Willingdon Island

About Willingdon Island

• It is among the most beautiful locations in the Kochi area.
• This is a man-made island, named after Lord Willingdon who was a British Viceroy of India.
• It is among the biggest of its kind in India.
• It is a major commercial centre and has some of the best hotels in the city.
• It is also home to the Kochi Naval Base of the Indian Navy, the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology and the Port of Kochi.
• It handles millions of tonnes of freight every year.
• The island is connected to the mainland by the Venduruthy Bridge.

Who was Lord Willingdon (1931 - 1936)?

•  He was the 22nd Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
• Major events during his tenure
  • Introduction of the Government of India Act, 1935.
  • The Second Round Table Conference, held in 1931, saw the participation of Gandhi as a representative of the Congress. 
  • British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald introduced the Communal Award in 1932.
  • The Poona Pact of 1932 was reached between Gandhi and Ambedkar to address provisions related to fair representation of backward classes.
  • The Third Round Table Conference, held in 1932, failed as neither Gandhi nor Congress attended.

Q1) What is an Island?

It is any area of land smaller than a continent and entirely surrounded by water. Islands may occur in oceans, seas, lakes, or rivers. A group of islands is called an archipelago.

Source: Cochin Port unions urge PM Modi to revive lost glory of Willingdon Island