Context: Port Blair has been renamed ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ by the Government of India in an effort to move beyond its colonial legacy. The new name pays tribute to the region’s historical ties with the Srivijaya Empire. This renaming also symbolizes the triumph of India's freedom struggle, recognizing the unique and vital role the Andaman and Nicobar Islands played in that historic fight for independence.
Introduction:
- Port Blair, the gateway to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was named after Archibald Blair, a naval surveyor and lieutenant in the Bombay Marine.
- Blair was the first to conduct a detailed survey of the Andaman Islands, a crucial factor in the city’s establishment.
Archibald Blair’s early career and survey missions:
- Blair began his service in the Bombay Marine in 1771, embarking on numerous survey missions across the coasts of India, Iran, and Arabia.
- His work extended into various regions, including the Chagos Archipelago, Diamond Harbour near Calcutta, and along the Hooghly River.
- These early missions earned him a reputation as a skilled surveyor, leading to his involvement in a mission to the Andaman Islands.
Survey of the Andaman Islands and naming of Port Cornwallis:
- In December 1778, Blair departed from Calcutta with two ships, the Elizabeth and the Viper, to explore the Andaman Islands.
- His expedition, lasting until April 1779, navigated the west coast and subsequently the east coast of the islands.
- During this survey, Blair discovered a natural harbour, which he initially named Port Cornwallis, after William Cornwallis, then Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army.
- Later the island was renamed after him.
- Recognizing the strategic importance of this harbour, Blair reported his findings to the East India Company (EIC), who were impressed by the potential of the location.
- Colonization of the Andaman Islands:
- Following Blair’s discovery, the EIC decided to colonize the islands to establish a safe harbour to monitor and counter Malay pirate activities.
- Port Cornwallis would also serve as a refuge for shipwrecked sailors and as a shelter for British officers during hostilities with other powers.
- As part of the colonization process, several convicts were transported to the islands to perform unpaid labor, and the region became a penal colony.
- Decline of the first colony:
- In December 1792, for strategic reasons, the colony was shifted to the northeast part of the Andaman Islands, and the new settlement was named Port Cornwallis.
- However, this new colony did not last long, as the settlers faced severe disease outbreaks, resulting in numerous deaths.
- By 1796, the East India Company ceased operations on the island due to the unsustainable living conditions.
Port Blair and the revival of penal colony post-1857 revolt:
- The Revolt of 1857 changed the course of Port Blair's history.
- The British, now burdened with a large number of Indian prisoners, decided to renovate and resettle Port Blair as a penal colony.
- Many of these prisoners were given life sentences, with some being hanged, and others succumbing to disease and the harsh conditions of the settlement.
- With the rise of the Indian Independence Movement, the British constructed a vast cellular jail in 1906, now infamously known as Kaala Paani.
- This jail housed numerous Indian freedom fighters, including Veer Damodar Savarkar, becoming a symbol of British colonial oppression.
Blair’s exploration and discovery were instrumental in shaping the colonial history of the Andaman Islands.
Certain facts about Port Blair
- Port Blair, now officially known as Sri Vijaya Puram, serves as the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India situated in the Bay of Bengal.
- It functions as the headquarters of the South Andaman district.
- Port Blair is home to several strategic military installations. Indian Navy's major naval base, INS Jarawa, is located here, along with air and sea bases operated by Indian Coast Guard, Andaman and Nicobar Police, and Andaman and Nicobar Command-the first integrated tri-command of the Indian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
In Indian freedom struggle movement:
- Netaji Subas Chandra Bose escaped British surveillance in Calcutta on January 16, 1941, and returned to Indian soil nearly three years later, arriving at Port Blair Aerodrome on December 29, 1943.
- On 30 December 1943, Netaji hoisted the national flag for the first time on Indian soil, at Port Blair, symbolizing the fulfilment of his promise that the Indian National Army (INA) would stand on Indian land by the end of 1943. This momentous visit also marked the declaration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the ‘first liberated territory of India.’
- To commemorate this significant event, a Sankalp Smarak (Memorial of Resolve) was dedicated to the nation on December 29, 2021 (78 years after Bose's historic arrival in the Andamans).
From 1943 to 44 during World War II, this territory served as the headquarters of the Azad Hind government under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The island at the time was liberated from British rule by Japan which captured it during World War II. British forces eventually regained control of the islands in October 1945.
History of Engagement of Imperial Chola with Andaman Islands and Srivijaya:
- During the 11th century, the powerful Chola emperor, Rajendra I, used the Andaman Islands as a naval base to launch a significant military campaign against the Srivijaya Empire (southern Sumatra), located in present-day Indonesia.
- Strategic importance:
- According to inscriptions found at Thanjavur dated to 1050 CE, the Cholas referred to the Andaman Islands as Ma-Nakkavaram (great open or naked land), which is believed to have contributed to the modern name of Nicobar under British rule.
- The islands’ geographic location made them an ideal staging ground for naval expeditions aimed at Southeast Asia.
- His attack on Srivijaya was a remarkable event, reflecting the Chola Empire’s strength and its influence in the region.
- Invasion of Srivijaya:
- The Chola invasion of Srivijaya was unique in India’s otherwise peaceful interactions with Southeast Asia.
- For nearly a millennium, Southeast Asian states had come under the strong cultural influence of India, but this military campaign marked a rare instance of direct conflict.
- Reasons for invasion:
- The Srivijaya Empire may have attempted to disrupt Chola trade routes with the East, which prompted Rajendra I’s military response.
- It is also believed that Rajendra I sought to extend his digvijaya (conquest of all directions) to Southeast Asia, thereby enhancing his imperial glory.
- The attack on Srivijaya was also part of the Chola’s broader expansionist ambitions, which also included conflicts with other South Indian empires and Sri Lanka.
Outcome:
- Rajendra I’s naval campaign against Srivijaya resulted in significant victories.
- According to inscriptional records, he captured Srivijaya’s king, Sangrama Vijayottunggavarman, and seized valuable treasures from the Buddhist empire, including the Vidhyadara Torana, a jewelled war gate of Srivijaya.
- The control over the Srivijaya Empire in Southeast Asia gave access to a major commercial hub.
- The conquest gave the Cholas control over important maritime trade routes.
- This victory not only marked the height of Chola naval power but also demonstrated the empire’s capacity to influence events far beyond the Indian subcontinent.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, through their association with Rajendra I’s naval expeditions, gained a significant role in India’s maritime strategy and historical narratives.
About Rajendra Chola I (reigned from 1014 and 1044 CE):
Introduction:
- Rajaraja I appointed his son, Rajendra I, as his heir apparent, marking the continuation of the Chola dynasty.
- For two years, they ruled jointly, with Rajendra actively participating in campaigns, especially against the Western Chalukyas.
- These efforts extended the Chola Empire's boundaries to the Tungabhadra River, securing its northern frontier.
Conquest of the Pandyas and Sri Lanka:
- One of the major achievements during Rajaraja’s reign was the attack on Madurai, forcing the Pandya rulers to flee to Sri Lanka.
- Rajendra I continued this campaign, successfully conquering Sri Lanka and reclaiming the Pandya crown and jewels.
- This victory further solidified Chola dominance over the Pandyas and Sri Lanka.
Northern expeditions:
- After ascending the throne in 1014 CE, Rajendra launched a significant campaign into northern India, extending the Chola influence beyond the Godavari River.
- His forces secured key victories, leading to the construction of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, commemorating the northern conquests.
Western Chalukya campaigns:
- Rajendra I continued his father’s campaigns against the Western Chalukyas, successfully sacking their capital, Kalayani.
- The dwarapala statue from Kalayani, installed at the Darasuram temple, is a lasting symbol of these victories.
Rajendra I assumed titles such as Mudikonda Cholan, Gangaikondan, and Kadaramkondan to reflect his military triumphs and scholarly achievements. His reign marked the zenith of Chola power, extending from South India to Southeast Asia, cementing the Chola Empire as one of the most powerful in Indian history.