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Written By HARISH MANAV/ The NEWS DOSE.COM

New Delhi/ Chandigarh: The Union Cabinet has approved the Kerala government’s proposal to officially rename the state as ‘Keralam’, initiating the constitutional process to amend its name in the First Schedule of the Constitution under Article 3. The move follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly on June 24, 2024, urging the Centre to adopt the state’s Malayalam name in official records and across all recognised languages.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had argued that ‘Keralam’ reflects the state’s linguistic and cultural identity, and the name change is being pursued ahead of the Assembly elections, giving the decision both symbolic and political significance.

Renaming as Political Messaging: Aligning Identity, Culture, and Governance

Beyond Kerala, the renaming of states and cities has increasingly become part of a broader political and cultural narrative under the BJP-led central government — one that emphasises indigenous identity, linguistic authenticity, and civilisational roots. Such moves often signal a shift away from colonial-era or Mughal-era names toward local, historical, or culturally rooted nomenclature.

This trend reflects an effort to align geography with political messaging, reinforcing narratives of cultural reclamation, national pride, and historical correction. Renaming is not merely administrative — it shapes public memory, official discourse, and political symbolism.

 Major City and State Name Changes

Several high-profile name changes in recent years illustrate this evolving political and cultural narrative:

• Allahabad → Prayagraj (2018): The Uttar Pradesh government restored the ancient name associated with the sacred confluence of rivers, reinforcing religious and historical identity.

• Gurgaon → Gurugram (2016): Haryana renamed the city after Guru Dronacharya, linking it to its mythological roots.

• Aurangabad → Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (2023): The name was changed to honour the Maratha ruler Sambhaji, replacing a Mughal-era association.

• Hoshangabad → Narmadapuram (2021): Madhya Pradesh renamed the city after the Narmada River, emphasising regional geography.

• Bombay → Mumbai, Calcutta → Kolkata, Madras → Chennai, Bangalore → Bengaluru: These changes reflected a larger movement toward linguistic authenticity and decolonisation of place names.

• Orissa → Odisha and Pondicherry → Puducherry: These states and Union Territories’ name changes reflected linguistic accuracy and regional identity.

Even railway stations, roads, and public institutions have undergone similar renaming exercises to align with cultural or ideological narratives.

Kerala to Keralam: Symbolism Beyond Semantics

The renaming of Kerala to Keralam follows the same pattern — restoring the state’s original Malayalam name and reinforcing linguistic identity. While the administrative structure will remain unchanged, the symbolic impact is significant, as official names shape national narratives, political messaging, and cultural perception.

Under Article 3 of the Constitution, Parliament holds the authority to alter the names of states. Once the legislative process is completed, ‘Keralam’ will become the official name in all constitutional and administrative records.

A Tool of Political and Cultural Assertion

As India approaches multiple state elections, such renaming exercises carry both cultural and political weight. They help governments connect with regional identity, reinforce historical narratives, and shape public perception.

For the BJP-led central government, endorsing such name changes aligns with its broader ideological positioning — one that seeks to reflect indigenous heritage, linguistic authenticity, and civilisational continuity in India’s official geography.

With Kerala now poised to become ‘Keralam’, the decision underscores how geography, identity, and politics increasingly intersect in shaping India’s evolving national narrative.