MTG the plane formerly named Kaladesh is now named Avishkar

[grimace]

https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/avishkar-why-we-changed-the-name-of-a-plane

Avishkar: Why We Changed the Name of a Plane​

Feature Dec 10, 2024
Wizards of the Coast
In the recently released Planeswalker's Guide to Aetherdrift, you'll notice that the plane formerly named Kaladesh is now named Avishkar (AH-vish-kar). While that guide goes into the in-universe reason for this change, we wanted to share the real-world reasons behind it.
When we first started working on Aetherdrift, we were excited for Magic to return to one of the players' most beloved planes: a bright and hopeful world of invention that took inspiration from real-world India. We knew we had heard feedback at the release of the original Kaladesh set that that name carried unfortunate connotations in some dialects of the Hindi language, and we wanted to ensure our return to the plane was done thoughtfully and respectfully. So, as an early step in building the Aetherdrift set, we engaged a group of subject-matter and language experts to work with us and help guide us as we built the set. Our goal was to find a way to honor the spirit of the plane and its real-world inspiration.
Here's what our consultants said. When we created the original Kaladesh set, we chose the word "kala-" (kalā, kah-LAH) as a word that can mean "tomorrow" or "art," combined with "-desh," meaning "home" or "country." Unfortunately, the term "kala" (kālā, KAH-lah) can also be associated with the meaning "black," and often carries derogatory colorist and racist connotations when applied to a person.
We didn't want that connotation to hang over this plane each time we visited it. Instead, we decided to take Aetherdrift as our opportunity to implement a new name.
We generated a host of possible names for the plane and reviewed them with the same group of consultants. We discussed the pros and cons of each of the candidate names and worked through their pronunciations, meanings, and connotations. Together, we selected Avishkar, from the Hindi word "aavishkar" meaning "invention." The consultants vetted the name and its spelling, and the decision was made.
Another decision was whether we'd want to go back and change the lore so that this plane was always named Avishkar. We chose not to go that route. The canon is this: This setting was, in fact, historically named Kaladesh before this time in the continuity, but its name has now become Avishkar due to in-world story events. Check out our Planeswalker's Guide to Aetherdrift for more about the in-world downfall of the Consulate that led to the name change among the denizens of Avishkar.
Similarly, we have not changed historical terminology in past products or cards. The name of the set Kaladesh remains Kaladesh, Kaladesh Remastered will still be searchable as Kaladesh Remastered, and past cards like Invasion of Kaladesh or Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh will keep those names. We will not use the term "Kaladesh" anymore going forward except to refer to past products or the time in the storyline when Avishkar bore its previous name.
We hope you love Aetherdrift and the plane of Avishkar as much as we do.

 

[grimace]

Kaladesh was renamed Avishkar due to the following reasons:

1. Racist and colorist connotations: The original name “Kaladesh” had racist and colorist connotations, as the word “Kaladesh” is derived from the Hindi word “Kala”, which means “black”. In India, this word is sometimes used derogatorily to refer to dark-skinned people. The consultants who helped Wizards of the Coast (WotC) come up with a new name for the plane pointed out these problematic associations.
2. In-world story events: The name change was also driven by in-world story events. After the fall of the Consulate, a new democratic government, the Avishkar Assembly, was established. As part of this revolution, the people of Kaladesh chose to rename their plane Avishkar, symbolically washing away the political connotations of the old name.
3. Meaning of Avishkar: The new name “Avishkar” is derived from the Hindi word “aavishkar”, meaning “invention”. This reflects the plane’s focus on innovation and progress, aligning with the revolutionary spirit of the Avishkar Assembly.

The name change does not retroactively alter the original cards and sets, so Kaladesh and Aether Revolt will not change names, and cards that mention Kaladesh will still refer to the old name. However, going forward, the plane will be officially known as Avishkar.

 

[Poseidon00]

Negro worship is mandatory in the West. Barbarian hordes can't overrun us fast enough

 

[Beans00]

MTG has sucked ass since mirroden, anyone still playing this garbage yugioh clone has brain damage.

 

[Jaedar]

Not a fan of such things. What's next, changing the black mana to different colour?

It is really funny to me that wizards never really seem to feel like writing a story or setting where black is the good guys and white is the evil. It's not even that hard, just make it about desperate rebels fighting an authoritarian empire.

 

[Fedora Master]

MTG is dumb and gay