Port Blair renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram by GOI

The Home Minister of India Shri. Amit Shah has announced the decision on renaming the Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Sri Vijaya Puram.

What did Amit Shah say?

• The decision has been taken to free the nation from the colonial imprints as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an “unparalleled place” in the country’s freedom struggle and history.
• Port Blair is the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• He also said that “Inspired by the vision of PM  Narendra Modi Ji, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram.”

Links/Roots of Histoy and freedom struggle

• Sri Vijaya Puram symbolizes the victory achieved in India’s freedom struggle and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ unique role in it.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an unparalleled place in India’s freedom struggle. It is the place that hosted the first unfurling of Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
• The island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire is today poised to be the critical base for our strategic and development aspirations.
• Veer Savarkar, at this place also houses the cellular jail in which Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters struggle for an independent India.

Earlier examples of renaming

• In 2023 Government of India named 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
• To honor the memory of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Ross Islands was renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
• Neil Island and Havelock Island were also renamed as Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep Islands.