Why Governments Are Renaming Places: The Kerala to Keralam Transformation
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From Kerala to Keralam: Why Governments Are Rewriting Place Names for Identity & Global Impact
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Storyboard•14-03-2026, 09:32
From Kerala to Keralam: Why Governments Are Rewriting Place Names for Identity & Global Impact
•Governments are renaming places like Kerala (to Keralam) to reclaim indigenous identities, shed colonial legacies, and align with local language and culture.
•This trend is seen across India (Bombay to Mumbai, Madras to Chennai) and globally (Turkey to Türkiye, Ceylon to Sri Lanka), often driven by linguistic pride and cultural identity.
•Renaming involves a formal constitutional process in India, requiring state and Union approval, and updating official records.
•Experts like Amitabh Kant and Amyn Ghadiali highlight that renaming is about aligning with cultural reality, narrative control, and can serve as a soft-power instrument for global branding and economic positioning.
•While symbolic, effective rebranding requires deeper reforms, infrastructure, and governance improvements, as name changes alone don't guarantee economic transformation.
