Key Updates:
- Fort William, the Indian Army’s Eastern Command HQ in Kolkata, has been renamed Vijay Durg to remove colonial imprints.
- The new name is inspired by Maharashtra’s oldest Sindhudurg fort, a former Maratha naval base under Chhatrapati Shivaji.
- Other changes include:
- Kitchener House renamed to Manekshaw House.
- George’s Gate renamed to Shivaji Gate.
About Fort William:
- Located in Kolkata on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River.
- Originally named after King William III of England.
- Construction History:
- Built by the British in 1696 under Sir John Goldsborough, completed in 1706.
- Damaged in the Siege of Calcutta (1756) when Siraj-ud-Daulah defeated the British.
- Rebuilt by Robert Clive (1758–1781) after the Battle of Plassey (1757).
Significance:
- Site of the infamous Black Hole of Calcutta incident (1756).
- Houses a war memorial with artifacts from the 1971 Indo-Pak War and Bangladesh Liberation War.
Other Similar Renamings:
- Rajpath renamed to Kartavya Path.
- Port Blair renamed to Sri Vijaya Puram.
- Indian Navy adopted a new ensign (2022), removing colonial symbols.
The renaming of Fort William aligns with India’s broader efforts to decolonize historical and military landmarks.
