Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the government’s decision to change the name was made to “free the nation from colonial imprints”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that the central government has decided to rename Port Blair as “Sri Vijaya Puram”, stating that the decision was taken to “free the nation from colonial imprints”.
Port Blair is the capital of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
“Inspired by the vision of PM @narendramodi Ji, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as “Sri Vijaya Puram”,” Shah said in a post on X.
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The Home Minister explained that the previous name had a “colonial legacy”, while the new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, symbolises the victory achieved in our struggle for freedom.
“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,” he added.
Shah further highlighted: “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.”
Several senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, welcomed the decision on social media platform X and shared their views.
PM Modi wrote: “The name Sri Vijaya Puram honours the rich history and heroic people of Andaman and Nicobar islands. It also reflects our commitment to break free from the colonial mindset and celebrate our heritage.”
Union Health Minister JP Nadda wrote: “The previous name carried echoes of colonial rule, but every mention of Sri Vijaya Puram will now serve as a tribute to the resilience and sacrifices of our freedom fighters who fought to dismantle the shackles of colonial oppression. This renaming marks a significant step towards embracing a future free from colonial imprints.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote: “Today is a historic day, when we are renaming Port Blair as ‘Shri Vijayapuram’. This is a big step towards connecting with our cultural heritage under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji.”
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant wrote, “This is a commendable step, a move to rid our nation of its colonial legacy. The renaming is a powerful tribute to the indomitable spirit of our freedom fighters and honors the pivotal role that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands played in our freedom struggle.”
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami wrote: “The naming of Sri Vijayapuram is dedicated to highlighting the historical importance and glorious traditions of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The work of freeing the country from the symbols of slavery is commendable.”
