In a significant move aimed at shedding colonial legacies, the Indian Army has officially renamed the Eastern Command headquarters from Fort William to Vijay Durg. This change, which took place in mid-December 2024, draws inspiration from the historic Vijaydurg Fort located on Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg coast, a former stronghold of the Maratha Navy.
Sources within the defense establishment confirmed that the renaming was an internal decision aligned with broader efforts towards the ‘Indianisation’ of the armed forces. Although no formal announcement has been made, the change has been widely acknowledged within military circles and the local community. A senior Army officer noted, “The intention behind the change of name was taken on the lines of the armed forces’ decision to shed colonial legacy and move towards Indianisation of the forces.” This renaming reflects the government’s ongoing focus on reclaiming India’s historical and cultural identity within its military institutions, shifting away from names and symbols rooted in the British colonial era.
The term ‘Vijay Durg’ derives from the Vijaydurg Fort, an iconic maritime fortress that served as an essential naval base for the Maratha Empire. Originally constructed during the reign of Raja Bhoja II of the Shilahar dynasty, the fort was later fortified by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Known for its strategic importance and impregnable design, the fort offered a secure hideaway for the Maratha Navy’s warships, significantly enhancing their naval warfare capabilities. Historians, such as Philip MacDougall, have noted its critical role in resisting British maritime dominance in the 17th and 18th centuries.
In contrast, Fort William, named after King William III and built by the British East India Company in 1696 CE, symbolizes the colonial legacy that the Indian military is now seeking to move away from. Located on the eastern banks of the River Hooghly, Fort William was intended to safeguard British trading interests and became the cornerstone around which the city of Kolkata developed. The fort’s construction, which expanded under the leadership of Sir Charles Eyre and John Beard until its completion in 1716 CE, stands as a testament to British colonial dominance in eastern India.
Established in 1920, the Eastern Command is one of the Indian Army’s most strategically significant commands, overseeing critical border areas and northeastern states such as Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, and West Bengal. Under its jurisdiction are several commands, including the III Corps, IV Corps, XVII Corps, and XXXIII Corps. The Eastern Command has played a pivotal role in significant historical events, including the 1962 Sino-Indian War, where it faced Chinese aggression along the northeastern frontier, and the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, which led to India’s victory and the creation of Bangladesh.
The renaming of Fort William to Vijay Durg is part of a broader initiative to reclaim India’s indigenous heritage within the armed forces. This trend is reflected in recent changes concerning the renaming of military awards, installations, and symbols that were remnants of the colonial era. As India continues to modernize its military, such symbolic changes not only honor the nation’s rich historical legacy but also foster a stronger sense of national pride and cultural identity within the armed forces.
