President Withholds Assent to Kerala Government's Malayalam Language Bill

The Wire

29-05-2025

President Droupadi Murmu withheld assent to a bill passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly aimed at the promotion and institutionalisation of the Malayalam language, sources said on Thursday, 29 May.
Although no specific reason has been cited in the President's message, which recently reached the Raj Bhavan, the decision brings an end to a legislative effort that began nearly a decade ago.
Originally passed in December 2015, the bill sought to replace the provisions of the Official Languages Act of 1969, which recognises Malayalam or English as the official language of Kerala, by establishing Malayalam as the sole official language of the state.
RK Madu, Deputy Secretary at Raj Bhavan, told South First that the intimation was communicated directly to the governor by the President. 'We will share more details after analysing the mail,' he added.
Poet and Press Secretary to Chief Minister Prabha Varma said the government would react after understanding the exact reason behind the decision to withhold assent to the bill. The Bill
The legislation proposed several reforms, including making Malayalam the primary medium in schools, mandating its use in bills, laws, and orders issued by the governor, and introducing it as the official language in district courts, verdicts in minor cases, quasi-judicial bodies, and state Public Service Commission (PSC) exams.
The proposal also called for the creation of a Malayalam language development department under the Secretariat's Civil Service Reforms Department.
Concerns over the bill's implications for linguistic minorities, especially Tamil and Kannada speakers, in the state had prompted the then-governor Justice P Sadhasivam to forward it to the President. The Law Department had also advised such a move, arguing that parts of the bill might conflict with existing parliamentary laws protecting linguistic rights.
In response to queries raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Kerala government had submitted a clarification via the governor on 1 April 2024.
Despite this, the President ultimately chose not to give assent to the bill. The governor is now expected to return the bill to the state government along with the President's decision.
Successive governments in Kerala have, from time to time, issued orders to use Malayalam for official communication. The ' Bharanabhasha Malayalam ' (official language Malayalam) policy was enacted to that effect. Concern over rejection
Meanwhile, Smitha K Nair, Director of the language research centre at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, expressed deep concern over the President's decision to reject the Bill without providing any explanation.
Speaking to South First, she emphasised that the rejection lacked justification, especially in light of Kerala's long-standing commitment to linguistic inclusivity.
'The Kerala Official Languages Act of 1969, Act No. 7 of 1969, recognised Malayalam and English as the official languages of the state. However, it's important to note that an amendment was passed in 1973, which included provisions for linguistic minorities such as Tamil and Kannada speakers, allowing them to communicate with the state government in their respective languages. So rejecting the Bill on the grounds of linguistic exclusion doesn't hold,' she said.
Addressing the lack of linguistic pride among Malayalis compared to their counterparts in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka, she pointed to the education system and migratory mindset.
'Our education system is more employment-oriented than knowledge-driven. Additionally, Malayalis have a strong tendency to migrate globally, which contributes to the perception that proficiency in Malayalam is not essential,' she explained. Role of translation
Smitha also highlighted the proactive role played by Tamil Nadu's official translation department. 'There, every new term, even in emerging fields like technology, is quickly translated and standardised. Unfortunately, Kerala lags in this area,' she noted.
Citing a real-world example, she mentioned how various Malayalam translations were proposed when the term 'speed governor' became widely used in connection with the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD).
'Initially, terms like ' Vega Mapini ' and ' Vega Mapakam ' were suggested by different media outlets, but they didn't gain traction. Finally, the term 'V ega poott ' emerged, and it was widely accepted and is still in use today. This shows how important it is to coin accessible and time-relevant translations to promote the mother tongue,' she said.
Smitha also criticised the complexity of Malayalam terms used in science textbooks, suggesting that more reader-friendly vocabulary could enhance learning outcomes and interest in the language. She acknowledged the state government's ongoing efforts to promote Malayalam.
'Even in 2015, when the bill was passed, nearly 77 government departments, 65 public sector undertakings, and 31 autonomous bodies had Malayalam as the official language. These are significant steps, but we still have a long way to go in strengthening the role of Malayalam across all domains,' she concluded.
This article was originally published on the South First.