Keralam Push Sparks Spotlight on India’s Renamed States Since Independence

India’s post-1947 geography has never been static.

Now that Keralam is back in focus after the Union Cabinet voted for Kerala’s request to use its Malayalam name for official purposes, attention has returned to a lesser-tracked story: the list of renamed states in India and what these changes reveal about language, identity and governance.

What began as administrative cleanup after Independence has, over time, become a way for regions to reclaim native pronunciations and cultural memory.

Here’s a closer look.

Why does Kerala want to be called Keralam?

Kerala has formally sought to adopt Keralam, the Malayalam name used locally for centuries. The Union Cabinet approved the change for central records, though legal usage still requires parliamentary backing under the Indian Constitution.

State officials say the move corrects an anglicised spelling rather than inventing a new identity.

Does Keralam change anything on the ground for residents of Kerala?

Not immediately. Daily governance, welfare schemes, and state administration remain unchanged. The shift to Keralam mainly affects central records and official nomenclature. Any broader legal impact will depend on Parliament passing a separate amendment to update references in the Indian Constitution.

How does India change a state’s name legally?

Under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, any renaming must be approved by Parliament. Even after Cabinet clearance, the President must first seek the concerned state assembly’s views before recommending a bill for introduction. A separate Act is then required to update constitutional references.

Courts can use the existing name unless Parliament legislates otherwise, a point Mathrubhumi highlighted in its reporting on Kerala High Court procedures.

Which was the first state to change its name after Independence?

Uttar Pradesh led the way in 1950, when the British-era “United Provinces of Agra and Oudh” was dropped. The new name, meaning “Northern Province,” reflected India’s early effort to shed colonial labels and streamline administration in the newly formed republic.

Why did Madras State become Tamil Nadu?

Tamil Nadu adopted its current name in 1969 after sustained demands for linguistic recognition. The shift followed earlier movements that reshaped southern India, including the creation of Andhra Pradesh. 

“Tamil Nadu,” meaning “Land of the Tamils,” aligned the state’s identity directly with its dominant language and culture.

What prompted Mysore to become Karnataka?

In 1973, Karnataka replaced “Mysore,” a name that represented only one region of a much larger Kannada-speaking state formed after the 1956 reorganisation. Under the then Chief Minister Devaraj Urs, the change acknowledged the broader cultural geography of Karunadu, or “lofty land.”

How did Lakshadweep get its current name?

The Union Territory now called Lakshadweep was earlier known by the cumbersome title “Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands.” Renamed in 1973, Lakshadweep translates to “a hundred thousand islands,” offering a single identity for the scattered archipelago.

Why was Uttaranchal renamed as Uttarakhand?

Created in 2000, the hill state was initially called Uttaranchal. Local sentiment, however, favoured Uttarakhand, a name rooted in ancient texts. The Centre approved the switch in 2007, recognising the historical and cultural resonance of “Land of the North.” 

The move mirrors the Keralam push, where local usage finally caught up with constitutional spelling.

What changed when Orissa became Odisha?

Odisha transitioned in 2011 to correct colonial-era spellings. “Orissa” and “Oriya” were replaced with “Odisha” and “Odia,” aligning English usage with native pronunciation. 

Like Keralam in Kerala, the shift to Odisha was primarily a linguistic correction, aimed at aligning official English usage with native pronunciation rather than redefining political identity.

What’s holding up West Bengal’s proposed name change?

Unlike Kerala’s Keralam push, West Bengal’s efforts to rename itself have stalled. The state assembly has passed multiple resolutions to adopt Bangla or Paschim Bongo, but the Centre has not approved these proposals. 

Partly because the proposed names could be confused with the neighbouring country, Bangladesh, and partly because of inconsistent political backing.

What does Keralam signal for the future?

Kerala’s move toward Keralam reflects a broader national pattern of states reclaiming native names over colonial spellings. States seeking names that reflect how residents speak, not how colonial administrators wrote. 

The timing also carries political weight ahead of assembly elections, though officials frame it primarily as cultural restoration.

(With inputs from yMedia)