The Tamil Nadu government is planning to rename over 1,000 places across the State, so that their English names match the corresponding Tamil script. For instance, Triplicane would be spelt ‘Tiruvallikeni’ — as it is known in Tamil.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture and Archaeology, K. Pandiarajan, in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Mr. Pandiarajan told The Hindu that a three-member committee, comprising officials from the Departments of Tamil Development, Revenue and Municipal Administration, would be set up for the purpose, and the panel would submit its report within three months. The report would contain a list of cities and towns, whose English names would be altered such that they match their Tamil equivalents.
“For example, Thoothukudi is still being called Tuticorin in English. This [place] will be known by the name of Thoothukudi in both Tamil and English, once the renaming process is complete,” he explained.
The Tamil Development Department is setting aside ₹5 lakh, initially, to fund the process and the committee meetings.
Once the list of names is finalised by the committee, a G.O. would be issued. “Most likely, the Revenue Department will issue the G.O. But since it [the exercise] covers three Departments, a G.O. could be issued by the Chief Minister himself,” Mr. Pandiarajan said.
The proposed name changes are likely to have huge ramifications, as more than 1,000 places are involved in the exercise, and these changes would need to be effected by a large number of Departments across Tamil Nadu.
The Minister further stated that the G.O. could be issued once the committee decides on the names in September. “The name-matching could happen as early as in the end of September or in October,” he added.
While the Tamil Department would come up with the changes, the Revenue and the Municipal Administration Departments would vet them before they are approved, Mr. Pandiarajan said.
It is not, however, clear whether the name change would apply to the State as well — from ‘Tamil Nadu’ to ‘Thamizh Nadu’.