‘Kerala’ to Become ‘Keralam’: Union Cabinet Approves State Name Change Proposal
The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to officially rename the State of Kerala as “Keralam,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced in New Delhi on Tuesday. The development follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly seeking the change under constitutional provisions.
The decision comes months after the Assembly formally urged the Centre to recognise “Keralam” as the official name of the State in the Constitution and related documents.
Assembly Resolution and Constitutional Context
On June 24, 2024, the Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Union Government to amend references to the State’s name from “Kerala” to “Keralam.” The resolution was introduced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who stated that “Keralam” reflects the linguistic and cultural identity of the Malayalam-speaking population.
Following initial review, the Union Home Ministry reportedly suggested certain technical modifications. The State Assembly subsequently adopted a revised resolution incorporating those recommendations before forwarding it again to the Centre.
Historical and Linguistic Significance
While “Kerala” is the name used in English and official constitutional references, “Keralam” is the term traditionally used in Malayalam. Leaders in the State have maintained that aligning the official name with local linguistic usage is a matter of cultural identity and historical continuity.
During discussions in the Assembly, it was noted that the demand for a unified Malayalam-speaking region dates back to the period preceding India’s independence, when movements sought the formation of a consolidated state for Malayalam-speaking communities.
Process of Implementation
Any formal name change requires amendments to relevant constitutional entries, including references in the First Schedule of the Constitution of India. After Cabinet approval, legislative procedures at the national level would need to be completed for the change to take effect officially.
Officials have indicated that once the required parliamentary process is concluded, the revised name will be reflected in official records and central communications.
Political Timing
The approval comes ahead of the State Assembly elections scheduled for April-May. While the government has described the move as administrative and cultural in nature, political observers note that such symbolic measures often draw significant public attention.
As of now, no specific timeline has been announced for the formal notification of the name change.
If implemented, the State would officially be known as “Keralam” in constitutional and governmental references, while the transition in practical usage would follow established administrative procedures.
