Fri Sep 13 19:47:22 UTC 2024: ## India Renames Port Blair to ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ in Latest Decolonization Effort
**New Delhi, India** – The Indian government has renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ as part of its ongoing efforts to remove “symbols of slavery” from the country. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the decision on Friday, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a decolonized India.
Shah emphasized the islands’ historical significance in India’s freedom struggle, recalling the imprisonment of freedom fighter V.D. Savarkar in the Cellular Jail and the hoisting of the Indian flag by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. He stated that the new name, ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’, reflects the islands’ contribution to the fight for independence.
The previous name, Port Blair, was a tribute to Archibald Blair, a British naval surveyor who conducted the first detailed survey of the Andamans in the 1770s. The new name draws inspiration from the ancient Srivijaya empire, which held influence over Southeast Asia and is believed to have used the Andaman Islands as a naval base during the 11th century.
This renaming is the latest in a series of similar actions by the BJP government, which seeks to erase remnants of colonial rule and emphasize India’s historical heritage. Previous examples include the renaming of Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi to A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Road, Allahabad to Prayagraj, and Race Course Road to Lok Kalyan Marg.
The move has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the government’s efforts to reclaim national identity while others criticize the renaming as a symbolic gesture with little practical impact.
First Piper 