Port Blair renamed Sri Vijaya Puram

The Union government announced the renaming of Port Blair to ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ to “free the nation from colonial imprints”. Port Blair has long carried the name of Captain Archibald Blair, a British naval officer of the East India Company after whom the gateway to the island was named after. Earlier in January 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi named 21 large uninhabited islands in Andaman and Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees. 

Who Was Captain Archibald Blair?

• Archibald Blair joined the Bombay Marine under the British East India Company in 1771. His first significant role as a midshipman involved surveying the coasts of India, Iran, and Arabia in 1772.
• French Captivity: In 1780, Blair was captured by a French warship while on an expedition to the Cape of Good Hope. He was imprisoned until 1784 and later handed over to the Dutch.
• Blair’s Role in Andaman Islands
  • His most notable work was surveying the Andaman Islands from December 1788 to April 1789. His detailed report led to the British decision to colonize the islands.
  • Blair discovered a natural harbour on the southern part of Great Andaman Island and initially named it Port Cornwallis in honor of Commodore William Cornwallis, the British-Indian navy’s Commander-in-Chief. This harbour was later renamed Port Blair in his own honor.
  • Settlement Efforts:
    • The first colony was established in South Andaman by Archibald Blair. He established a settlement on Chatham Island, initially called Port Cornwallis. This new location faced a series of disasters, including disease outbreaks, leading to its abandonment in 1796.
    • Blair was replaced by Major Alexander Kyd and returned to England in 1795.

Freedom Struggle in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Infamously known as "Kala Pani" or "Black Waters," this remote convict colony became a place where prisoners in India, both political and non-political, were exiled.

• Rise of Penal Colonization: After the first war of independence in 1857, the British needed to suppress dissent more effectively. They decided to use the Andaman Islands as a penal settlement to isolate political and non-political prisoners. The Andaman Committee, led by Dr. F.J. Mouat, recommended this move.
• Prison Conditions and Rebellions: The harsh conditions led to multiple escapes and harsh reprisals. In 1858, 251 prisoners escaped, and the brutal execution of 88 escapees was ordered.
• Great Andamanese Resistance: The Great Andamanese tribe resisted British rule, culminating in the Battle of Aberdeen on May 17, 1859. Despite their bravery, the indigenous people suffered heavy casualties.
• Notable Events and Figures
  • Assassination of Lord Mayo: In 1872 Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of India, was assassinated by Sher Ali, a convict from Peshawar. This assassination highlighted the discontent among prisoners and sent shockwaves through the British administration.
  • Construction of Cellular Jail (1896-1906): The British constructed the Cellular Jail to impose stricter confinement on political prisoners. It became infamous for its brutal conditions and the torture inflicted on its inmates, including well-known revolutionaries and freedom fighters.
  • Hunger Strikes and Protests (1932-1937): Several hunger strikes were organized by political prisoners demanding better conditions. These strikes, particularly the ones in 1933, garnered national attention and led to protests on the mainland.
  • Japanese Occupation (1942): During World War II, the Japanese forces captured the Andaman Islands. The Indian Independence League, led by leaders like Subash Chandra Bose, raised the Indian flag on December 30, 1943, marking a significant event in India's fight for freedom.
  • End of Penal Settlement (1945): With the end of World War II and the reoccupation by British forces, the penal settlement was closed. All prisoners were granted pardons, marking the end of this dark chapter.