As a symbolic expression to pay the respect to freedom fighters of India and to shun the British influence, the Indian government has recently renamed the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair now known as Sri Vijaya Puram. This change not only can give a signal to the position of the islands throughout the history but also embrace the significant task of our islands in the liberation war of our country. This huge decision also declaring by the Home Minister Amit Shah himself from his ‘X’ account is a move towards acknowledging India and its heroes.
A proposal to rename ‘Port Blair’ was taken in the light of the policy of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi who aims at freeing the country from colonial engravings. For many years the name Port Blair had negative connotations associated with British colonization of India and the rule of British empire. The Centre renamed it as Sri Vijaya Puram with a view to draw the focus to the achievements of the freedom fighters and importance of the Andaman Nicobar Islands in the attaining freedom for country.
Why Sri Vijaya Puram?
Sri Vijaya Puram is the name of the village and its meaning is rich in its history and meaning. The islands have been historic naval base of the Chola dynasty, wherein India was highly expansionist and dominant in naval power. More important, it became an important prominent place in the during the freedom struggle for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These islands are well known to Indians as it was here that Subhash Chander Bose for the first time raised the Indian tricolour. This Cellular Jail present in heart of these islands turned into a epitome of courage where freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar and many more martyr their utmost to serve a nation free from British colonialism.
The Broader Significance
This renaming is part of a bigger plan which has been structured by the Indian government to bring back the lost link with Indigenism in India. The name of this town is Port Blair derived from colonial origin and is being changed to a name reflecting India’s achievements and its struggle. Sri Vijaya Puram is a name that will ring a bell with every Indian as to the place’s significance in the overall historical narrative of the country and in particular, in the trajectory of the island.
No doubt, this decision is not unique one. It may be noted that in the last few years the Centre has been quite active in renaming some of the important places of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to honor martyrs of freedom struggle. In 2018, during a visit to Port Blair, Prime Minister Modi renamed three islands: Ross Island was renamed as Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep. They portray freedom struggle celebrating heroes of India and preserving their memory in our mind.
In addition, on Parakram Divas, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose which falls on the 23rd of January, the Centre has incorporated another step towards it by clearing its stand to name 21 of the largest unnamed islands after 21 Para Vir Chakra awardees. This act helps in increasing people’s commitment in observing the sacrifice made by those who have died for their country and ensuring that the memories are kept alive.
Sri Vijaya Puram: A New Era
Therefore the renaming of Port Blair and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are all set to serve a more important strategic and developmental purpose in the future of India. Apart from the historical importance, these islands should be useful for the development of India navy and its paramount important strategic base in the Indian ocean to strengthen the naval might of the nation.
This is not a mere nod to what has been achieved before but it is also a sign of what will be achieved in the future. It links the historical Indian empires with its struggle for liberalism as well as the modern India.
The renaming also gives regard to the topographical aspect of the island; from Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram and to the freedom fighters who had sacrificed a lot for the country. It symbolises a new era in the journey of enlightenment of India to accept its own culture along with stepping into the future of exponentially growing opportunities. But as the name Sri Vijaya Puram becomes the official name of this historical place, one can only recalled that spirit of victory and sacrifices still burning in the heart of each Indian generations. This has not only helped us to retrieve our legacy but also to assert on how significant the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in the process of building the future of the nation.
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