Sri Vijaya Puram: New Name to End Colonial Legacy

Sri Vijaya Puram Renaming: A Step Towards Shedding Colonial Legacy
The capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, has been renamed Sri Vijaya Puram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that this change aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of freeing the nation from its colonial imprints. Amit Shah emphasized that the new name symbolizes the unique role of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India’s freedom struggle and history.

Sri Vijaya Puram is considered a symbol of courage and victory in India’s freedom struggle. In a tweet, Amit Shah stated, “Sri Vijaya Puram reflects the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the unique role of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is also the place where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose first hoisted the tricolor, and where Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters fought for an independent nation.”

Previously, Port Blair was named after British colonial navy officer Captain Archibald Blair. The renaming initiative by the Modi government aims to shed colonial imprints and highlight historical significance. In 2018, PM Modi renamed three islands—Ross Island, Neil Island, and Havelock Island—as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, and Swaraj Dweep, respectively.

The government believes these changes are essential to enhancing the strategic and developmental importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Amit Shah remarked, “The island territory, once the naval base of the Chola Empire, is now poised to become a critical base for our strategic and development aspirations.”

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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