Govt renames Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram to shed 'colonial legacy'

NEW DELHI: The central government on Friday announced to rename Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar as "Sri Vijaya Puram" in an effort to shed the "colonial legacy".Union home minister Amit Shah, while sharing the government's decision, said "Andaman & Nicobar Islands have an unparalleled place in our freedom struggle and history.""Inspired by the vision of PM Narendra Modi Ji, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram," Shah wrote on X.Read more: PM Modi, Amit Shah among BJP's 40 star campaigners for Haryana pollsHe said that Vijaya Puram "symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A&N Islands' unique role in the same". The home minister said the island territory that "once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire is today poised to be the critical base for our strategic and development aspirations". "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 wrote on X.PM Modi also said the name reflects the government's "commitment to break free from the colonial mindset"."The name Sri Vijaya Puram honours the rich history and heroic people of Andaman and Nicobar islands. It also reflects our commitment to break free from the colonial mindset and celebrate our heritage," PM wrote on X.In 2018, PM Modi renamed three islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago as a tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, the Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep, Modi said during a speech amidst thunderous applause from the audience here. The three islands are major tourist spots.