Port Blair Renamed Sri Vijaya Puram: 5 Points

The Indian government has renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ as part of an initiative to remove colonial legacies. Home Minister Amit Shah announced this change, stating that the new name symbolises the victory achieved in India’s freedom struggle, particularly highlighting the islands’ unique role in the nation’s history. The region, once a naval base of the Chola Empire, is significant both strategically and culturally. This renaming follows a series of similar moves, including the recent rebranding of key locations in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Port Blair Renamed Sri Vijaya Puram: 5 Points

1. The name change from Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram is part of efforts to remove colonial imprints and reflect India’s cultural heritage, a statement from the central government said..

2. Port Blair was originally named after Captain Archibald Blair, a British colonial navy official, and is now renamed to commemorate India’s freedom struggle.

3. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands played a crucial role in India’s history, serving as the site where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first raised the national flag.

4. The Cellular Jail in the region, known for imprisoning freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar, is a key part of the islands’ historical significance.

5. This renaming aligns with broader efforts to Indianise official spaces, following the renaming of Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall in Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier this year.

Home minister Amit Shah wrote:

“Inspired by the vision of PM @narendramodi Ji, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as “Sri Vijaya Puram.” While the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A&N Islands’ unique role in the same. Andaman & Nicobar Islands have an unparalleled place in our freedom struggle and history. The island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire is today poised to be the critical base for our strategic and development aspirations.

It is also the place that hosted the first unfurling of our Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ji and also the cellular jail in which Veer Savarkar Ji and other freedom fighters struggled for an independent nation.”