In the latest, Fort William, the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command, has been renamed ‘Vijay Durg’, while St George’s Gate has been rechristened Shivaji Gate. The move, fixed in December 2024, marks an important shift in India’s approach to its military heritage, one that prioritizes indigenous legacies over colonial relics.
The 18th-century British-built fortress, named following King William III has long stood as a symbol of colonial military dominance. It serves as a key operational base for India’s Eastern Command, housing over 10,000 personnel. Inspired by the historic Maratha naval fort it’s renamed as Vijay Durg, the Indian Army is making a statement: India’s military history is far older and richer than the colonial era, and it is time to recognize that.
For decades, the Indian military has operated under structures, traditions, and even mindsets inherited from British rule. The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force have built their own distinct identities, vestiges of colonial influence right from military terminology to regimental traditions have lingered. Renaming Fort William is not just about changing signboards; it is about reclaiming military history that construct the British Raj. The Indian subcontinent has been home to some of the greatest military strategists and empire builders—Chhatrapati Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Tipu Sultan, and the Mauryas to name a few. For years, the armed forces have continued to function within a framework imposed by colonial rulers.
India was merely never a land-based power. The Marathas, Cholas, and other dynasties had naval forces long before the British arrived. Vijay Durg, the fort that now lends its name to Fort William, was a stronghold of the Maratha Navy, which posed a serious challenge to European maritime ambitions. The Indian military is reinforcing its own maritime history, independent of British narratives.
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