CPI welcomes Union Cabinet nod to rename Kerala as Keralam, calls it victory for linguistic identity

The Communist Party of India (CPI) warmly congratulates the people of Keralam as the Union Cabinet’s accepted the proposal to officially rename the State as “Keralam”, restoring the name by which the land has been historically, linguistically, and culturally known to its people.

This decision represents the culmination of a longstanding and democratic demand of the people of Kerala, rooted in the state’s linguistic heritage and collective self-respect. The name Keralam is intrinsic to the Malayalam language and reflects the civilisational continuity and cultural identity of the region.

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Correcting this colonial-era anglicisation is an affirmation of India’s multilingual and federal character.

The CPI recalls that the Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in June
2024 urging the Union Government to effect this change. This resolution was the expression of a broad political and social consensus within the state, cutting across sections and reflecting the popular will of the people.

The Party places on record the consistent and principled efforts of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which spearheaded this demand both within the state and at the national level. The LDF Government’s initiative in formally moving the Assembly resolution and pursuing the matter with the Union Government demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding Kerala’s linguistic and cultural identity within the constitutional framework.

The CPI also notes with pride that CPI Rajya Sabha leader P. Sandosh Kumar forcefully raised this issue in Parliament through a Special Mention in the Rajya Sabha on 22 July 2024, bringing the voice of Kerala to the floor of the House and highlighting the democratic legitimacy of the demand before the entire nation.

The change in the name of the state according to the aspirations of the people is a reminder that sustained democratic struggle and legislative intervention can yield meaningful outcomes. It is also a reaffirmation that respecting linguistic diversity strengthens, rather than weakens, the unity of the country.

The CPI reiterates its commitment to defending India’s pluralism, federalism, and the rights of states and peoples to assert their cultural and linguistic identities with dignity. We once again congratulate the people of Keralam and all those who contributed to achieving this long-cherished aspiration.