Transforming Identity: Union Cabinet Approves Name Change of Kerala to Keralam in Pivotal Election Year!
The Union Cabinet is poised to deliberate on the proposal to rename Kerala as “Keralam,” a move that has gained traction ahead of the state’s Assembly elections expected by May. This initiative follows two resolutions passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly, which have urged the central government to amend the Constitution to reflect the state’s name in its native Malayalam form across all languages in the Eighth Schedule. If approved, the name change would alter references to the state within the First Schedule of the Constitution under Article 3, officially establishing “Keralam” as the recognized name in all relevant languages.
The proposal was initially introduced in 2024 by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who emphasized that “Keralam” is the term used in Malayalam and that the current English version fails to capture the state’s linguistic and historical essence. “The name of our state is written as Kerala in the First Schedule of the Constitution. This Assembly requests the Centre to take immediate steps to amend it as ‘Keralam’ under Article 3 of the Constitution,” Vijayan stated while pushing the resolution.
Achieving bipartisan support, the Assembly reaffirmed the resolution on June 25, 2024, after the Union Home Ministry suggested technical revisions to the original draft. This reworked resolution has been sent to the Centre for further consideration. Currently, the state has initiated changes in its official records, pending a constitutional amendment from the national level.
The context of the Cabinet’s upcoming discussions is significant as Kerala prepares to elect its 140-member Legislative Assembly. The timing, with elections looming, adds political weight to the proposal. Interestingly, the renaming has garnered cross-party endorsements within the state. On January 24, Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar commended Vijayan for acknowledging his letter that supported the initiative. In his message, Chandrasekhar emphasized that “Keralam” symbolizes the region’s rich history, language, and cultural heritage.
The Cabinet is convening for this crucial meeting in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new office at Seva Tirtha-marking a shift from the previous venue at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block. While the renaming initiative is framed as a cultural and linguistic correction, its emergence during an election year points to its political implications. Advocates perceive the renaming as a means to align constitutional terms with historical identity, echoing aspirations for a unified Malayalam-speaking state that date back to the freedom movement.
If the proposal is successful, “Keralam” will join a series of Indian states and cities that have recently changed their names to better reflect local languages and heritage. This shift underscores a broader trend in India to embrace linguistic and cultural identity, particularly as states and regions seek to assert their unique histories within the national narrative.
As the political landscape evolves and the Assembly elections approach, the fate of the “Keralam” proposal remains uncertain, poised to become a defining issue in Kerala’s political discourse.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/union-cabinet-to-approve-change-of-name-of-kerala-to-keralam-in-poll-year-11771915608444.html
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Publish Date: 2026-02-24 12:33:00
