New Delhi: In a significant move to honor its deep-rooted linguistic and historical identity, the Union Cabinet has recently cleared a proposal to officially rename the state of Kerala to Keralam. This decision, approved in February 2026, marks the fulfillment of a long-standing cultural aspiration to align the state’s official English name with its traditional Malayalam name.
The name Keralam is more than just a formal title; it is a reflection of the state’s centuries-old heritage. The term traces its origins back to ancient times, with its earliest recorded mention appearing as Keralaputra in the rock edicts of Emperor Ashoka around 257 BCE. Scholars suggest that the name is intrinsically linked to the Chera dynasty, one of the three great powers of ancient Tamilakam. The word Keralam is believed to have evolved from Cheram, representing the land of the Cheras, or according to popular folk etymology, the land of coconuts, where kera signifies the coconut palm and alam means land.
The cultural movement for this change gained renewed momentum following a unanimous resolution passed by the state legislative assembly. Leaders across the political spectrum emphasized that the name Kerala was an anglicized version that emerged during colonial rule for administrative convenience. By officially adopting Keralam, the state seeks to reclaim its native phonetic identity, which has been the heart of its literature, poetry, and daily discourse for generations.
This transition is deeply connected to the concept of linguistic states established on November 1, 1956, a day celebrated by residents as Kerala Piravi or the birth of the state. While the state was formed to unite Malayalam speakers, the constitution had continued to use the name Kerala in its schedules. The current shift aims to bridge this gap, ensuring that the constitutional identity of the state resonates with the cultural pride of the Malayalam-speaking people.