God's Own Country goes native! Kerala to be Keralam

The Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal to officially rename the state of Kerala as “Keralam,” setting in motion a constitutional process that reflects linguistic identity , regional pride , and India’s federal structure . The decision, taken at a meeting chaired by Prime minister Narendra Modi, follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in June 2024 urging the Centre to adopt the Malayalam form of the state’s name.

The proposed Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will now be referred by the President to the state legislature for its views, as required under Article 3 of the Constitution . Once the Assembly responds, the Union government can introduce the Bill in Parliament with presidential recommendation. Article 3 empowers Parliament to alter the name of a state, while mandating consultation with the concerned legislature.

The demand to adopt “Keralam” is rooted in the state’s linguistic and cultural heritage . In Malayalam, the region has long been known as Keralam, while “Kerala” emerged through colonial-era anglicisation and was retained in the Constitution after the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines in 1956. Supporters say restoring the indigenous name honours the historic movement for a unified Malayalam-speaking region and reflects cultural authenticity .

The proposal was examined by the Ministry of Home Affairs and received concurrence from the Ministry of Law and Justice , confirming its legal viability. Supporters view the move as aligning official nomenclature with local usage while reinforcing civilisational continuity .

Political reactions have been swift. The Communist Party of India described the decision as the culmination of a longstanding democratic demand rooted in collective self-respect and identity. The party credited the Left Democratic Front government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for pursuing the resolution within the constitutional framework.

The development has also revived debate beyond Kerala. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated the people of Keralam but renewed criticism of the Centre for not approving her state’s request to rename West Bengal as “Bangla.” The state assembly has passed resolutions supporting the change, arguing that “Bangla” better reflects linguistic identity and heritage. The proposal has remained pending for years, prompting renewed political discussion.

India has witnessed several renamings aimed at restoring indigenous pronunciations or aligning official names with local languages. Odisha replaced Orissa in 2011, Puducherry replaced Pondicherry in 2006, and Uttarakhand replaced Uttaranchal in 2007 each reflecting regional identity and linguistic authenticity.

If Parliament approves the change, adopting “Keralam” would symbolise linguistic pride and cultural continuity while underscoring India’s commitment to accommodating regional identities within its constitutional framework.