Kerala's name change: The Union Cabinet recently approved a proposal to officially change Kerala's name to "Keralaam." This change may seem small, but it holds immense political, linguistic, and historical significance. For decades, leftists have argued that the state's name should be based on its original Malayalam pronunciation, rather than its older, anglicized form.
Language Identity and Original Pronunciation -
In Malayalam, the state's name has always been pronounced "Keralaam," with a distinctive "m" sound at the end. It is argued that Kerala is an English variation introduced during colonial rule that does not fully reflect local pronunciation.
Leftists have consistently argued that the state's name should be "Keralaam" in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, rather than retaining the English-influenced spelling.
Historical Roots of the Name -
The word Kerala has its roots in ancient history. It is first mentioned in Emperor Ashoka's edicts of 257 BCE. Here, the region is called "Keralaputra," meaning "son of the Chera land." Many scholars believe it is derived from "Cheram," meaning the Old Chera dynasty that ruled parts of South India. The Cheras were one of the three major Tamil dynasties of early Indian history. It is believed that over time, 'Cheram' evolved linguistically into 'Keralaam'.
It is also said that the name comes from the words kera and alam, meaning land of coconuts. Given Kerala's lush coconut groves and coastal areas, this meaning remains culturally popular even today.
Unity Kerala Movement -
The demand for Kerala is also linked to the historic Unity Kerala Movement, which began in the 1920s. This movement aimed to unify the Malayalam-speaking areas into a single administrative unit. At the time, these areas were divided between princely states and the Madras Presidency. Left parties, especially the Communist movement, played a major role in transforming this demand into a major political campaign. At the 1952 Thrissur Conference, the Communist Party strongly advocated for a unified Kerala based on linguistic identity.
The formation of Kerala in 1956 -
The dream of unification came true with the enactment of the States Reorganization Act on November 1, 1956. The Malayalam-speaking areas were merged to form the present-day state of Kerala. However, the official English spelling remained unchanged.
