In a unanimous show of support, the Kerala Assembly recently embarked on a significant endeavour – the proposal to rename the state as ‘Keralam’. This move has been spearheaded by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who introduced a resolution in the Kerala Legislative Assembly to formally request the central government for this renaming.
Vijayan elucidated the rationale behind this decision, emphasising that the name ‘Keralam’ has a deep-rooted historical and linguistic significance in Malayalam, the predominant language of the state. However, he highlighted that according to the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution, the state is officially referred to as ‘Kerala’ in other languages.
Delving into the historical context, Vijayan underlined how Kerala, as it stands today, was a union of three distinct provinces – Malabar, Cochin, and Travancore – each with its own unique legacy. These provinces existed prior to India’s independence, with the latter two holding princely status. However, it wasn’t until 1956 that Kerala emerged as a cohesive state, integrating the Malabar Coast of Madras state and the Kasargod taluk.
Reflecting on the journey of name transformations, the annals of history show that in 1949, the princely states of Travancore and Cochin amalgamated to form the United State of Travancore and Cochin. Subsequently, in early 1950, this entity underwent another name change, becoming the State of Travancore-Cochin.
As the pages of history turned, Kerala’s definitive form took shape in 1956. This came about through the unification of the aforementioned State of Travancore-Cochin with the Malabar Coast of Madras state and the Kasargod taluk of South Kanara.
Chief Minister Vijayan’s resolution seeks to honor the linguistic lineage of Kerala by embracing ‘Keralam’ as its official name. He voiced the unanimous appeal of the Kerala Assembly for the Union Government to initiate the process of amending the name under Article 3 of the Constitution. Furthermore, he called for the adoption of ‘Keralam’ in all languages mentioned in the Constitution’s Eighth Schedule.
The proposed name change is not merely an administrative alteration, but a cultural statement affirming Kerala’s distinct identity. The story of ‘Keralam’ unfolds as the state navigates the channels of history and language, embracing its past while shaping its future narrative.