New Delhi: We have enjoyed 78 years of independence since the end of British imperial period in India in 1947.
In this long journey, our country has evolved into a federal Republic comprising of 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
Along the way, names of several states have been changed, and some have been divided into two separate states as part of administrative restructuring.
In the latest change, Kerala, known as ‘God’s own country’, is set to be renamed as ‘Keralam’.
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal of the Kerala state Assembly, and it’s now a formality before the name officially gets changed.
This a is a good time to look back at the states which were renamed earlier.
Orissa to Odisha
The last time an Indian state had its name changed was when Orissa became Odisha on November 1, 2011. The Orissa (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2010 and the Constitution (113th Amendment) Bill was approved by then-President Pratibha Patil. Besides changing the state’s name, the Bill also called for its language to be changed from Oriya to Odia. It was the last state which had its name changed.
Uttaranchal to Uttarakhand
Uttar Pradesh was divided into two in November 2000, with the northwestern districts carved out to form the new state of Uttaranchal. However, six years later, Uttaranchal was changed to Uttarakhand. The Union Cabinet gave its nod to the demands Uttaranchal people to rename it as Uttarakhand. The Bill was passed and signed by late President A P J Abdul Kalam in December 2006.
Madras to Tamil Nadu
After gained Independence in on August 15, 1947, Madras Presidency under the British became Madras Province. On 14th January, 1969, the state renamed Tamil Nadu after a resolution to change the name was prepared in English and Tamil languages by the Annadurai-helmed DMK government.
Madhya Bharat to Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Bharat was created from 25 princely states on May 28, 1948. Eight years later, it was merged with Vindhya Pradesh, Bhopal state, and Central provinces to create the state of Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 1956, following the 1956 state reorganisation.
Travancore-Cochin to Kerala
Created on July 1 in 1949, Travancore-Cochin was originally called
United State of Travancore and Cochin was created on July 1 in 1949. On November 1, 1956, Travancore-Cochin was joined with the Malabar District of Madras State to form the state of Kerala. Soon, Kerala will be come Keralam.
Hyderabad to Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad State, which existed from 1948, was merged with Andhra State. Hyderabad State was dissolved on November 1, 1956, and merged with Telugu-speaking Andhra State to form the unified state of Andhra Pradesh, based on the States Reorganisation Act and the Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1956. Hyderabad became the capital of the new, enlarged state.
United Provinces to Uttar Pradesh
The princely states of Rampur, Banaras (now Varanasi) and Tehri-Garwal were merged into the United Provinces after Independence. On 25th January, 1950, United Provinces was renamed as Uttar Pradesh.
East Punjab to Punjab
After East Punjab province was partitioned by Radcliffe Commission in 1947, Muslim parts of the province became Pakistan’s West Punjab and the Hindu and Sikh eastern parts continued to be part of India. After the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950, the province was renamed as Punjab.
