On Friday, the Centre announced its decision to rename Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram.
In a post on X, Union Minister Amit Shah stated, “To eliminate colonial remnants, we have decided to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram. This name represents the victory of our freedom movement and highlights the unique contribution of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.”
He further emphasised the islands’ significance in India’s struggle for independence, noting their historic role as a naval base during the Chola Empire and their current importance for strategic and developmental purposes. Shah also mentioned that the islands were where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose first unfurled the Indian flag, and the location of the Cellular Jail, where freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar endured hardships for the cause of India’s independence.