PORT BLAIR RENAMED -
POLITY
News: 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.
What’s in the news?
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.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/port-blair-sri-vijaya-puram-cholas-9566312/