Amit Shah Renames Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram in Tribute to the Freedom Struggle

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has been officially renamed ‘Sri Vijaya Puram.’

Shah explained that the previous name carried remnants of a colonial past, while the new name symbolizes the triumph of India’s freedom movement. He stated, “Inspired by the vision of Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji to eliminate colonial imprints, we have decided to rename Port Blair as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram.’ The former name represented a colonial legacy, but ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ stands for the victory achieved during our freedom struggle and honors the unique role played by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in it.”

Shah also emphasized the historical importance of the islands, which once served as a naval base for the Chola Empire. Today, the islands are set to become a key location for India’s strategic and developmental objectives. He further noted that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold a special place in India’s freedom history, being the site where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first hoisted the Indian flag and home to the Cellular Jail, where Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters were imprisoned.