New Delhi: The Government of India has renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to 'Sri Vijaya Puram' as part of its ongoing efforts to eliminate colonial remnants. The decision was announced on Friday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who highlighted the significance of this change in reflecting the nation’s freedom struggle and cultural heritage.
Amit Shah stated that the new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, symbolises the victory achieved during India’s freedom movement and recognises the unique contribution of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to that struggle. The islands hold a special place in history, being the location where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first unfurled the Indian national flag. They are also home to the cellular jail, where notable freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar, endured imprisonment during the British colonial era.
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Home Minister explained that this renaming is part of a broader initiative, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to free the nation from its colonial past. He noted that the former name, Port Blair, was derived from Captain Archibald Blair, a British colonial navy officer, reflecting a legacy of colonial rule. The new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, also acknowledges the islands' history as a former naval base of the Chola Empire and their modern strategic importance as a key defence and development hub.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shah added, are not only historically significant but also serve as a vital base for the Indian Navy’s INS Jarawa and the Andaman and Nicobar Command, India’s first integrated tri-service command. The area also hosts air and sea bases for the Indian Coast Guard, Andaman and Nicobar Police, and other military assets, making it a critical centre for national defence and strategic growth.
This renaming follows a similar effort in July when the Rashtrapati Bhavan renamed Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall as Ganatantra Mandap and Ashok Mandap, respectively, to better reflect Indian cultural values. /BI
