‘Keralam’ gets Parliament’s nod as Rajya Sabha passes name-change bill

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the bill providing for the change of Kerala’s name to ‘Keralam’ in the Constitution, following its passage in the Lok Sabha, giving Parliament its approval. The name will be changed to ‘Keralam’ in Central government records once the President issues the notification.

Kerala’s presence was strongly felt in the House during the debate, with MPs quoting lines by Vallathol and Sree Narayana Guru. Twenty-six members, including MPs from other states, took part in the discussion. Members from outside Kerala spoke about the state’s natural beauty, educated population and the dedication of its people. However, Malayali MPs staged a walkout before the voting to protest the absence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah from the House.

The Kerala MPs also brought a distinct local touch to the proceedings. The men wore mundu and shirts, while Suresh Gopi and Sadanandan Master wore jubbas. Jose K Mani wore a shirt featuring Malayalam letters, while Jebi Mather arrived in a Kerala saree.

Jose K Mani, P Santosh Kumar, Jebi Mather, Dr Shivasadan, A A Rahim, Haris Beeran and Sadanandan Master were among those who spoke in Malayalam. Union Minister Suresh Gopi, who did not get an opportunity to speak during the Lok Sabha debate, also participated in the discussion. A Malayalam song beginning with ‘Keralam’ was also sung.

Suresh Gopi said it had taken Narendra Modi to get the name change approved more than 50 years after the formation of Kerala. BRS member from Telangana Vaddiraju Ravi Chandra said Kerala should also be supported in matters of development.

Political exchanges during debate

The debate was also marked by political confrontation. BJP member Sudhanshu Trivedi’s remarks against Muslims triggered a major uproar.
The ruling benches were angered when Jebi Mather and P Santosh Kumar demanded Amit Shah’s presence during their speeches.
Sadanandan Master’s criticism of the suspension of a teacher for including Savarkar in a question paper also drew protests from the Opposition. He said the action was an insult to Kerala.