Context:

Recently, the Union Home Minister announced that Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will be renamed Sri Vijaya Puram.

More on the news

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an unparalleled place in freedom struggle and history. 
• The island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire is today a critical base for the strategic and development aspirations of India.

The Chola Connection:

• The Chola dynasty, Under Rajendra Chola I, used the Andaman islands as a strategic naval base in the 11^th century.
• In 1025 AD, Rajendra Chola I  sent a massive naval fleet to attack the Srivijaya Empire in present-day Indonesia. 
• His victory over Srivijaya resulted in the capture of King Sangrama Vijayottungavarman and the plunder of precious treasures, further consolidating Chola's dominance. 
• Srivijaya along with 12 other port cities on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and the Nicobar Islands have been recorded in an inscription at a temple in Thanjavur.
• The Thanjavur inscription (1050 AD) refers to the islands as Ma-nakkavaram (great open land), which later evolved into the name of the Nicobar Islands under the British.

Historical Overview of Port Blair:

• Archibald Blair, a naval surveyor and lieutenant in the Bombay Marine, was the first to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Andaman Islands.
• Blair also participated in various survey missions along the coasts of India, Iran, Arabia, Chagos archipelago, Diamond Harbour, and Hooghly River.
• In 1778, Blair discovered a natural harbor on the Andaman Islands, which he initially named Port Cornwallis.
• After Lord Cornwallis The island was later renamed Port Blair in Blair’s honour.
• In Port Blair, The Cellular Jail, also known as Kaala Pani (Black water), was established in 1906 and is a symbol of India's struggle for freedom.
• Many prominent freedom fighters including Veer Savarkar were imprisoned here under oppressive conditions.
• It is also the place that hosted the first unfurling of Tiranga flag by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in 1943. 

Previous Renamed of Andaman and Nicobar archipelago:

• In 2018, three islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago were renamed by the Government of India to honour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and to commemorate India’s independence struggle:
• Ross Island renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island
• Havelock Island renamed Swaraj Dweep
• Neil Island renamed as Shaheed Dweep

Procedure to Change the Name of a City

The power to change the name is given to the State Legislation. The procedure is as follows:

• A resolution is proposed by any Member of the Legislative Assembly as a request to change the name of a particular city or place in the state.
• A discussion takes place on the resolution. In the discussion, the reasons for and possible consequences of altering the name is discussed. 
• Formal voting on the enforcement of the resolution. For the passing of the resolution, a simple majority is required. Once the majority is achieved in the favour, the resolution is considered passed.
• The resolution as a proposal is submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry considers the proposal and consults with other state agencies. The agencies from whom the approval is required are the Ministry of Railways, Intelligence Bureau, Department of Posts, Survey of India, and Registrar General of India. A ‘No Objection’ certificate is issued by the Ministry if the proposal is approved by the Ministry and all the agencies.
• After getting approval from the ministry, the State Government can issue an official notification in the Gazette. The notification must include the details of the changes made in the name of the state or city or any other place.
• Note: A Union Territory comes under the direct administrative control of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, thus does not require the above procedure.