Port Blair renamed 'Sri Vijaya Puram'

Port Blair, the capital city of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has officially been renamed "Sri Vijaya Puram," Union Home minister Amit Shah announced on Friday.

The decision, he said, is part of an ongoing effort to rid the country of remnants of its colonial past, honouring the rich history of the islands and their integral role in India's freedom struggle.

"Inspired by the vision of Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as 'Sri Vijaya Puram Shah announced on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have long held a pivotal place in India's history, both as a region of deep historical importance and as a significant site during the Indian independence movement. Shah said that renaming the capital city is a tribute to the islands "unparalleled place" in India's fight for freedom and reflects its legacy, from being the location of the first hoisting of the national flag by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to the infamous Cellular Jail, where many freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar, were imprisoned.

"The earlier name carried a colonial legacy, but 'Sri Vijaya Puram' symbolises the victory achieved in India's freedom struggle and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' unique role in it," said Shah, reiterating the government's resolve to honour national icons and landmarks connected to the independence movement.