For many, Port Blair is a symbol of their identity and their connection to the past. The renaming of the city to Sri Vijaya Puram may appeal to a certain section of the population, but for many others, it feels like an erasure of their heritage. As a native of Port Blair, it is difficult to reconcile with the renaming of my city to Sri Vijaya Puram. My introductions have always begun with, “Hi, I’m from Port Blair, where Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted India’s first freedom flag.” With the change in the city’s name, such an identity feels lost. India is a land deeply tied to its history and heritage, where identity is often intertwined with names. The renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram, proposed by the Narendra Modi-led Union government, has ignited a debate over the rationale behind the move and its implications. The government claims that the renaming honours the “rich history” of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but many local residents and critics argue that the mov
Yesterday, one of my school friend (he is a right-winger) posted about why he is not supporting Palestine and all. We started a discussion and his opinion and mine is not matching. He asked me why I'm not raising my voice about the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Kashmir (I have raised my side and posted whatever I can on social media in many issues) but only about Palestinians. But why is he asking this to me? Am I the Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister or an Indian Government spokesperson? The reason is simple: my pro-Palestine posts, questions about the current government, and their hatred towards of one religion. I do not oppose the BJP, but I do oppose its current ideologies because this communal politics is a threat to my country. Opposing the government does not mean that everyone is an opposition leader; there are some who love the country too. In Palestine case, he is justifying Israel's atrocities and genocide against Palestinians