Assam Monday changed its name to Asom bringing down the curtain to the 180-year-old name, which many consider the last legacy of the Raj.

'Asom' means 'uneven' and British pioneers, not being able to spell and understand it correctly, made it 'Assam'.

"The cabinet today discussed the matter and accepted the suggestion made by renowned Assamese litterateur Chandra Prasad Saikia that the state's name should be changed to Asom from Assam," said State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma while briefing presspersons.

"It was a long-pending wish of the people," said Sharma.

Asom became the second state after Karnataka to change its name. Karnataka was known as Mysore before reorganisation of states.