New Delhi: The Centre has officially renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to ‘Shri Vijaya Puram’ as part of efforts to remove colonial-era imprints. Port Blair, originally named after British naval officer Captain Archibald Blair, serves as the main entry point to the islands.
Announcing the decision on X, Home Minister Amit Shah said, “While the former name had colonial roots, Shri Vijaya Puram symbolizes the victory achieved during our freedom struggle and highlights the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ significant role in it.”
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…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 13, 2024
Mr. Shah also emphasized the historical importance of the islands, noting that they were once a naval base for the Chola Empire and now play a crucial role in India’s strategic and developmental aspirations. “The islands were where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose first unfurled the Tiranga, and where the Cellular Jail stands as a symbol of the sacrifices made by Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters,” he added.
The infamous Cellular Jail, now a national memorial, once held numerous freedom fighters and political prisoners.
This renaming follows other steps taken by the government to move away from colonial associations, including renaming ‘Durbar Hall’ and ‘Ashok Hall’ in Rashtrapati Bhavan as ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ and ‘Ashok Mandap’. Additionally, the Indian Navy recently stopped its practice of carrying batons and updated its insignia, drawing inspiration from the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
