Magic: The Gatheringhas renamed one of its iconic planes, with Kaladesh now called Avishkar. First introduced in 2015, Kaladesh is best known as the original home of iconic planeswalker Chandra Nalaar. Kaladesh, which drew inspiration from real-world India, is notable for having a high concentration of aether, a magic energy often used in summoning creatures. The plane has appeared in manyMagic: The Gatheringsets over the years, including the Kaladesh block of sets andthe upcoming releaseAetherdrift. However, in its next appearance, the plane will have a new name.
Wizards of the Coast announced this week that the plane will be called Avishkar moving forward. “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,“Wizardssaid in a statement on the company’s official website. After engaging with a group of subject matter and language experts,Wizards opted to rename the plane Avishkar.
Why Kaladesh Has Changed
The Word Kala Has Different Meanings Depending On Pronunciation
The plane’s original name Kaladesh was inspired from two Hindi words - “kala” and “desh.” Kala typically means “tomorrow” or “art” while desh is a word meaning “home” or “country.” However, when pronounced differently, “Kala” also means “black,” which Wizards noted can carry “derogatory colorist and racist connotations when applied to a person.” Unfortunately, some said the plane’s name with the wrong pronunciation, leading to Wizards opting for a name change.The name chosen was Avishkar,which comes from the Hindi word meaning “invention.”
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However, Wizards noted that the history of Avishkar isn’t being retconned. The plane was previously named Kaladesh,but the name was changed by its residents in the wake of a popular rebellionthat did away with its former government. Avishkar is now led by the Avishkar Assembly, but the plane’s capital remains the city of Ghirapur. As forAetherdrift,the brand new setrevolves around the Ghirapur Grand Prix, a newly legal race involving magical vehicles. While the Grand Prix was once an underground race, the race was formally recognized by the Avishkar Assembly, and its prizes are treasures hoarded by the former government.
Our Take: Pronunciation Is Key
Avishkar Is A Fine Replacement That Can Hopefully Avoid Kaladesh’s Problems
Kaladesh was the victim of good intentions, but poor pronunciation.I’m glad that Wizards has opted to simply rename the plane, which has a deep history and amazing aesthetics, instead of destroying it as part of one ofMagic: The Gathering’s big universe-spanning storylines
The lesson of Kaladesh also points to one of the dangers ofpulling real-world influencesinto fantasy worlds. In this case,the original designers simply didn’t realize that there was a similar word with connotations they hoped to avoidand didn’t think to emphasize the correct pronunciation to fans as a result. Hopefully, the new name of Avishkar can have a long and fruitful life away from any controversy inMagic: The Gathering.
