The Kerala state assembly has unanimously passed a proposal to change the state’s name from Kerala to Keralam, reflecting its cultural and linguistic heritage. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasized that “Keralam” is the state’s name in Malayalam and urged the central government to officially recognize this name in all languages. The name change seeks to honor the state’s rich history and identity rooted in its language and traditions.
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- Unanimous Approval: Kerala state assembly unanimously approved the name change proposal.
- Cultural Significance: “Keralam” holds deep cultural and linguistic importance for the people of Kerala.
- Current Constitution: The name “Kerala” is listed in the First Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
- Chief Minister’s Request: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the central government to recognize the name “Keralam” formally.
- Ancient Roots: The name “Keralam” is linked to the ancient Chera dynasty and the region’s abundant coconut trees.
- Historical Reference: The earliest recorded mention is in Emperor Ashoka’s Rock Edict II from 257 BCE as “Keralaputra” (son of Kerala).
- Linguistic Insights: German linguist Dr. Herman Gundert suggested links to the Kannada word ‘keram’ and the Old Tamil word ‘cher’.
- Unification Movement: The movement for a unified Malayalam-speaking state gained momentum in the 1920s.
- State Formation: Travancore and Cochin merged to form Travancore-Cochin on July 1, 1949.
- State Reorganization: The State Reorganisation Commission recommended including Malabar and Kasargod into Kerala, excluding some southern taluks now part of Tamil Nadu.
