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UPSC » Daily News Analysis ‘Fort William to be renamed as ‘Vijay Durg’’: 6 February

Daily News Analysis ‘Fort William to be renamed as ‘Vijay Durg’’: 6 February

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been involved in copying important stone inscriptions from the walls of two temples at Srirangam and Manachanallur taluks onto maplitho paper, in Tiruchi district.

Table of Content

Brief History of Fort William: 

  • Built by the British (1696) – Constructed by the British East India Company in Kolkata to protect trade interests.
  • Captured by Siraj-ud-Daulah (1756) – The Nawab of Bengal attacked and seized Fort William, leading to the infamous Black Hole of Calcutta incident.
  • Rebuilt by the British (1757-1781) – After the Battle of Plassey (1757), the British recaptured Bengal and built a stronger fort near the Hooghly River.
  • Key British Military Base – Served as a major garrison and administrative hub for the British in colonial India.
  • Current Use (Indian Army HQ) – Today, it serves as the Eastern Command headquarters of the Indian Army, restricting public access.

 

Name Change:

  • To move away from colonial influences in the armed forces, Fort William has been renamed Vijay Durg.
  • The new name of Vijay Durg comes from one of the oldest forts on the Sindhudurg coast in Maharashtra.
    • It served as a key naval base for the Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji.

 

Why in News?

  • The name of the British era-Fort William was changed to Vijay Durg in February 2025.