Port Blair Renamed 'Sri Vijayapuram' to Erase Colonial Legacy, Announces Home Minister Amit Shah

The central government has decided to rename Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as 'Sri Vijayapuram'. This announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday. He said that this step has been taken inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of freeing India from colonial symbols. This archipelago has a special place in the Indian freedom struggle and history. The city was named after British Navy Captain Archibald Blair of the East India Company.

Amit Shah tweeted, "The name Port Blair was a symbol of a colonial heritage, while the name 'Sri Vijayapuram' reflects the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the unique contribution of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands." He further said that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a special place in the Indian freedom struggle and history. The island, which once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire, is now emerging as an important base for India's security and development.

Let us tell you that this is the place where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the tricolor for the first time in the country before independence and in the Cellular Jail here, Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters spent many years as punishment during their arrest during the struggle for independence.

In July, the prestigious 'Darbar Hall' and 'Ashok Hall' of Rashtrapati Bhavan were renamed 'Ganatantra Mandap' and 'Ashok Mandap' respectively. The President's Secretariat had said that efforts are being made to make the environment of Rashtrapati Bhavan in line with Indian cultural values. Along with this, the central government has abolished the practice of carrying batons by all personnel of the Indian Navy, so that the colonial heritage can be eliminated. The Navy has also changed its emblem, which is inspired by the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are beautiful islands located in the Indian Ocean north of India, with an area of 8249 square kilometers. Port Blair (now Sri Sri Vijayapuram) is the capital of this union territory and a popular tourist destination. The archipelago is inhabited by 5 major indigenous tribes - Jarawas, Onges, The Great Andamanese, Shompens, and Sentinelese. Many of these tribes use their traditional languages such as Onge, Andamanese, Sentinelese, Jarawa and Nicobari. There is only one airport here, named Veer Savarkar International Airport.

It is said that the residents of Andaman are descendants of African slaves who came here after a ship sank. However, most anthropologists believe that they belong to the Negrito group and not Africans. On the other hand, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have witnessed many historical events ranging from the War of Independence (1857) to the Japanese invasion during World War II. After Indian independence in 1947, these islands joined the Indian Union. Today Andaman's Cellular Jail, also known as 'Kala Pani', is a major tourist destination. Here one can see heritage, artifacts and historical remains of the past.