Kerala Assembly adopts resolution to rename state as Keralam

Ashraf Padanna, Correspondent

Kerala Legislative Assembly on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the federal government to rename the state as ‘Keralam.’

"The need to unite Kerala for the Malayalam-speaking communities has been strongly evident since the time of the national freedom struggle. However, the name of our state is listed as Kerala in the First Schedule of the Constitution,” it says.

"This Assembly unanimously requests the Union Government to take immediate steps to amend it to 'Keralam' under Article 3 of the Constitution. This House also requests that our state be renamed as 'Keralam' in all the languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.”

Moving the resolution, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said ‘Keralam’ should replace Kerala in all official languages listed in the Constitution of India.

Kerala earlier changed the names of 17 cities and twins including the state capital Thiruvananthapuram (from Trivandrum), Kollam (Quilon), Kochi (Cochin), Thrissur (Trichur), Kozhikode (Calicut) and Kannur (Cannanore).

Other rechristened towns are Alappuzha (Alleppey), Palakkad (Palghat), Thalassery (Tellicherry), Vadakara (Badagare), Paravur (Parur), Aluva (Alwaye), Devi Kulam (Devi Colam), Changanassery (Changanacherry), Chirayinkeezhu (Chirayinkil), Kodungallur (Cranganore), Mannarkad (Mannarghat), Mananthavady (Mannantoddy) and Sulthan Bathery (Sultan Battery).