Renaming Port Blair: A Step to Remove Symbols of Colonial Slavery
Renaming Port Blair: A Step to Remove Symbols of Colonial Slavery
Sub: History
Sec: Modern India
Why in News:
The Indian government, as part of its ongoing efforts to eliminate symbols of colonial slavery, has renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram. The announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, aligning with Prime Ministers’ vision of removing remnants of colonial rule.
Renaming of Port Blair:
Port Blair, formerly named after Archibald Blair, a British naval officer, is now officially known as Sri Vijaya Puram. This renaming is part of a broader effort to remove symbols of colonialism, as per the government’s initiative to cleanse the country of its colonial past.
Capital: Port Blair is the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Location: Situated in the Bay of Bengal.
Historical Site: Home to the Cellular Jail, a significant freedom struggle monument.
Climate: Tropical with high humidity and monsoon rains.
Economic Activities: Majorly driven by tourism, fisheries, and agriculture.
About Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
V.D. Savarkar spent years imprisoned in the infamous Cellular Jail in these islands.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian Tricolor on the islands during India’s independence movement, marking a historic moment in the struggle against British rule.
The Andaman Islands are the extension of the submerged Arakan Yoma Tertiary Mountain range of Myanmar and the Nicobar are the continuation of the Mentawai Islands to the south and southeast of Sumatra.
These two island groups situated in the Bay of Bengal span 6°45′ N to 13°41′ N (740 km) and 92°12′ E to 93°57′ E (190 km).
These islands are separated from one another by very narrow straits.
Andamans are separated from Nicobar by a 10-degree channel (10-degree latitude).
South Andaman and Little Andaman are separated by Duncan Passage.
The Grand Channel is between the Great Nicobar Islands and the Sumatra islands of Indonesia.
The Coco Strait is between the North Andaman Islands and the Coco Islands of Myanmar.
Port Blair, located in South Andaman is the administrative capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The southernmost point of India is The Indira Point, (formerly known as Pygmalion Point and Parsons Point) which is the southern point of the Great Nicobar Islands.
The highest peak of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is Saddle Peak, located in the North Andaman.
Srivijaya Empire:
The new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, draws inspiration from the Srivijaya Empire, which was centered in Sumatra and influential across Southeast Asia.
Historical Period: Flourished from the 7th to 13th century AD.
Significance: Major maritime power in Southeast Asia.
Cultural Impact: Promoted Buddhism across the region. The empire played a significant role in the expansion of Buddhism and had far-reaching maritime influence until it declined in the 11th century due to a series of naval raids by the Cholas.
Andaman Islands served as a strategic base for the Chola emperor Rajendra I during naval campaigns against the Srivijaya Empire.
Rajendra I, a Chola emperor from the 11th century, used the Andaman Islands as a naval base to launch successful raids on Srivijaya’s ports. This connection to the Cholas reinforces the historical relevance of the name Sri Vijaya Puram, emphasizing the maritime and strategic importance of the islands.