The Government has decided to rename the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Port Blair as “Sri Vijaya Puram”.

Reasons to rename Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram 

• Colonial Legacy: Port Blair was named after Archibald Blair, a British naval officer, reflecting its colonial past. The renaming is part of a larger effort to “free the nation from colonial imprints”​.
• Symbolism of Victory: The new name celebrates the victory of India’s freedom struggle. It honors the role played by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the freedom struggle and acknowledges its unique role in that achievement.
• Acknowledging Historical Significance: The name also commemorates the islands’ unique role as a site of imprisonment for many freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar, in the notorious Cellular Jail, also known as Kaala Paani.

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How did Port Blair get its name?

• Archibald Blair’s Appointment: In 1771, Archibald Blair, a naval surveyor and lieutenant in the Bombay Marine, began his service, participating in several survey missions across India, Iran, and Arabia.
• First Survey of the Andamans: In December 1778, Blair, aboard two ships, led an expedition from Calcutta to the Andaman Islands. By April 1779, Blair had surveyed the island’s western and eastern coasts, discovering a natural harbor.
• Naming of Port Cornwallis: Initially, Blair named the harbor Port Cornwallis after Commodore William Cornwallis, Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army.
• Renaming to Port Blair: Later, the harbor was renamed after Archibald Blair in recognition of his survey efforts.
• East India Company’s Colonization: The East India Company decided to colonize the islands for strategic reasons, including controlling Malay pirate activities and providing refuge for shipwrecked sailors. 
  • The island also became a penal colony with convicts sent to work as unpaid labor.
• Penal Colony’s Relocation and Challenges: In 1792, the colony shifted to a new location in the northeast part of the island, but diseases and deaths forced its closure by 1796.
• Post-1857 Resettlement: After the 1857 Revolt, the British repurposed Port Blair as a penal colony, with life imprisonment sentences for many prisoners. 
  • The infamous Cellular Jail (Kaala Paani) was constructed by 1906, housing several freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar.

Historical Connection between Port Blair and the Imperial Cholas

• Chola Naval Strategy:
  • Strategic Naval Base: The Andaman Islands were used as a strategic naval base by Rajendra Chola I in the 11th century during his expansionist campaigns.
  • Naval Base for Srivijaya Invasion: According to records, these islands provided the Cholas with a base to launch a successful attack on the Srivijaya Empire (present-day Indonesia​.)
• Chola Invasion of Srivijaya:
  • Naval Dominance in Southeast Asia: The attack on Srivijaya, a powerful Buddhist maritime empire, was a significant event in Indian history, marking the Cholas’ naval dominance and expansion into Southeast Asia.
  • Capture of Srivijaya King: Rajendra I’s campaign led to the capture of King Sangrama Vijayottunggavarman and the looting of treasures, including the valuable Vidhyadara Torana​.
• Relation with Srivijaya:
  • Cultural Influence: Prior to this invasion, relations between India and Southeast Asia were largely peaceful, shaped by centuries of cultural exchange. The Chola invasion marked a shift towards military intervention.
  • Strategic Importance of Andaman: The Cholas referred to the Andaman Islands as “Ma-Nakkavaram land,” and these islands were pivotal in controlling sea routes, essential for trade and military expeditions​.
  • Nicobar Islands and Chola Naming: The name “Nicobar” itself may have evolved from the Chola designation “Ma-Nakkavaram,” emphasizing the deep historical connection between these islands and Chola naval exploits​.

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