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Port Blair gets renamed as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ to shed colonial legacy
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday announced that Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will now be known as "Sri Vijaya Puram." This name change is part of a broader effort by the Indian government to honour the country's freedom struggle and erase colonial imprints.Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on X (formerly Twitter) explained the rationale behind the decision: “Inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, to free the nation from colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram. While the earlier name had colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' unique role in it.”
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold a prominent place in India’s fight for independence. It was once a naval base for the Chola Empire and later became a critical location during India’s struggle for freedom.
“It is also the place that hosted the first unfurling of our Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ji. And also the cellular jail where Veer Savarkar ji and other freedom fighters struggled for an independent nation,” Shah added.
Renaming Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram is not just symbolic. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are central to India’s defence and development strategies, particularly given their strategic location in the Indian Ocean. Shah emphasised that the renaming reflects a vision for a modern India that acknowledges its past while planning for future growth and security.
The name "Sri Vijaya Puram" itself pays homage to the ancient Sri Vijaya Empire, which held influence over the region.
This is not the first time a name change has taken place in the region. Earlier in January, on the occasion of Parakram Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed 21 large unnamed islands in the Andaman and Nicobar region after Param Vir Chakra awardees. PM Modi also unveiled the model of a National Memorial dedicated to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, formerly known as Ross Island.
Source: Times Of India
