Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will now be known as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’, Union Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X on Friday (September 13).

He said the decision of changing the name was inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “to free the nation from colonial imprints”. 

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold a prominent place in India’s fight for independence.

It was once a naval base for the Chola Empire and later became a critical location during India’s struggle for freedom.