From “Kerala” to “Keralam”: The 2,000-Year Journey, From Emperor Ashoka’s Edicts to PM Modi’s Cabinet

The Union Cabinet, under the leadership Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal to rename “Kerala” as “Keralam.”

For many Malayalis scrolling through their phone screens, the first reaction was: “Wasn’t it always Keralam?”

And honestly, they’re not wrong!

The History Behind Keralam Identity

The land we call home has been “Keralam” in our hearts and tongues for as long as anyone can remember. When we say “Ente Keralam” (my Kerala), the word rolls off the tongue naturally in Malayalam.

But in the Constitution’s First Schedule, it’s been officially recorded as “Kerala” since the states were reorganized on linguistic basis back on November 1, 1956.

But here’s something interesting – the name itself is ancient. Way ancient.

Archaeologists and historians point to Emperor Ashoka’s Major Rock Edict II from 257 BCE, where the term “Keralaputo” appears in Prakrit. That’s “Keralaputra” – son of Kerala.

“एवमपि प्रचंतेसु यथ चोडा, पाडा, सतियपुतो, केरलपुतो, तंबपंनी, अंतियको योनराजा…”

Then there’s Patanjali’s Mahabhashya from around the 2nd century BCE, which uses the exact word “Kerala” while explaining Sanskrit grammar rules.

The Ramayana and Mahabharata? They mention “Kerala” and “Keralas” too. In the Kishkindha Kanda, when Sugriva sends search parties for Sita Maa, he specifically names the Cholas, Pandyas, and “Keralas” in the south.

नदीं गोदावरीं चैव सर्वमेवानुपश्यत । तथैवान्ध्रांश्च पुण्ड्रांश्च चोलान् पाण्ड्यान् केरलान् ।।

By the 11th century, Chola inscriptions at the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur proudly record victories over Chera kings, and there it is – “Kēraḷam” with that distinctive -am suffix that Malayalis instinctively add. The 14th-century grammar text Lilatilakam refers to the region as “Keralam” and calls the local language “Kerala-bhasha.”

So the word “Keralam” isn’t some new invention. It’s been around for centuries. The Keralolpathi, a 17th-century text about Parashurama creating the land, has the word right there in its title.

Why Now? The Politics Behind the Keralam

Here’s where things get a bit tangled.

The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on June 24, 2024, unanimously appealing to the central government to change the name from “Kerala” to “Keralam” in the Constitution. The resolution pointed out something obvious – the state’s name in Malayalam has always been “Keralam,” so why not make it official?

The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government sent this request to the Centre. And then…they waited. And waited.

For nearly two years, the file sat somewhere in the corridors of North Block. The Ministry of Home Affairs, under Amit Shah, had to consult the Department of Legal Affairs and the Legislative Department. Everyone had to agree. Concurrence notes had to be written. Files had to
move from one desk to another.

Now, in 2026, with elections not too far away in political calculations, the cabinet has finally given its nod.

The Process Behind Name Change

For those wondering why a state can’t just rename itself – the Constitution has rules for this. Article 3 gives Parliament the power to alter the name of any state. But there’s a process.

First, the state legislature has to pass a resolution. LDF government in Kerala did that in 2024.

Then, the central government considers it. Which they just did.

Next, the President will refer a bill – officially the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026– back to the state assembly for its views. Yes, even though the assembly already passed a resolution, the Constitution wants this specific step. The assembly will express its views (likely the same ones), and then the bill goes to Parliament.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, under Amit Shah, had examined the proposal in consultation with the Law Ministry.

Finally, Parliament votes on it, and if passed, the First Schedule of the Constitution gets amended. “Kerala” becomes “Keralam.”

Even after approval, several administrative steps will be required, including changes in official records, government signage, educational documents, passports, and international references.

Will This Benefit The BJP In Kerala?

Now for the question everyone’s whispering about: Is this a political move?

Kerala has 20 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP has never won a single one. In the 2021 assembly elections, they managed to open their account with two seats, but that’s still a minor presence in the 140-member house.

The BJP has been trying for years to gain a foothold in Kerala. They’ve tried Hindutva, they’ve tried development talk, they’ve tried courting Christian and Muslim communities. Nothing has really worked.

Kerala’s political landscape has traditionally been dominated by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

So a name change that the Kerala government itself requested – and that coincide with cultural sentiments – might seem like an easy win.

The BJP can say, “See, we respect your identity. We cleared what your elected state government has asked for.”

But will common Malayalis buy it? The average person on the street in Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi knows that this request has been pending for two years. They know elections are approaching. They’ve seen this game before.

There’s also the fact that renaming doesn’t solve any real problems. It doesn’t fix potholes, create jobs, or improve schools. It’s symbolic politics – sometimes meaningful, sometimes just a distraction.

The Buzz Amongst Malyalis

Walk into any chai kada in Kerala, and you’ll hear mixed reactions. Some people shrug: “We already say Keralam. What changes?” Others are more cynical: “The BJP wants credit for something we asked for ages ago.”

There’s also the practical question: How much will this cost? Name changes mean updating official documents, signboards, government stationery, maybe even maps. That’s public money that could have gone elsewhere.

But there’s genuine sentiment too. For many, seeing “Keralam” in the Constitution feels like respect for the language. Malayalis are fiercely proud of their mother tongue, and if the official records can match what they speak at home, why not?

The Bigger Picture

India has seen many name changes – from Bombay to Mumbai, Madras to Chennai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Orissa to Odisha. Sometimes it feels organic, sometimes politically motivated. But in each case, the argument has been about shedding colonial hangovers or matching local pronunciation.

Kerala’s case is slightly different. “Kerala” isn’t exactly wrong – it’s the Sanskrit version that’s been used for millennia alongside “Keralam.”

The state’s own website is kerala.gov.in. Malayalam newspapers use both.

What makes this interesting is the timing. The BJP, which runs the central government, is approving something a Left-front state government asked for. In India’s polarized politics, that’s almost unusual. It suggests that on cultural-linguistic matters, there can still be some consensus.

Looking Forward

The bill still has to go through Parliament. With the NDA comfortably in power, passage seems certain. By the end of 2026, “Keralam” could officially be on the world map.

Whether this translates into votes for the BJP in 2026 for state election or 2029 for Lok Sabha is another question. Kerala voters are sophisticated. They watch, they analyze, and they rarely vote based on symbolism alone.

For now, though, Malayalis can smile a little. Their state’s name, the one their grandparents used, the one that appears in ancient inscriptions and modern conversations alike, is finally getting its due place in the Constitution.

Keralam it is. Always was, always will be!