Port Blair Gets Rechristened As Sri Vijaya Puram, But Who Was The British Officer It Honoured?
The Central Government, on Friday, announced the renaming of Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram.
Home Minister Amit Shah took to his X account, stating, "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."
The decision reflects a larger effort to shed the colonial legacy associated with the name Port Blair, which was derived from Lieutenant Archibald Blair, a British naval officer from the 18th century.
Amit Shah explained the significance of the new name, saying, "Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A&N Islands' unique role in the same."
He said the historical importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which were not only integral to India's freedom struggle but also served as a base for the Chola Empire.
"The Andaman & Nicobar Islands have an unparalleled place in our freedom struggle and history. 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," Shah added.
He further highlighted that the island holds historical significance as the location where "the first unfurling of our Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ji" took place, as well as the infamous Cellular Jail, where freedom fighters like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar were imprisoned.
The name Port Blair, in contrast, reflects its colonial past, having been named after British naval officer Lieutenant Archibald Blair. In 1789, the Government of Bengal established a penal colony on Chatham Island, naming it in Blair's honor.
Blair played a crucial role in surveying and administering the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the British colonial expansion. His efforts laid the groundwork for transforming the area into a key maritime and administrative hub for the British Raj.
The port named after him became central to military, administrative, and trade activities in the islands.
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