Fri Sep 13 16:57:38 UTC 2024: ## India’s Capital Renamed, Port Blair Becomes Sri Vijaya Puram

**New Delhi:** In a move aimed at “ridding the country of all symbols of slavery,” the Indian government has renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as Sri Vijaya Puram. The announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday.

Shah cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the renaming, highlighting the islands’ significant role in India’s freedom struggle. He specifically mentioned Veer Savarkar’s years spent in the cellular jail there and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s hoisting of the Indian flag on the islands.

The new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, is derived from the ancient Sri Vijaya empire, based in Sumatra, which had a strong presence in Southeast Asia and was instrumental in spreading Buddhism.

This renaming is part of a larger pattern by the BJP government, which has seen numerous historical renamings across India. These actions are often framed as efforts to decolonize the country and erase remnants of “slavery” from the past.

Other examples include the renaming of Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi to A P J Abdul Kalam Road, Allahabad to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, and Race Course Road, the Prime Minister’s residence, to Lok Kalyan Marg.

The renaming of Port Blair has sparked debate, with some supporting the government’s efforts to reclaim a “true” Indian identity while others view it as an attempt to rewrite history.

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