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Context:
India returning to its cultural roots: A historic and bold step by the Central Government to provide constitutional recognition to linguistic identity.
Current News Points:
- Cabinet Approval: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the official green light to the proposal to rename 'Kerala' as 'Keralam'.
- Process and Bill: Under Article 3, a bill will now be introduced in Parliament to formally change the state's name by amending the First Schedule of the Constitution.
- Political Reaction: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has termed this decision a 'political understanding' between the BJP and the CPM, while the Prime Minister has called it a respect for the people's will.
- The West Bengal Issue: Amid the approval of Kerala’s proposal, West Bengal’s proposal to rename the state as 'Bangla' has once again entered discussion and controversy due to international diplomatic reasons (similarity to Bangladesh) and technical hurdles.
Why 'Keralam' from 'Kerala' and its Significance:
- Linguistic Justice: The name of the state in the Malayalam language has always been 'Keralam'; this change removes 'English' influence and accords pride to the local linguistic identity.
- Cultural Pride: This decision is in line with the national vision of 'taking pride in one's heritage', reorganizing colonial-era naming according to Indian culture.
- Administrative Uniformity: Cooperative federalism has been strengthened by the Centre’s acceptance of two unanimous resolutions (2023 and 2024) passed by the State Assembly.
Constitutional Process of Renaming a State
- Main Constitutional Article: Article 3 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Parliament to change the name of any state, increase or decrease its boundaries, or form new states.
- Key Stages of the Process:
- Prior Recommendation of the President: The President's permission is mandatory before introducing a bill for renaming in Parliament.
- View of the State: The President refers the bill to the concerned State Assembly for its views.
- Special Note: The view of the state is merely 'advice'; Parliament is not bound to accept it.
- Presentation in Parliament: After the President's permission, the bill can be introduced in either House of Parliament (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha).
- Simple Majority: This bill requires only a simple majority (50% + 1 of the members present and voting) to be passed.
- President’s Assent: The name change becomes effective immediately upon the President's signature after being passed by both Houses.
- Necessary Amendments: Along with the name change, the First and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution are amended. This is not considered a 'Constitutional Amendment' under Article 368 (it is a literal legislative process).
History and Background:
- Ancient Evidence: The history of the word 'Keralam' is thousands of years old; it was referred to as "Keralaputra" in Ashokan edicts of the 3rd century BCE and also referenced in the ancient Tamil text "Akananuru".
- Etymology: According to scholars, it is derived from "Cher" (to join) and "Alam" (region), meaning 'land created by the sea'. Some link it to the abundance of "Keram" (coconut).
- British Influence: The name 'Kerala' became prevalent during British rule for the convenience of English pronunciation, which is now being restored to its original form.
Conclusion:
This decision is not merely a change of name, but a powerful effort to establish India's linguistic diversity and ancient cultural identity within the constitutional framework. While 'Keralam' is close to its cultural victory, the wait for West Bengal makes it clear that geographical and diplomatic sensitivities are equally decisive in the naming of states.