Kerala's name change to 'Keralam' by the Kerala Assembly

The Resolution, the Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Indian Central Government to change the state's name from "Kerala" to "Keralam" in the Constitution. This marks the second time in a year that such a resolution has been approved, highlighting the state's determination to align its constitutional name with its Malayalam identity.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is spearheading this initiative, emphasized the discrepancy between the Malayalam name "Keralam" and the English name "Kerala" used in the Constitution's First Schedule. The resolution seeks to rectify this difference, invoking Article 3 of the Constitution to request the name change.

The move is not merely linguistic but carries deep cultural and historical significance. It aims to better reflect Kerala's language, culture, and heritage within the framework of India's constitutional structure. The resolution requests changes in both the First and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution, which deal with state names and Rajya Sabha seat allocations, respectively.

Historical Context and Etymology

The name "Kerala" has rich historical roots. Its first written mention dates back to 257 BCE in an inscription by Emperor Ashoka, who referred to the region as "Keralaputra." German scholar Dr. Herman Gundert linked the word to "Keram," denoting the area between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The modern state of Kerala was formed on November 1, 1956, as part of the States Reorganisation Act. This act merged the Malayalam-speaking areas of the Malabar district (from Madras State) and Kasaragod taluk (from South Canara district) with the Travancore-Cochin State. Simultaneously, Tamil-speaking areas of Southern Travancore-Cochin were incorporated into Madras State.

The formation of Kerala was based on linguistic unity, bringing together Malayalam-speaking regions while excluding some Tamil-speaking areas. This linguistic basis for the state's creation adds weight to the current push for renaming, as it seeks to further align the state's official name with its predominant language.

Constitutional Process for State Name Change

Changing a state's name in India involves a specific constitutional process outlined in Article 3. Here's an overview of the steps:

1. The process begins with a bill introduced in either house of Parliament, but only on the President's recommendation.

2. Before introduction, the President must refer the bill to the concerned state legislature for its opinion.

3. The state legislature can accept, reject, or take no action within the stipulated time frame.

4. The President is not bound by the state legislature's opinion.

5. After receiving the state's input (or after the stipulated time passes without action), the bill is introduced in Parliament.

6. As an ordinary bill, it requires a simple majority in both houses of Parliament to pass.

7. Once passed and signed by the President, the bill becomes an act.

8. The name change takes effect on a date specified by the President.

It's important to note that while state legislatures can pass resolutions requesting name changes, the ultimate power to enact such changes lies with the Parliament. The Constitution grants Parliament the sole authority to change state names, boundaries, or create/abolish states.

As Kerala continues its push for "Keralam," the state government and its people eagerly await the central government's response to this significant cultural and linguistic initiative.