Why Are Kerala Politicians Advocating for a State Name Change?
In 2023, the Kerala assembly passed a resolution to change the state’s name to “Keralam,” but the proposal did not receive approval from the Centre. The call to rename Kerala to Keralam traces its roots to the Aikya Kerala movement of the 1920s, which advocated for a separate state for Malayalam speakers. When the state was formed in 1956, its name in Malayalam was Keralam, but it was recorded as Kerala in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution. The etymology of “Keralam” is linked to various theories, with some suggesting it evolved from “Chera-alam” (land of the Cheras) and others proposing it means “land of coconuts” (kera-alam), where “kera” is the local term for coconut.
During the rule of the Chera dynasty over the regions now known as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Malayalam developed as a distinct language, diverging from Tamil and incorporating elements from regional dialects. This linguistic evolution fostered a unique cultural identity for Malayalam speakers, eventually leading to the establishment of the state of Kerala.
The current resolution, which seeks to change the state’s name in all languages as per the eighth schedule of the Constitution, is awaiting approval from the Centre. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has emphasized the importance of this change in all official records. The demand for renaming the state has been longstanding. In 2010, then Chief Minister VS Achuthandan, along with other legislators, raised the issue, but it did not culminate in a resolution. Changing a state’s name is a complex process requiring Parliament’s approval, as demonstrated by Orissa’s successful renaming to Odisha in 2011 and West Bengal’s unsuccessful attempts to rename itself Paschim Banga.
The push for the name change to Keralam has garnered support from both the ruling party and the opposition. Indian Union Muslim League MP ET Muhammed Basheer expressed his backing, stating that “Keralam” is the more appropriate terminology. The resolution’s approval remains pending, as the state awaits the Centre’s decision on this significant cultural and linguistic matter.
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Author:- Apoorva Arora