Sri Vijaya Puram, 16 September 2024
Tarun Karthick
In a historic move, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, has officially been renamed ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ following a gazette notification issued on 14th September 2024. The notification was published in the ‘Andaman and Nicobar Gazette’, formalising the renaming of the city.
The decision to rename Port Blair was first announced by India’s Home Minister, Amit Shah, on 13th September 2024, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). In his announcement, Mr. Shah linked the change to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of removing colonial legacies across India. He emphasized the historical significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the nation’s freedom struggle, calling the new name a tribute to the territory’s role in India’s fight for independence.
“*Inspired by the vision of PM @narendramodi Ji to free the nation from colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’,” Mr. Shah tweeted. He explained that while the previous name reflected a colonial past, ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ symbolizes the victory of India’s freedom fighters and the region’s critical historical and strategic importance.
Mr. Shah also highlighted the islands’ connection to ancient history, citing the Chola Empire’s naval base in the region and its continued role in India’s strategic development. He further noted that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were the site of the first unfurling of the Tricolour by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, as well as home to the infamous Cellular Jail, where freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar were imprisoned.
A letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs approving the name change was circulated widely on social media shortly after Mr. Shah’s announcement. The letter, addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, confirmed the government’s approval for renaming the city.
Despite the official renaming, the decision has sparked mixed reactions from locals. While some have embraced the change, others have expressed discontent, calling on the government to restore the city’s former name. Critics argue that the change overlooks the city’s long-standing identity and are concerned about the potential impact on the island’s heritage and tourism industry.
The renaming is part of a broader initiative by the central government to shed colonial legacies and celebrate India’s indigenous history and contributions to the freedom movement. However, the debate continues among residents of the newly named Sri Vijaya Puram as they grapple with the implications of this historic shift.
Whom did they ask before changing the name…is this a dictatorship, without looking into the infrastructure of the island they are about changing the name of every areas in the island, past 10 years the NH is still incomplete and broken roads, no permanent jobs only contract- unemployment, improper electricity, unmanaged networks, first they should change this thing to make place at people’s heart, instead they didn’t even circular any notice before doing it, this government is doing whatever they feel to do is correct without public reference or idea. They didn’t even think once to put any choice before we islanders, how the colonial treat by giving orders , they also doing the same , the day is not far when islanders will rise. We till don’t jump in any conflict, staying calm. That doesn’t mean the government should treat us like that.