Sat Sep 14 06:57:45 UTC 2024: ## Andaman & Nicobar Islands Capital Renamed ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ to Commemorate Freedom Struggle
**New Delhi:** The capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, has been renamed “Sri Vijaya Puram” by the Indian government. This change, announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, aims to “break free from the colonial mindset” and celebrate India’s heritage, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The new name signifies the victory achieved during India’s independence struggle and highlights the islands’ crucial role in this movement, Shah stated.
“The earlier name had a colonial legacy, while Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle,” Shah said. He further emphasized the historical significance of the islands, which were once the naval base of the Chola Empire and later played a pivotal role in the freedom struggle.
“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,” Shah added.
Prime Minister Modi, in response to Shah’s announcement, hailed the name change as a tribute to the “rich history and heroic people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.” He reiterated the government’s commitment to “break free from the colonial mindset and celebrate our heritage.”
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