NAMING OF STATES

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Context: Kerala Assembly urges renaming state "Keralam" for linguistic significance.

Details

• The Kerala State Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution advocating for the official renaming of the state from 'Kerala' to 'Keralam'. This move highlights a desire to align the state's name more closely with its Malayalam identity.

Key Points of the Resolution

• Linguistic Identity: The resolution seeks to replace 'Kerala', commonly used in English, with 'Keralam', the name accepted in Malayalam, the state's predominant language.
• Constitutional Basis: The resolution invokes Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, which allows for changes in state names among other administrative modifications.
• Legislative Process: Presented under Rule 118, the Chief Minister's formal presentation highlights the systematic approach taken in the legislative process.

Significance of the Resolution

• Cultural Affirmation: Renaming to 'Keralam' affirms Kerala's cultural identity and linguistic heritage, aligning administrative practices more closely with local sentiment.
• Legal Framework: Upholds the constitutional principles of federalism and democratic consultation, ensuring that changes reflect the will and identity of the people.

Historical and Cultural Context ●The name "Keralam" derives from Malayalam, the native language of Kerala. It has historical roots dating back to ancient times. The term "Keralaputra" mentioned in Emperor Ashoka's Rock Edict II (257 BCE) refers to the Cheras, one of the ancient dynasties of southern India, indicating the antiquity of the name. ●Kerala has a strong cultural identity rooted in its Malayalam language. "Keralam" is the form of the state's name in Malayalam, while "Kerala" is the Anglicized version used in English and official documents.

Political and Constitutional Implications

• Constitutional Amendment: The resolution seeks a formal amendment to the First Schedule of the Constitution, where Kerala is currently listed. This process requires parliamentary approval under Article 3, which empowers Parliament to alter state names, boundaries, and territories.
• Previous Attempts: This is not the first time such a resolution has been passed. A similar resolution was passed previously but needed to be reintroduced due to technicalities. The current resolution focuses solely on the name change to "Keralam" without including amendments to the Eighth Schedule (list of official languages).

Article 3 of the Indian Constitution

• Article 3 of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to make provisions for the formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries, or names of existing states.
• Power of Parliament:
  • Parliament can create new states by separating territory from any existing state, merging two or more states or parts thereof, or by uniting any territory to a part of any state.
  • It can increase or decrease the area of any state and alter the boundaries of any state as necessary.
  • Parliament also has the authority to change the name of any state.
• Legislative Process:
  • Any bill related to the above changes must be introduced in Parliament with the recommendation of the President of India.
  • After the bill is introduced, it may be referred by the President to the Legislature of the affected state(s) for their views.
  • The state legislature has a specified period to express its views, and the President can extend this period if necessary.
  • If the state legislature does not provide its views within the specified or extended period, Parliament can proceed with the legislation.
• Supreme Court's Role:
  • The Supreme Court has clarified that while the state legislature's views are to be sought, Parliament is not bound by these views when deciding on state reorganisation.
  • This ensures that the process remains flexible and allows for changes that are in the interest of effective governance and administration.

Conclusion

• The Kerala Legislative Assembly's resolution to rename the state to 'Keralam' represents a significant step towards cultural affirmation and administrative alignment with local identity. Guided by constitutional provisions under Article 3, this decision reflects India's commitment to accommodating diverse linguistic and cultural identities within a unified framework. It sets a precedent for respecting and promoting regional heritage while maintaining national integrity.

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Source:

Indian Express

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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. India's federal system is often described as "quasi-federal" due to the strong central government.  Analyze the historical and political factors that led to this structure, and critically evaluate the challenges it poses in balancing national unity with regional autonomy.  Can true federalism exist with such a strong centre?