Kerala set to be officially renamed ‘Keralam’ | Fusion - WeRIndia

Names carry history, identity, and linguistic pride.

In a significant move, the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’.

The meeting, chaired by Narendra Modi on February 24, cleared the change.

The proposal will now move forward through constitutional procedure.

The push for renaming began earlier. In June 2024, the Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to adopt ‘Keralam’ as the official name.

The term ‘Keralam’ reflects how the state is referred to in Malayalam. Therefore, the move seeks to align the constitutional name with linguistic and cultural usage.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan clarified that ‘Kerala’ currently appears in the Constitution’s First Schedule.

Consequently, the state requested an amendment under Article 3 of the Constitution. He also proposed that the name ‘Keralam’ be reflected across all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.

Following Cabinet approval, the process now advances to the President. As mandated by Article 3, the proposed Bill will be referred to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for its views.

Once the Assembly submits its opinion, the Centre may proceed with introducing the Bill in Parliament. However, this step will follow the President’s recommendation.

Meanwhile, the decision sparked reactions across political circles. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor responded with characteristic wit on social media.

He questioned what terms like “Keralite” or “Keralan” would become after the change. His remarks added a lighter note to an otherwise formal development.

Importantly, the renaming does not alter the state’s boundaries or governance. Instead, it reinforces regional identity and linguistic authenticity.

Several Indian states have undertaken similar changes to reflect native pronunciation and heritage.

If Parliament approves the amendment, ‘Keralam’ will be recorded as the state’s official name in the Constitution.

Until that happens, the renaming proposal must complete all required legislative steps and constitutional formalities before it can take legal effect.

Image Credit: Jefin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_Ghats_Kerala.jpg