The proposal to rename Kerala as “Keralam” has sparked constitutional discussion and political debate across India. While the move appears symbolic, it involves a structured legal procedure under Article 3 of the Constitution of India, requiring parliamentary approval and presidential assent.
Why Change from Kerala to Keralam?
The state government proposed replacing the anglicised term “Kerala” with “Keralam,” the original Malayalam pronunciation.
Key Reasons:
Linguistic authenticity — “Keralam” reflects native usage.
Cultural identity — Restores historical and regional identity.
Alignment with local language — The term is widely used in Malayalam communication.
Symbolic assertion — Similar to earlier renaming movements in India.
In 2023, the Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Union Government to amend the name in the Constitution. The resolution was resubmitted in 2024 after procedural clarifications.
How ? – Is it possible
The renaming of a state is governed by Article 3 of the Constitution.Article 3 empowers the Parliament of India to:
Form new State
Alter Boundaries
Increase or decrease Area
Change the name of any state
Thus, the final authority lies with Parliament — not the state legislature.
Roadmap –
Step 1 — State Resolution the Kerala Legislative Assembly passes a resolution expressing its intent. This does not change the name by itself .
Step 2 — Proposal to Union Government the resolution is forwarded for central consideration.
Step 3 — Presidential Recommendations Bill can be introduced in Parliament only with prior recommendation of the President of India.
Step 4 — Reference to State Legislature the President refers the proposal back to the state legislature for its views. The opinion is advisory, not binding.
Step 5 — Introduction of Bill in Parliament . A Bill is introduced to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution.
Step 6 — Parliamentary Approval both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha pass it by simple majority. This is not an Article 368 constitutional amendment.
Step 7 — Presidential Assent after passage, the President signs the Bill. Only then does the name officially change.
Key Political Quotations on the Debate
Sashi Tharoor :
“All to the good, no doubt, but a small linguistic question for the Anglophones among us: what happens now to the terms ‘Keralite’ and ‘Keralan’ for the denizens of the new ‘Keralam’? ‘Keralamite’ sounds like a microbe and ‘Keralamian’ like a rare earth mineral!”
Prime minister Narendra Modi :
“The decision reflects the will of the people of the state.”
Pinarayi Vijayan
“The name of our state is written as ‘Kerala’ in the First Schedule of the Constitution. We request the Central Government to take urgent steps to amend it as ‘Keralam’ under Article 3.”
Mamata Banerjee
“If Kerala can become Keralam, why not West Bengal become Bangla?”
The Kerala to Keralam proposal is not merely symbolic; it is a constitutionally structured process under Article 3 requiring presidential recommendation, parliamentary approval, and final assent. While the initiative began in the state legislature, the ultimate decision rests with Parliament.
The debate — enriched by political reactions and constitutional analysis — highlights the dynamic nature of Indian federalism and the continuing evolution of state identity within a unified constitutional framework.
