KERALAM
1. Context
Recently, the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to rename the state as "Keralam" in the Constitution and all office records.
The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and was passed unanimously, with the Congress-led Opposition not suggesting any changes.
2. Origin of the names
- There are several theories about the origin of the names "Kerala" and "Keralam".
- The earliest epigraphic record that mentions Kerala is emperor Asoka's Rock Edict II of 257 BC.
- The inscription refers to the local ruler as Keralaputra (Sanskrit for "son of Kerala"), and also "son of Chera" referring to the Chera dynasty.
- Scholars believe that "Keralam" could have originated from "Cheram".
| Dr Herman Gundert, a German scholar who published the first Malayalam-English dictionary, observed the word "keram" is the Canarese (Kannada) form of cheram, and he described Keralam as Cheram the region between Gokarnam and Kanyakumari. |
- The term's origin could be from the root "cher", which means to join. This meaning is evident in the compound word "Cheralam", in which alam means region or land.
3. Demands for the modern state
- The people speaking Malayalam had been ruled by various kings and princely states in the region.
- It was in the 1920s that the Aikya (unified) Kerala movement gathered momentum and a demand for a separate state for Malayalam-speaking people came up.
- It aimed at the integration of Malabar, Kochi and Travancore into one territory.
- The Keralites who spoke the same language, shared common cultural traditions, and were unified by the same history, rituals and customs were inspired by the freedom movement to ask for unification and integration.
4. The state of Kerala after 1947
- The merger and integration of princely states was a major step towards the formation of the state of Kerala after Independence.
- On 1 July 1949, the two states of Travancore and Kochi were integrated, heralding the birth of the Travancore Cochin State.
- When it was decided to reorganise states on a linguistic basis, the State Reorganisation Commission of the Union Government recommended the creation of the state of Kerala.
- The Commission under Syed Fazl Ali recommended the inclusion of the district of Malabar and the taluk of Kasargod to the Malayalam-speaking people's state.
- It also recommended the exclusion of the four Southern taluks of Travancore viz Tovala, Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam and Vilayankode together with some parts of Shenkottai (all these taluks now part of Tamil Nadu).
- The state of Kerala came into being on November 1, 1956. In Malayalam, the state was referred to as Keralam, while in English it was Kerala.
5. The process of renaming a state
- Unlike in the case of renaming cities, to change the name of a state, approval from the Centre's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is required.
- This means that a Constitutional amendment becomes necessary to affect this change. The proposal has to first come from the state government.
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) then takes over and gives its consent after it receives No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from several agencies such as the Ministry of Railways, Intelligence Bureau, Department of Posts, Survey of India and Registrar General of India.
- If the proposal is accepted, the resolution, introduced as a Bill in the Parliament, becomes a law and the name of the state is changed thereafter.
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For Prelims: Keralam, Chera dynasty, Aikya Kerala movement, Asoka's Rock Edict II, Malabar, Kochi, Travancore, State Reorganisation Commission, Syed Fazl Ali, Ministry of Railways, Intelligence Bureau, Department of Posts, Survey of India, Registrar General of India
For Mains:
1. Discuss the role of historical, linguistic, and cultural factors in shaping regional identities and names. How do names like "Kerala" and "Keralam" encapsulate the rich history and diversity of the state? (250 Words)
2. Evaluate the role of linguistic movements in India's post-Independence state formation. How did the Aikya Kerala movement contribute to the recognition of linguistic and cultural unity, leading to the reorganization of states based on language? (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. Consider the following States: (UPSC 2022)
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Kerala
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Tripura
How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?
A. Only one State B. Only two States C. Only three States D. All four States
Answer: C
2. Consider the following pairs: (UPSC 2022)
Site of Ashoka's major rock edicts Location in the State of
1. Dhauli Odisha
2. Erragudi Andhra Pradesh
3. Jaugada Madhya Pradesh
4. Kalsi Karnataka
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
A. Only one State B. Only two States C. Only three States D. All four States
Answer: B
3. The 'Malabar' is a naval exercise between which of the following countries? (SSC JE ME 2018)
A. India and China India,
B. Japan and USA India,
C. South Korea and Japan India,
D. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
Answer: B
4. Which one of the following statements about 'Princely States' in India is not correct? (UPSC CAPF 2022)
A. The British Government declared that States were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent.
B. The decision to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent was left not to the people of Princely States but to the Princely Rulers.
C. The Ruler of Travancore first decided to remain independent.
D. The State of Travancore finally joined India through a plebiscite.
Answer: B
5. Name the South Indian King who vanquished the forces of the Dutch East India Company in 1741 in the battle of Colachel. (UPSSSC Lower PCS 2019)
A. Veera Pandya Kattabomman
B. Raja Raja Chola
C. Marthanda Varma
D. Haider Ali
Answer: C
6. A Commission for the Re-organisation of States, according to Language and Culture was set up by the Indian Government, in the year 1953, under the Chairmanship of (HSSC Group D 2018)
A. Syed Fazal Ali B. Mahatma Gandhi C. Jawaharlal Nehru D.Subhaschandra Bose
Answer: A
7. "Central Bureau of Intelligence and Investigation" is listed in the __________ list given in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. (SSC CGL 2017)
A. Union B. State C. Global D. Concurrent
Answer: A
8. When was the Survey of India established? (DSSSB TGT 2018)
A. 1864 B. 1764 C. 1767 D.1867
Answer: C
9. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India comes under which of the following ministry? (DSSSB Head Clerk 2022)
A. Ministry Statistics and Programme Implementation
B. Ministry of Home Affairs
C. Ministry Health and Family Welfare
D. Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs
Answer: B
10. Examine the following statements: (Telangana Police Constable 2018)
A. Anil Sant is the Registrar Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.
B. The demographic dividend' term was first coined by David Bloom.
Choose the correct answer:
A. Both A and B are incorrect.
B. Only A is correct
C. Only B is correct
D. Both A and B are correct.
Answer: A
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Source: The Indian Express
