Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Pushes for Constitutional Amendment Reflecting Local Language
In Short:
- Kerala Assembly unanimously passes resolution to rename the state to 'Keralam'.
- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan leads the initiative, emphasizing the state's name in Malayalam.
- The resolution urges the Centre to amend the Constitution under Article 3.
- A similar resolution was passed in August 2023 but needed re-presentation due to technical reasons.
The Kerala Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution to rename the state to 'Keralam', reflecting its name in the local language, Malayalam. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spearheaded the resolution, which was supported by both the ruling and opposition parties.
The resolution calls on the Centre to amend the Constitution, changing the state's name from 'Kerala' to 'Keralam' as it appears in the First Schedule. This effort underscores the significance of linguistic and cultural identity, aligning the state's official name with its local designation.
Chief Minister Vijayan highlighted that states were formed based on linguistic lines on November 1, 1956, which is also celebrated as Kerala’s foundation day. He noted the historical importance of forming a united Kerala for Malayalam-speaking communities, dating back to the national freedom struggle.
The resolution seeks to officially recognize 'Keralam' in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, ensuring consistency across the board. This recent resolution follows a similar one passed in August 2023, which required re-presentation due to technicalities.
The Assembly's unanimous decision now awaits action from the Centre to amend the state's name under Article 3 of the Constitution, aligning it with the local linguistic and cultural identity.