Indian Army's Eastern Command Headquarters 'Fort William' Renamed as 'Vijay Durg'.

National

On February 6, 2025, the Indian Army's (IA) Eastern Headquarters, Fort William in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB), was renamed as 'Vijay Durg' to remove colonial influences. Originally built by the British in 1781 and named after King William III of England, the fort now takes inspiration from the historic Vijaydurg fort in Maharashtra, which served as a key naval base for the Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji.


      - Spread over 170 acres, the fort features six gates: Chowringhee, Plassey, Calcutta (now Kolkata), Water Gate, St. George's, and Treasury Gate. Fort William has been the Eastern Army Command's headquarters since 1963, following the Sino-India War.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) Additionally, 'Kitchener House' within the fort has been renamed as Manekshaw House, while the South Gate, previously called St. George's Gate, is now known as Shivaji Gate.

      (ii) These renaming efforts, initiated in December 2024, are part of broader steps to "Indianize" military traditions, an initiative endorsed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.

(iii) The move aligns with India's larger mission to shed its colonial legacy, following the Indian Navy’s (IN) adoption of a new ensign in September 2022.

          ____________________________