Port Blair – In a move aimed at shedding colonial legacies, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram. The announcement was made on Friday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who emphasized that the renaming is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to rid the country of colonial imprints and celebrate India’s rich heritage.
Port Blair was originally named after Captain Archibald Blair, a British naval officer of the East India Company. Amit Shah, through a tweet, underscored the historical and symbolic importance of the new name, stating that “Sri Vijaya Puram holds an unparalleled place in our freedom struggle and represents the victory won through our independence movement.”
He highlighted that the renaming honors the unique role that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands played in India’s fight for independence. The islands were home to the infamous Cellular Jail, where freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar were imprisoned, and they also hosted the first unfurling of the national tricolour by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Shah further added that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, once a naval base for the Chola Empire, now play a crucial role in India’s strategic and developmental goals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his own tweet, affirmed that the renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram pays tribute to the rich history and heroic residents of the islands. “This renaming reflects our dedication to breaking free from the colonial mindset and embracing our heritage,” he said.
This is not the first renaming initiative undertaken by the Modi government. In 2018, three islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago—Ross Island, Neil Island, and Havelock Island—were renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, and Swaraj Dweep, respectively, to honor the legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The move is part of the broader efforts of the government, which since 2014, has focused on renaming places with colonial or foreign legacies and replacing them with names of historical and cultural significance to India.