Kerala State Renamed as Keralam: Static GK Study Notes
The movement to rename the state of Kerala to ‘Keralam’ marks a significant milestone in the linguistic and cultural identity of the Malayali people. This official transition is not merely a name change but a reclaiming of the state’s traditional nomenclature as used in the native Malayalam language. For Kerala PSC aspirants, understanding the legislative procedure, historical context, and constitutional requirements for such a change is vital for the upcoming 2024-2025 examinations.🚀 Key Takeaways
- ✅ Resolution Date: The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed the first resolution on August 7, 2023, and a second revised one on June 24, 2024.
- ✅ Constitutional Article: Article 3 of the Indian Constitution governs the change of name of a state.
- ✅ Official Language: The move aims to align the English spelling with the Malayalam pronunciation: ‘Keralam’.
- ✅ Schedules Involved: The First Schedule and the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution require amendments.
Table of Contents
What is the significance of renaming Kerala to Keralam?
The significance of renaming Kerala to Keralam lies in the alignment of the state’s official English and Hindi name with its native Malayalam pronunciation. While the state was formed as Kerala in 1956 based on linguistic commonality, the term ‘Keralam’ has been used for centuries in Malayalam literature and daily parlance to define the land of the Cheras. Historically, the term ‘Kerala’ was adapted by English colonizers and official records, stripping it of the phonetic ‘am’ ending typical of Malayalam nouns. By pushing for this change, the state government seeks to honor the Aikya Kerala Movement, which united Malayalam-speaking regions into a single administrative unit. This move reflects a broader trend of decolonizing place names in India, similar to Madras becoming Chennai or Bombay becoming Mumbai.How is a state renamed under the Indian Constitution?
The renaming of a state in India is strictly governed by Article 3 of the Constitution, which empowers the Parliament to alter state names, boundaries, or areas. The process begins with a state assembly resolution, followed by the Union Government introducing a bill in Parliament based on the recommendation of the President of India. Specifically, to change ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’ across all official records, the following steps must be completed:- State Assembly Resolution: The Kerala Legislative Assembly must pass a resolution requesting the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to initiate the name change.
- Presidential Recommendation: The Union Government seeks the President’s recommendation to introduce a bill for the amendment of the First Schedule.
- Parliamentary Approval: A simple majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha is required to pass the bill.
- Schedule Amendments: Specifically, the First Schedule (which lists the names of States and Union Territories) and the Eighth Schedule (which lists official languages) must be updated.
💡 Pro-Tip: PSC Examiner Insight
Kerala PSC often asks about the role of the First Schedule. Remember that any change in a state’s name or boundary automatically involves an amendment to the First Schedule, but per Article 4, this is NOT considered a formal Constitutional Amendment under Article 368.
What is the historical evolution of the name Kerala?
The historical evolution of the name Kerala dates back to ancient Ashokan edicts (3rd century BCE), where the region is referred to as ‘Keralaputra’. Etymologically, it is believed to be derived from ‘Chera-alam’ (land of the Cheras) or ‘Kera’ (coconut tree in Sanskrit/Malayalam), though linguistic experts favor the Dravidian ‘Chera’ root. During the colonial era, the princely states of Travancore and Cochin, and the Malabar district of Madras Presidency, had distinct administrative identities. The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 finally unified these regions. However, the first schedule of the Constitution recorded the name as ‘Kerala’. The modern resolution passed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeks to rectify this by adopting the name used in the Eighth Schedule for the Malayalam language across all languages listed in the Constitution.Vital Data: Renaming Resolution & Facts
The following table summarizes the most critical data points for the Kerala State renaming process that are likely to appear in PSC Question Papers.| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| First Resolution Passed | August 7, 2023 |
| Second (Revised) Resolution | June 24, 2024 |
| Chief Minister Involved | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| Constitutional Article | Article 3 |
| Target Schedule | First Schedule of the Constitution |
| Language Reference | Malayalam (Eighth Schedule) |
Interactive Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of the renaming process with these PSC-style questions.
1. Which Article of the Indian Constitution gives the power to the Parliament to change the name of a state?
Show Answer
Article 3. It deals with the formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States.
2. Who moved the resolution in the Kerala Legislative Assembly for renaming the state as ‘Keralam’?
Show Answer
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan moved the resolution on both occasions.
3. Which schedule of the Constitution lists the names of the states?
