Kerala's Name Change to Keralam Sparks Linguistic Debate Amid Political Approval The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal to rename Kerala as Keralam on February 24, 2026. The decision follows a resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on June 24, 2024, which called for the name change. The government of Kerala had previously requested the central government to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution under Article 3 to reflect the new name. Once the Union Cabinet cleared the proposal, the President of India will forward the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the State Legislative Assembly for its input. After reviewing the assembly’s recommendations, the central government will proceed with introducing the bill in Parliament to formally rename Kerala as Keralam. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor humorously addressed the linguistic implications of the name change, questioning what would happen to terms like "Keralite" and "Keralan" for the residents of the newly named Keralam. He quipped that "Keralamite" sounds like a microbe and "Keralamian" resembles a rare earth mineral, suggesting the need for a competition to coin new terms. Tharoor’s remarks came as the Cabinet finalized the decision, highlighting the cultural and linguistic debate surrounding the change. Tharoor also expressed appreciation for the honor bestowed upon C. Rajagopalachari with a statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan, noting his historical significance as India’s first Indian Governor-General. He praised Rajagopalachari’s principles, including support for free enterprise, social justice, and constitutional freedoms, which he said remain relevant today. Tharoor lamented the decline of figures like Rajagopalachari, emphasizing their enduring influence on Indian values.#kerala #shashi_tharoor #prime_minister_narendra_modhi #union_cabinet #c_rajagopalachari
