Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 14 September 2024
A significant portion of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ community is expressing strong opposition to the government’s recent decision to rename Port Blair as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram.’ The announcement, made through a tweet by Union Home and Co-operation Minister Amit Shah on 13th September 2024, has sparked widespread debate across the islands, with many Islanders voicing their disapproval.
In his tweet, Shah stated, “Inspired by the vision of PM Narendra Modi Ji, to free the nation from colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’. While the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A & N Islands’ unique role in the same. Andaman & Nicobar Islands have an unparalleled place in our freedom struggle and history. The island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire is today poised to be the critical base for our strategic and development aspirations. It is also the place that hosted the first unfurling of our Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ji and also the cellular jail in which Veer Savarkar Ji and other freedom fighters struggled for an independent nation.”
Despite the government’s intention to replace what it sees as a colonial legacy with a name rooted in India’s historical and cultural heritage, the proposal has not resonated well with many Islanders. Since the announcement, social media platforms have been flooded with critical reactions. Islanders have taken to WhatsApp groups, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to express their dissatisfaction, with messages and posts opposing the name change becoming increasingly common. Many users have also updated their WhatsApp statuses to reflect their disapproval of the move.
Comments on news videos covering the renaming have echoed similar sentiments, with a vast majority opposing the decision. Many feel that the new name, ‘Sri Vijaya Puram,’ does not reflect the identity or history of the residents of Port Blair, who have lived under the current name for generations.
While the government may have intended the change to honour the island’s contributions to India’s freedom struggle and its historical connection to the Chola Empire, many residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands appear to view the renaming as unnecessary and misaligned with their community’s sentiments.
The debate surrounding the name change is likely to continue, as Islanders, especially those from Port Blair, seem determined to make their voices heard.