Why in News?
The Union Cabinet has recently approved a proposal to change the official English name of the State of Kerala to “Keralam” — a constitutional development often discussed in UPSC coaching in Hyderabad.
Historical Background
1. Ancient References
• The earliest known reference appears in Ashoka’s Rock Edict II (257 BCE).
• The inscription mentions “Keralaputra”, referring to a southern ruler.
• The term is linked to the Chera dynasty, one of the three major Tamilakam powers (Chera, Chola, Pandya).
2. Etymology
• Scholars trace the word “Keralam” to “Cheram” or “Chera land”.
• In Malayalam, the State has traditionally been called Keralam, while “Kerala” became the anglicised version.
3. Formation of the State
• After Independence, the States Reorganisation Commission (1953–55) recommended linguistic reorganisation.
• The State of Kerala was formed on 1 November 1956, combining Malayalam-speaking regions of Travancore-Cochin and Malabar.
• Official English usage adopted “Kerala”, though locally it remained “Keralam”.
Constitutional Provisions for Renaming a State
Article 3 of the Constitution
Under Article 3, Parliament has the power to:
• Form a new State.
• Alter the area, boundary, or name of any State.
• Merge territories or separate parts of States.
This demonstrates the flexible federal structure of India — a core polity concept covered in IAS coaching in Hyderabad.
Procedure for Changing the Name of a State
- State Assembly Resolution: The concerned State Legislative Assembly passes a resolution seeking the name change.
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): The proposal is forwarded to the MHA for examination.
- President’s Recommendation: A Bill for renaming can be introduced in Parliament only after the President’s recommendation.
- Reference to State Legislature: The President refers the Bill to the concerned State Assembly for its views. The opinion is advisory, not binding.
- Parliamentary Approval: The Bill can be introduced in either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. It requires a simple majority for passage.
- Presidential Assent: After passage, the Bill is sent to the President for assent. The change is reflected in the First and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution.
Significance of the Renaming
• Reinforces linguistic identity and cultural heritage.
• Aligns official usage with regional language traditions.
• Reflects cooperative federalism through constitutional procedure.
• Similar renaming exercises include cities and states to restore indigenous names (e.g., Bombay to Mumbai, Orissa to Odisha).
Challenges
• Administrative changes in official documents and records.
• Costs associated with updating signage, stationery, and digital systems.
• Need to ensure clarity in international and inter-state communication
Conclusion
The proposal to rename Kerala as “Keralam” highlights India’s respect for linguistic diversity within its constitutional framework. It showcases the balance between cultural identity and parliamentary procedure in India’s federal system — a significant topic regularly analysed in UPSC online coaching and civils coaching in Hyderabad.
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