Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has officially been renamed Sri Vijaya Puram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the change on Friday, emphasizing that it aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision of removing colonial remnants from India’s identity.
Port Blair, originally named after Captain Archibald Blair, a British naval officer with the East India Company, has now been given a name that reflects India’s rich heritage and the role the islands played in the country’s freedom struggle.
Amit Shah highlighted the historical significance of the region, tweeting that Sri Vijaya Puram stands as a symbol of victory in the fight for independence. “This place hosted the first unfurling of our tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and is home to the Cellular Jail, where Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters were imprisoned,” Shah noted.
He also pointed out that the islands once served as a critical naval base for the Chola Empire and are now poised to play a pivotal role in India’s strategic and developmental goals.
Prime Minister Modi echoed similar sentiments in his tweet, stating that renaming Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram honors the rich history and brave people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He further emphasized that this change represents a step toward breaking free from the colonial mindset and celebrating India’s cultural heritage.
This move follows a pattern by the Modi government to rename places that bear colonial influences. In 2018, PM Modi announced the renaming of Ross Island, Neil Island, and Havelock Island to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, and Swaraj Dweep, respectively, as a tribute to Bose.
Since 2014, the government has actively renamed places with historical significance, making this shift another step in reclaiming India’s national identity from its colonial past.
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