Kerala Is Now Renamed To ‘Keralam’ As Cabinet Clears Proposal; Here’s What The Name Means

In an important development ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, the Union Cabinet is believed to have approved the Kerala government's proposal to officially rename the state from Kerala to Keralam. Sources familiar with the matter said the decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.

The move follows repeated requests from the Kerala government and a unanimous resolution passed by the state assembly seeking the name change.

What the Proposal Is About

The Kerala government has been pushing for the state's name to be changed from "Kerala" to "Keralam," which is the name commonly used in the Malayalam language.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier stated that "Keralam" reflects the cultural and linguistic identity of the state and its people more accurately.

According to sources, the Union Cabinet has now given its approval to this proposal. An official announcement from the Centre is expected after the required formal steps are completed.

Resolution Passed by Kerala Assembly

The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on June 24, 2024, requesting the central government to officially adopt the name "Keralam."

This was actually the second time the assembly passed such a resolution. Earlier, in August 2023, the House had approved a similar proposal and sent it to the Centre.

However, the Ministry of Home Affairs suggested some technical changes and asked the state to resubmit it.

After making the necessary changes, the assembly passed the resolution again in 2024 and sent it for approval.

Why the Name Change Matters

While presenting the resolution, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan explained that the state has historically been known as "Keralam" in Malayalam.

He also said that during India's freedom movement, there was a strong demand to form a unified state for Malayalam-speaking people, and the name "Keralam" has deep cultural roots linked to that movement.

Currently, the name "Kerala" is mentioned in the First Schedule of the Indian Constitution. To officially change it, the Centre must amend the Constitution under Article 3 and update the name in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.

The state government wants the new name to be reflected across all official languages of the Constitution.

Cabinet Meeting and Next Steps

The reported approval came during the first Union Cabinet meeting held at the newly inaugurated Seva Teerth building, the new Prime Minister's Office complex.

Once the process moves forward, the Centre will have to introduce the necessary constitutional amendment to officially implement the change. After Parliament's approval, the state will be formally known as "Keralam" in all official records.

Why Keralam?

In the Malayalam language, people refer to their state as Keralam (കേരളം). The word carries cultural and historical importance.

What Does the Word Mean?

There are a few popular explanations about the meaning of "Keralam":
Land of Coconuts

One widely accepted theory is that the word comes from "Kera" (which means coconut tree in Malayalam) and "Alam" (which means land).

So, Keralam can mean "Land of Coconuts." This fits well because coconut trees are found everywhere in the state.

Some historians link the name to the ancient Chera dynasty, which ruled the region. Over time, the name may have evolved into "Keralam."

Why Is It Called Kerala in English?

When the name was written in English during British rule, "Keralam" became "Kerala." The shorter version stayed in official English records, including the Indian Constitution.