Why in the News?

In a move to eliminate colonial practices and symbols from the Indian Armed Forces, Fort William in Kolkata, the headquarters of the Eastern Army Command, has been renamed Vijay Durg.

About the Vijay Durg (Fort William)

• It was originally built by the British in 1773, Fort William was named after King William III of England.
• It is located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• It served as a key British military stronghold during colonial rule.
• The first version of Fort William was built by the English East India Company in 1696.
• It had an inner bastion used as a prison, leading to the term “Black Hole of Calcutta”.
• The Black Hole of Calcutta Incident (1756) refers to the alleged imprisonment of British prisoners by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, where many reportedly suffocated to death due to overcrowding and lack of ventilation.
• After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, Robert Clive ordered its demolition, and a new fort was built, completed in 1773.
• Fort William College was established by Lord Wellesley in 1800 to train Company civil servants in Indian languages and customs, but it was closed in 1802.
• The present-day fort is octagonal in shape, made of brick and mortar, covering 70.9 acres.
  • It is now owned by the Indian Army and serves as the headquarters of the Eastern Command.

Significance of Renaming

• The new name is inspired by Vijay Durg Fort in Maharashtra, one of the oldest and most significant naval forts under Chhatrapati Shivaji.
• Vijay Durg served as a naval base for the Marathas, highlighting India’s indigenous military history.
• The renaming aligns with India’s broader initiative to remove colonial influences and promote native military traditions.
  • In September 2022, the Indian Navy replaced its British-era ensign with a new octagonal design inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji’s royal seal.

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