Port Blair Renamed As Sri Vijaya Puram

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that the central government has decided to rename Port Blair as 'Sri Vijaya Puram' to "free the nation from colonial imprints."

Shah stated that the decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of erasing colonial legacies. He emphasized that the name "Sri Vijaya Puram" reflects the victory achieved in India's freedom struggle and recognizes the unique role of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in that history.

In a post on X, Shah highlighted the historical significance of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in India's freedom struggle. He noted that the islands once served as a naval base for the Chola Empire and are now positioned to be a critical base for India's strategic and developmental goals.

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

Shah also mentioned that the islands were the site of the first unfurling of the Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and are home to the Cellular Jail, where Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters were imprisoned in their struggle for independence.