Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has lashed out at the Union Government following the Cabinet’s decision to officially rename the state to ‘Keralam’. While the state assembly previously sought this change to reflect its Malayalam roots, Tharoor argued that the Centre is prioritizing nomenclature over substantive developmental projects like the long-awaited AIIMS.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the proposal to alter the state’s name from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’. This move aligns with a resolution passed by the state assembly to use the Malayalam pronunciation in official records across all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
However, the decision has met with sharp criticism from Tharoor, the Thiruvananthapuram MP. He pointed out that while the government is quick to authorize symbolic shifts, it remains indifferent to Kerala’s actual economic and institutional needs.
Development vs Symbolism: Tharoor’s Critique
Speaking to reporters, Tharoor highlighted a perceived imbalance in the Union Budget. He noted that despite repeated demands, the state has not been granted an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or significant new industrial projects.
“It has already been ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam. So now, a Malayalam word is coming into English. I don’t know what difference it makes,” Tharoor remarked. He emphasized that the residents of the state are more concerned with infrastructure and central investment than a phonetic adjustment in English records.
The Linguistic Puzzle: Keralite or Keralamite?
Beyond the political friction, Tharoor, known for his vast vocabulary, raised a “small linguistic question” on social media. He questioned the future of the terms used to describe the people of the state.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he pondered what happens to terms like “Keralite” and “Keralan” for the “denizens” of the newly renamed Keralam. In his signature style, he quipped that “Keralamite” sounds like a microbe, while “Keralamian” resembles the name of a rare earth mineral.
Political Context: Elections on the Horizon
The timing of the Cabinet’s approval is significant. Kerala is expected to go to the polls before May 2026 to elect 140 members of the state legislative assembly. Although the Election Commission of India has not yet announced the dates, the renaming is seen by many as a move to tap into regional sentiments.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had moved the resolution for this name change back in 2024. He argued that the demand for a united “Keralam” for Malayalam speakers dates back to the national freedom struggle. The state assembly had urged the Centre to take immediate steps under Article 3 of the Constitution.
Constitutional and Administrative Process
The process of renaming a state involves a Constitutional amendment. Once the Union Cabinet approves it, a bill must be introduced in Parliament. The name change requires a simple majority in both houses of Parliament to become official under the First Schedule of the Constitution.
Critics of the move suggest that while the cultural sentiment is valid, the administrative costs of changing signage, stationary, and official digital records across the country will be substantial. They argue that this energy would be better spent addressing the state’s fiscal challenges.
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