New Delhi: Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was renamed Sri Vijaya Puram by the Union home ministry on Friday to shed its colonial symbol. The island holds a deep-rooted historical significance that stretches back to ancient times. Inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous tribes such as the Jarawa, Onge, and Sentinelese, the island’s early history is marked by its harmonious relationship with nature. These communities thrived in isolation, with their unique languages, cultural traditions, and close-knit societies largely undisturbed by outside influence, according to reports.
Establishment of British East India Company
However, the trajectory of Port Blair changed dramatically in 1789 when the British East India Company established a settlement in the region. Recognising the islands’ strategic importance in the Bay of Bengal the British initially used Port Blair as a penal colony, where convicts and political prisoners from mainland India were incarcerated. Over time, the British expanded their presence, transforming Port Blair into an administrative and commercial hub.
One of the darkest chapters in Port Blair’s history is the construction of the notorious Cellular Jail, which began in 1896 and was completed in 1906. Known as “Kala Pani” the jail was designed to isolate and imprison Indian freedom fighters who resisted British colonial rule. The prison became infamous for its harsh conditions, with many of its inmates subjected to brutal treatment, solitary confinement, and forced labour.
The notorious Cellular Jail aka Kala Pani
Prominent figures of India’s independence movement, such as Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Batukeshwar Dutt, were among the prisoners who endured severe hardships in the Cellular Jail. Despite the oppressive conditions, the jail became a centre for resistance, where prisoners engaged in acts of defiance, educated each other, and kept the spirit of nationalism alive.
During World War II, Port Blair’s strategic significance grew further, with Japanese forces occupying the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between 1942 and 1945. However, the city is best remembered for its pivotal role in India’s fight for independence. After India’s liberation in 1947, Port Blair, like the rest of the islands, became part of the Indian Union.