In a significant move reflecting historical and linguistic sentiments, the Kerala Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to change the official name of the state from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’ across all languages. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the resolution, which garnered unanimous support from all members present in the House.
Chief Minister Vijayan, while introducing the resolution, emphasized the cultural and linguistic importance of the term ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam, the state’s mother tongue. He highlighted that the formation of states based on linguistic lines on November 1, 1956, coincides with Kerala’s establishment, making it a demand stemming from the freedom struggle to create a united state for all Malayalam-speaking people.
Elaborating further, Chief Minister Vijayan stated, “The Assembly unanimously requests the central government to make necessary amendments to change the official name of the state to ‘Keralam’ in all official languages under the Eighth schedule of the Constitution.”
While the resolution signifies a powerful symbolic gesture to honor the state’s linguistic identity, the process for an official change in the state’s name requires more intricate steps. In accordance with Article 3 and 4 of the Constitution, parliamentary approval is necessary, involving a referral by the President to the relevant state legislature. This process mirrors previous instances where state names and languages have been altered, such as Orissa to Odisha and Oriya to Odia.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expressed agreement with the concept of renaming the state as ‘Keralam,’ recognizing its alignment with the Malayalam language. TP Sindhumol, BJP state spokesperson, stated, “Keralam is how we say and use in our mother tongue Malayalam. So yes, the state’s official name should be Keralam.” She also emphasized the need to pay tribute to Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, the father of modern Malayalam, by installing a statue at his birthplace Tirur.
While the resolution represents the Assembly’s collective sentiment, the ultimate realization of the name change will require further legislative processes and approvals. Nonetheless, the unanimous support for the change underscores the significance of linguistic heritage and cultural identity within the state of Kerala.
Sources By Agencies
