Port Blair, the scenic capital of the Indian Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands has been officially renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram to reflect the policy of shifting from colonial legacy. The decision is part of a broader initiative by the Indian Government to “Indianize” the country and remove colonial influences.
Home Minister Amit Shah announced the change on X, “Inspired by the vision of PM Narendra Modi, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram.’ While the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A&N Islands’ unique role in the same.”
The islands which were once an outpost of the Cholas and also hosted the Cellular Jail which held some of the greatest revolutionaries of India including Veer Savarkar. It was also the place where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose unfurled the Tiranga for the first time to declare independence. The city and islands tell a history of glory, a history of struggle, and most importantly symbolize freedom.
Port Blair is named after Captain Archibald Blair, British Naval officer who conducted surveys of the Andaman Islands in 1789 on behalf of the East India Company. The name ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ comes from the Sri Vijaya Empire in Southeast Asia which thrived from 7th to 13th centuries and was the peak of Indian power.
India has been independent for 77 years, but still seems to be just getting started on its aim of decolonization. There are still so many places and sites which bear names of invaders. There are still institutions which uphold colonial traditions, including the ones which influence the government. It will take time, but India will undo 200 years of damage.
There will be critics, those who claim this is waste of time and money. However, how can a country gain back its self respect if it still holds a torch for the forces who invaded, pillaged, and brutalized her. We dream of becoming a superpower, a Vishwaguru. That is only possible if we are comfortable with our culture and able to move forward from the past. The only way to move on is to first actively deal with the past. Pretending the past did not happen or trying to whitewash it is a sign of a weak country.
Let us rename. Let us recapture our lost glory. Let us move to the future.
