Central Govt. Renames Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram
Port Blair has been renamed Sri Vijaya Puram by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to honor the islands' historical significance and remove colonial traces.
On 13th September 2024, India's Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, announced the renaming of Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram. The decision, according to Shah, was made to remove the traces of colonial history and honor the islands' significant role in India’s freedom struggle.
Shah explained that the new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, represents the islands' historical importance, referring to the ancient Sri Vijaya Empire that once ruled the region. He further mentioned that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had once served as a naval base for the Chola Dynasty and continue to play an essential role in India's defense and development today.
Amit Shah highlighted the islands' deep connection to India's independence, especially mentioning that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had first raised the Indian flag there, and Veer Savarkar along with other freedom fighters were imprisoned in the Cellular Jail.
The BJP welcomed this move with support from Bishnu Pada Ray, BJP MP from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who said the change was necessary to break away from the colonial past. Ray mentioned that the name Port Blair reminded people of the time of British rule, and renaming it to Sri Vijaya Puram was a positive step.
However, the decision faced criticism from the opposition party. TSG Bhasker, head of the Congress's campaign committee in the islands, expressed disappointment. He said that the central government did not involve the people of the islands in the decision-making process, calling the renaming "meaningless" and unnecessary.
Citizens of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands gave mixed reactions, with some welcoming the name change as a step forward and others calling it impractical.
The renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram is seen as part of the central government's broader initiative to revisit and reshape historical names across India.
