The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Kerala government’s proposal to officially rename the state as Keralam, bringing the English name in line with how it is referred to in Malayalam. The decision marks the latest addition to India’s long history of renaming states and Union Territories to better reflect linguistic identity, cultural heritage and native roots.

One of the earliest such changes came in 1950, when the newly independent nation renamed the United Provinces as Uttar Pradesh. The colonial-era name was replaced with a Sanskrit-derived term meaning “Northern Province”, in line with efforts to shed British terminology.

In 1969, Tamil Nadu adopted its present name, replacing Madras State. The change was driven by strong linguistic and cultural assertion movements in the south, particularly by Dravidian parties, who argued that Tamil Nadu more accurately represented the identity of Tamil-speaking people.

Similarly, Karnataka was renamed in 1973. Known as Mysore after Independence, the name was changed to better represent all Kannada-speaking regions within its borders, not just the princely state of Mysore. The move followed the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which had reorganised boundaries largely on a language basis.

In 2007, Uttarakhand officially replaced Uttaranchal, a name given when the state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000. Many residents and regional groups had long preferred the name for its deeper historical and cultural resonance in the Himalayan region.

Another significant linguistic correction occurred in 2011, when Odisha was renamed from Orissa. Along with the state’s name, the language Oriya was officially changed to Odia. The amendment aimed to reflect the accurate pronunciation in the Odia language and rectify colonial-era spellings introduced by the British.

Among Union Territories, Lakshadweep underwent a major simplification in 1973. Previously known as the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands, the name was consolidated into Lakshadweep, derived from Sanskrit and Malayalam words meaning “a hundred thousand islands.”

In 2006, Pondicherry was renamed Puducherry. The new name restored its original Tamil form, meaning “new town”. The change followed years of demand to move away from the French colonial spelling and recognise the region’s own identity.

That’s not all. Delhi’s status was also formally redefined in 1992, when the Union Territory of Delhi became the National Capital Territory of Delhi under the 69th Constitutional Amendment Act. The move granted Delhi a legislative assembly and a special administrative status, making it different from other Union Territories.

Just a day after the Union Cabinet approved the renaming of Kerala as Keralam, Praveen Khandelwal, BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the government to initiate a formal process to rename Delhi as Indraprastha. In his letter, Khandelwal said restoring the ancient name would reconnect the capital with its civilisational roots.