hindu Mahashabha believed that India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the Maldives makes a single unit and the India after independence from Britishers must include all these regions as all these countries has been part of India since ancient times. The list of countries given above many vary depending on the political ideology of the group. Formation of Pakistan and Bangladesh was a severe blow to the demands of these right wing Hindu groups and soon after independence these organisations started demanding for the formation of Akhand Bharat.  

As per the official statement released by the Ministry of External affair on the controversy related to the mural painting of Akhand Bharat in the new Parliament building, the idea of Akhand Bharat is based on the territories once ruled by the Mauryan king Ashoka and India believes in following the policy of friendly relation with neighbors as once maintained by Ashoka based on his policies of Dhamma. This means that government will not take any effort to integrate these countries in India but will maintain a close and friendly relation with the neighboring countries.