Union Cabinet of India Approves Proposal to Rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’; Shashi Tharoor Reacts with Linguistic Query
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the proposal to officially rename the state of Kerala as ‘Keralam’. The decision marks a significant step toward aligning the state’s official name with its traditional Malayalam usage.
The approval follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on June 24, 2024, urging the Centre to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution under Article 3 to reflect the name ‘Keralam’. The Assembly had earlier adopted a similar resolution in August 2023, but it was revised after the Ministry of Home Affairs recommended technical modifications.
The Cabinet’s decision was taken during its meeting at Seva Teerth, the newly inaugurated Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Secretariat complex.
State Government’s Long-Standing Demand
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had moved the resolution in the Assembly, stating that ‘Keralam’ is the name used in Malayalam and reflects the state’s cultural and historical identity. He noted that the demand for a unified state for Malayalam-speaking people dates back to the national freedom movement.
The resolution requested the Centre to amend the Constitution to officially adopt ‘Keralam’ across all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
Shashi Tharoor Responds with Wordplay
Reacting to the development, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed the change but raised a humorous linguistic question regarding the terminology for residents of the state.
In a post on X, Tharoor questioned what English speakers would call residents of ‘Keralam,’ joking that terms such as “Keralamite” or “Keralamian” sounded unusual. He suggested that the state government could consider inviting public suggestions to determine appropriate terminology.
Constitutional Amendment Process Ahead
The proposed name change will require an amendment to the First Schedule of the Constitution before it becomes official. The move reflects efforts to formally recognise the state’s native name in line with its linguistic and cultural heritage.
The development comes ahead of the state Assembly elections expected to be held in April-May, adding political significance to the decision.