The resolution urged the Central government to change the name as ‘Keralam’ in all the languages included under the Eighth Schedule and states that-
The name of Kerala in Malayalam language is ‘Keralam’. States were formed on linguistic basis on November 1, 1956 which is also observed as Kerala Formation Day.
The demand for a united Kerala for all Malayalam speaking communities has been raised since freedom struggle days.
However, the name of the state in the 1st Schedule of the Constitution has been written as Kerala.
This Assembly is unanimously requesting the Union Government to take immediate steps under Article 3 of the Constitution to change the name of the state to Keralam.
KERALA
Emperor Asoka’s Rock Edict II of 257 BC is the earliest evidence that mentions Kerala. The inscription refers to the local ruler as Kerala Putra (Sanskrit for “son of Kerala”), and “son of Chera” referring to the Chera dynasty.
KERALAM
Scholars believe ‘Keralam’ could have originated from ‘Cheram’.
According to scholars, the word ‘keram’ is the Canarese (Kannada) form of cheram, and is the region between Gokarnam and Kanyakumari.
The origin of the term could possibly be from the root ‘cher’, which means to join and ‘alam’ means region or land, therefore cheralam.
Previous Name Changes of other States
1. The earliest name changes were done by the Centre in 1950 when East Punjab became Punjab and United Provinces became Uttar Pradesh.
2. Uttaranchal’s name was changed to Uttarakhand in 2006.
3. In 2011, Orissa’s name was changed to Odisha and the language became Odia from Oriya while the resolution was passed for the same in 2008.
4. But the name change resolutions are not always accepted by the Centre. For instance, the West Bengal assembly passed a resolution in 2011 seeking to change the state’s name to “Paschim Banga”. It passed another resolution in 2016 seeking to change its name to Bengal in English and Banga in Bengali. But the proposal was turned down by the Centre.
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