Lok Sabha Passes Bill to Rename Kerala as Keralam in Monsoon Session

The Lok Sabha passed a historic bill on Tuesday to officially rename the state of Kerala as 'Keralam'. This legislative move follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly, which sought to change the state's name in the First Schedule of the Constitution to reflect its linguistic and cultural roots in Malayalam. The renaming is intended to align the English name of the state with its local pronunciation and heritage. This development occurred on Day 17 of the ongoing Monsoon Session, marking a significant moment for the southern state's identity on the national stage.

Simultaneously, the Rajya Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, which aims to streamline the functioning of various judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. The bill proposes the abolition of certain existing appellate bodies and the transfer of their functions to high courts, citing the need for faster adjudication and reduced administrative overhead. The session saw active participation from various party members, though the renaming of Kerala remained the day's primary focal point. Both bills now move further through the parliamentary process to complete the necessary constitutional requirements for final enactment.

The renaming of the state will necessitate widespread changes across all official documentation, government portals, and international registries. Once the constitutional amendment is finalized, the name 'Keralam' will be used in all official correspondence from the Union and State governments. This shift is seen as a fulfillment of a long-standing demand by historians and cultural activists who argued that the colonial-era 'Kerala' did not fully represent the region's linguistic soul. The transition is expected to be managed in phases to ensure that administrative records are updated without disrupting public services.