Kerala will soon be Keralam. The loud political message accompanying the change, however, seems to have drowned out its cultural and historical significance. The Union cabinet’s approval for the Kerala government’s nearly-two-year-old proposal for name change came through at the prodding of BJP’s state unit, that too when the assembly election is just around the corner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the decision “reflects the will of the people”. It is the will of Kerala’s people only in the sense that the state legislature unanimously passed a resolution for the name change in 2024, after a 2023 resolution for it was returned citing procedural issues.
While it’s now certain that Kerala will have a new name pending some procedural hurdles, it must be noted that similar proposals from West Bengal have been repeatedly rejected. Since the days of Jyoti Basu as chief minister, West Bengal has proposed to change its name at least four times, with options such as Paschim Bangla, Paschim Banga and Bangla suggested. All the proposals were turned down citing procedural difficulties in changing a state’s name and the alternatives’ similarity to ‘Bangladesh’.
However, West Bengal may soon learn from Kerala’s experience that such rechristening is not just a simple update—it entails long-term administrative, legal and social consequences and high financial costs. It may necessitate altering official records, state emblems, websites, legal documents and official seals. Changes may be required for the names of institutions. People may face issues with records, documents and bank accounts, leading to confusion and confrontation.
Considering these, it must be assessed as to what Kerala stands to achieve by altering its slightly anglicised—if at all—name. Its boundaries will not change, nor will its economy. The name change will have no bearing on its achievements, challenges and difficulties. For the ordinary Keralite, it’s merely the case of adding an extra ‘m’ in how the name is spelled in English; in Malayalam, it has always been Keralam. Though the demand is essentially rooted in the state’s history, culture and linguistic background, the timing of the decision is thoroughly political. So, the name change is expensive symbolism at best and political opportunism at worst.