Kerala Name Change
Kerala is in the process of being officially renamed to Keralam. On February 24, 2026, the Union Cabinet (chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi) approved the proposal to change the state’s name from “Kerala” to “Keralam”. This aligns the official English name with the traditional Malayalam pronunciation and spelling (“Keralam”), which has been used in the local language for centuries.
Background and Reason
- “Keralam” is considered the authentic form in Malayalam, derived from words like “kera” (coconut) + “alam” (land/region), often interpreted as “land of coconuts”.
- “Kerala” is seen as an anglicized or colonial-era version that became standard in English and official records.
- The demand has existed since the freedom struggle and was pushed by linguistic and cultural identity advocates.
- The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed unanimous resolutions in August 2023 and June 24, 2024 (moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan), urging the Centre to make the change in all Eighth Schedule languages.
Current Status (as of February 25, 2026)
- The Cabinet’s approval is a major step, but the name change is not yet final.
- Next steps under Article 3 of the Constitution:
- The President refers the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the Kerala Assembly for its views.
- After receiving those views, the bill goes to Parliament for approval (likely a constitutional amendment to update the First Schedule).
- Once passed by Parliament and assented to by the President, the name becomes official.
- This process is ongoing, with the move coming ahead of Kerala’s upcoming Assembly elections.
Reactions
- Many Malayalis (including in the UAE diaspora) welcomed it, saying the state has “always been Keralam” in spirit.
- Some criticism exists, like from Shashi Tharoor, who questioned the priority over development projects and joked about terms like “Keralite” becoming “Keralamite”.
- Comparisons drawn to stalled renamings (e.g., West Bengal to “Bangla” or “Bongo”).
The change is largely symbolic and cultural, emphasizing decolonization of nomenclature (similar to past renamings like Bombay to Mumbai or Madras to Chennai). If finalized, Kerala will officially become Keralam in constitutional and official records.