New Delhi, September 13: The Union Government has decided to rename the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, to “Sri Vijaya Puram.” The historic decision was announced by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah on social media.
In a post on X, Home Minister Shah said, “Inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram.’”
The Union Home Minister explained that while the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolizes the victory achieved in India’s freedom struggle and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands’ unique role in it. He added that the islands have an unparalleled place in India’s history, serving as the naval base of the Chola Empire and later becoming a critical base for India’s strategic and development aspirations.
Amit Shah also highlighted that the Andaman & Nicobar Islands was the place where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose unfurled the Indian flag and also the cellular jail where Veer Savarkar Ji and other freedom fighters struggled for an independent nation.