Fort William

Why in News?

Recently, Fort William was renamed Vijay Durg.

• Historical background – It was built by the British in 1781 and named after King William III of England.
• Located in – Eastern bank of the river Hoogly in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Robert Clive started the new structure in 1758 CE and the 1^st phase of construction was completed by 1781 CE.
• Area coverage – Present day structure consists More than 170 acres and houses many colonial and modern-day structures together.
• Composition – It comprises the largest urban park of the city and is popularly referred to as the Lungs of Kolkata.
• Structure – It was built in brick and mortar as an irregular octagon and designed as a star-shaped fort, including structures inspired by Georgian and Gothic styles.
• The walls and defenses of the fort were structured to defend against cannon firing (as per the need of the times) rather than explosive shelling.
• Gates - Chowringhee, Plassey, Calcutta, Water Gate, St. George and Treasury gates.
• The Granary Barracks inside the fort complex were built by Governor-General Warren Hastings (1772–1785 CE).
• In 1856 CE the Dalhousie Barrack (named after Lord Dalhousie, 1848-1856), a 4-storey building, was built as an army garrison to accommodate soldiers.
• The Kitchener’s House, initially built as a blockhouse for the Fortress Assault Company in 1771 CE, was converted into an official residence for the Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army in 1784 CE.
• Fort William soon emerged as the official governing base for British India.

Sir Charles Eyre was the 1^st President and Governor-General of Fort William in Bengal.

• Commanding center – After Independence, it is the headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army.
• The Indian Army has gradually opened to allowing access to selected areas of the fort complex to the general public.
• Vijay Durg – It is derived from the oldest fort along the Sindhudurg coast in Maharashtra and served as a naval base for the Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji.
• Gulami Ki Mansikta Se Mukti – It is an initiative termed as freedom from the mentality of slavery.
• It aims at removing vestiges of the colonial era and “Indianising” military traditions and customs.
• Additionally, Kitchener House inside Fort William has been renamed Manekshaw House, and South gate, formerly known as St. George’s Gate, is now Shivaji Gate.

On the occasion of the 48^th Vijay Diwas, 16^th Dec 2019, it was announced that the Vijay Smarak in Fort William would be open to everyone on sundays and public holidays.

References

1. The Hindu| Fort William renamed Vijay Durg
2. Indian Culture| Fort William