Union minister Amit Shah renames Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram
PTC Web Desk: Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, has been renamed "Sri Vijaya Puram." "This decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of removing colonial remnants from India," he said.
Sharing the news on X, Amit Shah stated, "Inspired by the vision of PM @narendramodi Ji to free the nation from colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram. While the previous name reflected a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory of our freedom struggle and the unique role the Andaman & Nicobar Islands played in it."
The Union minister further highlighted the islands' significant place in India's history, noting their past as a naval base for the Chola Empire and their current role in India's strategic and development goals. Shah also highlighted the island's historical importance as the site where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose first raised the Indian tricolor and the location of the Cellular Jail, where freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar were imprisoned.
Earlier in January, on the occasion of Parakram Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had named 21 large, unnamed islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago after Param Vir Chakra awardees. The Prime Minister also unveiled a model for a National Memorial dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, previously known as Ross Island.
- With inputs from agencies
