Port Blair Renamed to Sri Vijaya Puram: A Move Towards Decolonization

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is to be renamed 'Sri Vijaya Puram.' The decision, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, aims to remove colonial imprints and honor the region's role in India's freedom struggle.

In a significant move to eradicate colonial imprints, the government has decided to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday. The capital city of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands holds a unique place in India's history, particularly in its freedom struggle.

Shah emphasized that the decision reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to honor the nation's history and the role of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the freedom movement. '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',' Shah wrote on 'X'.

The home minister highlighted that the new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, symbolizes the victory achieved in the country's struggle for independence and the critical role the islands played as a naval base of the Chola Empire and the site of the first unfurling of the Indian flag by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He also mentioned the cellular jail where freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar fought for India's independence.

(With inputs from agencies.)