Thiruvananthapuram: In a historic decision, the Kerala State Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to rename the state from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the resolution, emphasizing the cultural and linguistic significance of the proposed name change. The resolution received overwhelming support from members across both the opposition and treasury benches.
The initiative, initially adopted in August 2023, was reintroduced due to procedural requirements. CM Vijayan underscored that ‘Keralam’ is the traditional name of the state in Malayalam, Kerala’s native language, deeply rooted in its cultural heritage.
Highlighting the linguistic ethos of Indian states, CM Vijayan noted that Kerala, formed on November 1, 1956, shares its inception date with its linguistic identity. He articulated that renaming to ‘Keralam’ aligns the state’s official name with its rich linguistic legacy.
Following the Assembly’s unanimous approval, the state government has urged the Central government to officially recognize the change to ‘Keralam’ in the Constitution and all official languages. This step is seen as pivotal in reaffirming Kerala’s unique linguistic and cultural identity on a national scale.
The resolution marks a significant milestone in Kerala’s history, reflecting a collective effort to preserve and promote its cultural heritage through linguistic symbolism. With the legislative backing secured, Kerala looks forward to the formal adoption of ‘Keralam’ as its official name, encapsulating the essence of its vibrant linguistic tradition.
The resolution will now be forwarded to the Central government for necessary constitutional amendments to formally acknowledge the renaming of Kerala to ‘Keralam’ across all official documents and communications.