Kerala became Keralam, but why now? Time to change name, process explained + Failed Bongo/Bengali dialect of Bengal. india news

Last updated:February 25, 2026, 10:57 IST

The change from “Kerala” to “Keralaam” aligns the state’s official name with the spoken language, Malayalam.

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday, February 24, approved the proposal to officially change the name of Kerala to “Keralaam”. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the change would require an amendment to the First Schedule of the Constitution of India, where the state is currently listed as “Kerala”.

The change from “Kerala” to “Keralaam” aligns the state’s official name with the spoken language, Malayalam. Although the variation seems small in English, “Keralaam” holds cultural and linguistic significance for the people of the state, being commonly interpreted as “land of coconuts”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the decision on

Ashwini Vaishnav said the Kerala (Change of Name) Bill, 2026 will now be sent to the Kerala Assembly for formal review.

How did the process start?

The proposal began in June 2024 when the Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution for the name change. The state government later forwarded the request to the Centre.

The resolution said: “The name of our State is ‘Kerala’ in the Malayalam language. The States were formed on the basis of language on November 1, 1956. Kerala Piravi Day is also on November 1. Since the time of the national freedom struggle, there has been a strong demand for the formation of a united Kerala for the Malayalam speaking people. But the name of our State is recorded as ‘Kerala’ in the First Schedule of the Constitution. The House appealed unanimously. The Central Government should Will take immediate steps as per Article 3 of the Constitution to amend ‘Keralaam’.

Under Article 3 of the Constitution, Parliament has the right to change the name of a state. According to reports, there were procedural issues in the first attempt to pass the resolution, after which it was re-introduced.

What will happen next after cabinet approval?

With the Union Cabinet approving the proposal, the formal constitutional process under Article 3 will now begin.

As per procedure, the President will first send the bill to the Kerala Assembly to seek its opinion. Once the Assembly responds, the Center will proceed to the next step.

After that, the President’s recommendation will be obtained for introducing the Kerala (Change of Name) Bill, 2026 in Parliament. If Parliament passes the bill and the President assents, “Kerala” will officially replace “Kerala” in the Constitution as well as in all legal and administrative records.

Strong support from Malayali community in UAE

The decision has been warmly welcomed by the Malayali community in the UAE, where around one million Malayalis live, The Times of India reports.

For many people in the Gulf, the state has always been “Kerala” in daily speech, even though “Kerala” is used in official documents such as passports, airline tickets and maps. Now that the change is closer to becoming official, the development has sparked pride, humor and even some practical concerns among expatriates.

Those who spoke to UAE-based outlet Khaleej Times described the move as a natural improvement, like Bombay becoming Mumbai or Madras being renamed Chennai. They believe that this change restores the state’s traditional Malayalam identity rather than the colonial-era version.

Mr Prakash Purayath, general secretary of the Indian Association Sharjah (IAS), said that in Malayalam, the state “is always called Keralam.” “The name Kerala is often seen in official documents from the colonial era and onwards,” he said.

He explained that the word probably originated from “Cheram”, associated with the Chera dynasty or from “Kera”, meaning coconut tree and “Alam”, meaning land. Together they mean “land of coconut trees.” He added, “This is a classic case of surname versus surname. When a state reclaims its original name, it is often a powerful act of linguistic and cultural affirmation.”

“The world seems to be understanding how we talk all the time,” said Mini Thomas, a school teacher in Kollam.

But not all voices are supportive. Nisar Thalangara, president of the Indian Association Sharjah and representative of the Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC), felt that it would have been better to retain “Kerala”. According to him, “Kerala” is a more international term while “Keralaam” sounds more local.

He also suggested that a public survey could have been conducted before taking such a decision and said that keeping the existing name could have helped attract more international visitors.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram, humorously asked whether residents would now be referred to as “Keralaites,” “Keralaites” or simply “Malayalis.”

He said, “‘Carlamite’ sounds like a microbe and ‘Carlamian’ sounds like a rare earth mineral…! The CMO may want to launch a competition for new words as a result of this election excitement.”

One user wrote, “In creating its own states, this is a very good step for the nation to start recognizing the richness of its culture. Hope the people of Kerala will realize the importance of nationalist life, which is the only holistic way to move towards prosperity inside and out.”

Why does this decision also have political importance?

The approval is also being seen in a political context as the BJP-led government at the Center supporting the proposal has indicated that it is ready to support the demand raised by the Kerala Assembly. For the party, supporting the Malayalam form of the state’s name fits into its larger narrative of promoting cultural roots and linguistic identity.

Language has often been a sensitive issue during the debate over the three-language formula and Hindi in Kerala. The state government has said that students can learn multiple languages, but Hindi should not be made mandatory.

At the same time, the Center has repeatedly said that Indian languages ​​should be encouraged in governance and education. Last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said, “Hindi is a friend of all languages ​​and Hindi and other Indian languages ​​together enhance our self-respect.”

The timing of approval is also important. This decision has come before the assembly elections to be held in the state in the first half of this year. The BJP is trying to expand in Kerala, where the Left and Congress generally get strong support. By supporting the name change passed by the Kerala Assembly, the Center can show that it is responding to the demand raised within the state. This move will help the party appear supportive of Kerala’s cultural identity.

Why is the name change of West Bengal still pending?

After the Cabinet approved Kerala’s proposal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reacted, saying, “We have nothing against any state. Kerala’s proposal has been accepted because there is an understanding between the BJP and the CPM.”

“They (BJP) will not remain in power forever. We will achieve the name of Bengal for our state,” he said.

The attempt to change the name of the state is not new. It was in 1999 when the Left Front government led by Jyoti Basu had suggested options like “West Bengali” and “Bangla”. Over the years, different governments in the state have tried several versions.

After Mamata Banerjee assumed power in 2011, her government proposed “Paschim Banga” in English and Bengali, but the Center did not approve it. A few years later, in 2016, another attempt was made under three different names: “Bengal” in English, “Bangla” in Bengali and “Bengal” in Hindi. This proposal was rejected. The Center said only a similar name could be considered.

In 2018, the assembly passed another resolution, this time choosing only “Bangla”. The state government said the change will also help in avoiding being called last in official meetings due to alphabetical order. Mamata Banerjee had told that in West Bengal one often gets a chance to speak later in meetings when the level of attention is low.

Still the proposal could not move forward. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, junior home minister Nityanand Rai said, “A change in the name of a state requires a constitutional amendment after considering all relevant factors.”

Concern was also expressed by the Ministry of External Affairs. According to The Hindu, officials felt that the name “Bangla” could be confused with Bangladesh in international forums.

The issue remains active as Trinamool MP Ritabrata Banerjee again raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha in February last year.

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