Indian Army: As part of the initiative to separate from the heritage of colonialism, Fort William, the headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army in Kolkata, has been renamed as Vijay Durg. A defense officer said on Wednesday (5 February 2025) that in an internal decision, the army has given a new name for some historical buildings inside the huge complex in the middle of the city.
The names of buildings inside Fort William were also changed
The defense officer said about the army’s decision to change the name of Fort William and some other buildings inside it that we are gradually separating from colonial heritage. ”The officer said that the army changed the name of St. George Gate to Shivaji Has done the door. He said that the decision to change the name of the fort and some historical buildings located inside it was taken in November-December.
The defense officer said, “We have changed the name of Kitchenar House to Manekshaw House.” Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was the army chief during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. Bangladesh came into existence in the result of this war. Kitchenar House was named after HH Kitchenar, the first Earl of Khartum.
Russell block was renamed
The army has changed the name of Russell block inside the fort to Bagha Jatin Block. The name is named after the freedom fighter Jatindranath Mukherjee, who is known as Bagha Jatin. Mukherjee was killed by British police bullets after firing in Balasore, Odisha in 1915.
Fort William was formed in 1781 as a symbol of the eastern part and authority of the British Empire. Its brightness is unique due to historical structures and buildings inside and surrounding this fort. During the reign of the British East India Company, this fort, made of brick on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, is named after King William III of England.
Fort William became the headquarters of Eastern Army Command in 1963
The current fort complex is spread over an area of more than 170 acres and has many colonial and modern structures. Fort William became the headquarters of the Eastern Army Command in 1963 after the 1962 war between China-India. Earlier, the headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Army was in Lucknow.
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