Sri Vijaya Puram represents the victory of Indian freedom movement and highlights the unique contribution of the A&N Islands.
- It is the site where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first unfurled the Tiranga and the Cellular Jail is also located here.
- Renaming also marks a departure from the colonial legacy, highlighting the contemporary strategic role of A&N Island which once served as naval base for the Chola Empire.
Naval power of Chola Empire
- Later Chola rulers Rajaraja (985-1014) and Rajendra I (1014-1044) played key role in developing a powerful navy.
- Pursued aggressive military policy.
- Access to the vast majority of peninsular India provided them with an unfettered access to the seas.
- Bay of Bengal was transformed as ‘Chola lake’.
- It enabled flourishing trade with the countries of Southeast Asia (under their Look East Policy).
- key trading centres such as Nagapattinam were established.
Significant Naval Expeditions
- Rajaraja destructed the Chera navy at Kandalursalai, etc.
- Also, he invaded Sri Lanka (annexing its northern part) and led a conquest to Maldives.
- Rajendra I’snaval conquest of Sri Lanka resulted in the entire island becoming a Chola province.
- He launched a major expedition against the Sailendra Empire (extending across Malay Peninsula and neighbouring islands), leading to the conquest of several regions in the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.
