Sri Vijaya Puram Renaming of Port Blair, Capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands

The capital of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands 'Port Blair' has officially been renamed 'Sri Vijaya Puram', following a gazette notification issued on September 14, 2024. This notification was published in the 'Andaman and Nicobar Gazette,' marking the formal change. The new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, is symbolic of a departure from the colonial past and is a tribute to India's victorious freedom struggle and the islands' pivotal historical role.

Historically, the Andaman Islands held strategic importance as a naval base for the Chola Empire under Rajendra Chola I in the 11th century. This period is marked by the Chola invasion of the Srivijaya Empire (modern-day Indonesia), which was a significant event in India’s military history.

• The Chola invasion aimed to expand Chola influence and secure crucial trade routes in the region.
• Port Blair, named after British naval officer Archibald Blair, became a significant site during British colonial rule, particularly as a penal colony following the Revolt of 1857.

The renaming of Port Blair was first announced by the Honourable Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah, on September 13, 2024, via a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). He linked this change to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of removing remnants of colonialism across India. In his announcement, the Home Minister highlighted the historical significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India’s freedom struggle, emphasizing that the new name honors the territory’s unique contribution to the nation’s independence.

Shri Amit Shah also underscored the islands’ ancient history, noting their connection to the Chola Empire and their enduring strategic importance to India. Furthermore, he recalled the symbolic significance of the islands as the site where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose first unfurled the Indian Tricolour and the location of the infamous Cellular Jail, where freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar were imprisoned.

Shortly after the announcement, a letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs confirming the name change was widely circulated on social media. This letter, addressed to the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, formally approved the renaming of the city.

The renaming of Sri Vijaya Puram is part of a larger initiative by the central government to eliminate colonial legacies and honor India's indigenous history and its contributions to the freedom movement.