Port Blair Renamed as 'Shri Vijaya Puram' to Honor India’s Freedom Struggle
Union Government's Bold Move to Erase Colonial Legacy and Highlight the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' Role in India's Independence
The central government took a big decision on Friday and changed the name of Port Blair, the capital of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Now Port Blair will be known as 'Shri Vijaya Puram'. Port Blair was named in 1789 in honor of Archibald Blair of the East India Company. Which has now been changed to Shri Vijaya Puram.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave this information by posting on the social media platform ‘X’ on Friday. Amit Shah wrote, “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." While the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A&N Islands' unique role in the same." Shah wrote- " 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.”
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."
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 13, 2024
While the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle…
The Home Minister further wrote, "It is also the place that hosted the first unfurling of our Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ji and also the cellular jail in which Veer Savarkar Ji and other freedom fighters struggled for an independent nation."
Port Blair is located on the South Andaman Island. Administratively, it comes under the South Andaman district. Indians do not need any kind of permission to go here. Foreigners and NRIs have to take a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to reach here. This permit is valid for 30 days.
On 23 January last year, on the occasion of Parakram Diwas, PM Modi named the 21 largest islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra winners.
The Param Vir Chakra winners after whom the islands have been named include Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, Captain GS Salaria, Lieutenant Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa, Subedar Joginder Singh, Major Shaitan Singh, Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hameed, Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burjorji Tarapore, Lance Nayak Albert Ekka, Major Hoshiar Singh, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal, Flying Officer Nirmal Singh Shekhon, Major Parameshwaram, Naib Subedar Bana Singh, Captain Vikram Batra, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav.
