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The central government has officially renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram. This change was announced to honor India's freedom struggle and remove the colonial legacy connected to the old name. Union Home Minister Amit Shah made the announcement, stating that the new name symbolizes the victory India achieved in its fight for independence and highlights the special role that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands played in this important history.
The renaming is part of a larger effort inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to erase colonial imprints from place names across the country. The name Sri Vijaya Puram was chosen to reflect the region's cultural and historical importance. The term "Sri Vijaya" refers to the ancient Srivijaya Empire, a powerful maritime kingdom that thrived in Southeast Asia. The name is associated with victory and prosperity, perfectly representing the heritage and strategic importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Amit Shah took to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to explain the significance of the new name. He shared, "Inspired by the vision of PM @narendramodi Ji to free the nation from colonial imprints, we have decided to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram. While the earlier name had colonial ties, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolizes the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the unique role of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands."
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a deep connection to India's freedom movement. The islands were not only a critical naval base for the ancient Chola Empire, but they also played a significant role during the freedom struggle. One of the most famous events in Indian history, the first unfurling of the Tiranga (the Indian national flag), took place here by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Additionally, the Cellular Jail in Port Blair is a symbol of the sacrifices made by freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar and others who fought for an independent India.
The renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram is a step towards celebrating India's indigenous history and accomplishments while removing the traces of its colonial past.
