Port Blair Renamed Sri Vijaya Puram: Check All Details Here!

On September 13, 2024, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah officially announced that Port Blair would be renamed Sri Vijaya Puram. The decision is part of a wider initiative to remove the colonial legacy from Indian place names and commemorate the historical significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India’s freedom struggle.

Port Blair’s Colonial Heritage

Initially, the capital was named after Lieutenant Archibald Blair, a British Royal Navy officer who served in the first half of the 18th century. During his career, Blair made the following contributions to the British colonial cause in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In 1789, the Bengal government began to establish a penal colony on Chatham Island in the southeast bay of the Great Andaman Island and named it after him, Archibald Blair.

Blair’s greatest contribution came during the period when Britain was trying to develop the potential of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He inspected the islands, initiated the first level of governance of the islands, and provided a framework for future colonial incursions. This enabled the colonial rulers to develop Port Blair as a key node for the administration of the dispersed islands.

Sri Vijaya Puram: A Tribute to India’s Freedom Struggle

The new name Sri Vijaya Puram is associated with the victory of India’s freedom struggle and the role played by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in this struggle. In addition, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah stressed that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a unique place in the history of India’s freedom struggle.

Even the island territory which was once a naval base of the Chola Empire can now become one of the key regions in India’s strategic and developmental dreams. It is also the place where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian flag for the first time and the cell jail where Veer Savarkar and other fighters fought for a free India.

The renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram is a fitting tribute to the city’s contribution in the building of the newly independent India. It marks a significant step in India’s transition away from its colonial legacy and embracing the country’s rich history and strategic importance in the region.