Cabinet Greenlights Historic Renaming of Kerala to Keralam
In a landmark decision, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to officially rename the southern state of 'Kerala' as 'Keralam'. This move aligns with a popular and long-standing demand from the people of the state, as emphasized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who stated that the decision "reflects the will of the people of the state".
Constitutional Process Set in Motion
Announcing the Cabinet's approval, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined the next steps. He explained that following the Cabinet's decision, the President will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the Kerala legislative assembly. This is required under Article 3 of the Constitution to gather the state assembly's views on the matter.
An official release clarified that after receiving the state assembly's feedback, the Central government will take further action. This includes obtaining the President's recommendation for the introduction of the Bill in Parliament, ensuring all constitutional protocols are meticulously followed.
Historical Context and Persistent Demand
The Cabinet note highlighted the historical significance of this change. It pointed out that from the very beginning, the people of Kerala have been vociferously demanding that their state be named Keralam. However, when the state was officially created on November 1, 1956, it was named Kerala. Since then, this demand has been raised repeatedly, reflecting deep-rooted cultural and linguistic sentiments.
This renaming follows a precedent set in 2011 when the spelling of Orissa was officially changed to Odisha, showcasing a pattern of aligning state names with local linguistic preferences.
State Assembly's Role and Political Support
The state government had previously made two formal requests to the Centre to change the name. In a significant move, the Kerala legislative assembly passed resolutions in both 2023 and 2024, urging the Central government to amend the Constitution and modify the state's name from Kerala to Keralam. These resolutions were moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Adding to the bipartisan support, state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar wrote to the Chief Minister just last month, extending his party's support for the renaming initiative. This cross-party backing underscores the widespread acceptance of the change.
Details from the State Assembly Resolution
The Cabinet proposal included the June 2024 resolution passed by the Kerala state assembly. This resolution explicitly mentioned that the name of the state in Malayalam is Keralam and noted that states were reorganized on linguistic lines on November 1, 1956, which is observed as Kerala Piravi (Kerala Formation Day).
The resolution stated, "Since the time of the national independence struggle, there has been a strong demand for the formation of United Kerala for Malayalam-speaking people. But in the First Schedule to the Constitution, the name of our state is recorded as Kerala. This Assembly appeals to central government to take urgent steps under Article 3 to modify the name as 'Keralam'."
Dismissal of Electoral Speculation
In response to speculation linking the Cabinet's decision to upcoming elections in the state, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw firmly dismissed such claims. He asserted, "Decisions are taken by the cabinet without keeping elections in view," emphasizing that the approval was based on merit and public demand rather than political considerations.
This renaming initiative marks a significant step in honoring linguistic and cultural identities, setting the stage for a formal constitutional amendment that will officially recognize the state as Keralam.
