Fort William

• Fort William stands as one of the most remarkable and abiding legacies of the British rule in India. It was built not merely as a barrack for the Army personnel but to proclaim the power and sovereignty of the British monarch. Post-independence, it symbolizes the status and strength of the Indian Army. This historical monument serves as a military bastion which holds within itself a small independent township.

• The present fort was built by the East India Company after the old one was stormed down by the last independent Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daula. Building of the old fort started in 1696 to honor King William of England. The construction of the old fort was completed in 1702 at the present day Koilaghat Street area. The old Fort included the General Post Office, Eastern Railway Headquarters and a part of the Writers’ building. 
• The College of Fort William was a brainchild of Lord Wellesley. It was conceptualised as 'Oxford of East'. The purpose was to prepare all those who came to India as employees of the East India Company and as representatives of Britain, to become proper kinds of civil servants and serve British Sovereign as magistrates, ambassadors and governors of provinces. It failed to live up to such expectations and was formally dissolved by Lord Dalhousie in 1854.

The old fort over looking St. John's Church 

• The concept of the new fort was conceived in 1757 for the mercantile company to operate in an alien and often hostile environment and was completed in 1758 during the tenure of Robert Clive, after the decisive Battle of Plassey. The chief architect was a Frenchman named Captain Brohier and the amount spent was 2 million pound sterling equivalent to INR 300 cores at that time. Interestingly, not a single gun was ever fired from this fort but this majestic building draws admiration for its aura and regal grandeur. Fort William served as a base for military operations during the Bangladesh War of 1971 and for strategizing insurgency encounters at North East India till date. 
• Entering through the Vijay Dwar one approaches the Vijay Smarak or War Memorial erected in 1996 in honor of the martyrs. The boards display the name, rank and regiment of the martyrs killed during the wars of 1962, 1967, 1971 (Bangladesh war of liberation) and the encounters (Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism) from 1958 till date at North East India border areas. The martyrs of the Assam Rifle Paramilitary Force from 1952-1970 are also enlisted. Special mention can be made on the information furnished related to the Battle of Arunachal (Walong, 1962), Battle of Tawang (1962), Tangail Paradrop (Dacca, 1971). The recipients of the gallantry awards including Paramveer Chakra (highest award for military personals) and Ashok Chakra (highest award for civilians) are depicted. Emphasis may be given to 2 Rajputs, where the entire battalion was martyred in 1962. 

War Memorial

• Passing by the Joggers’ park one can witness the cannon preserved from the Battle of Plassey. Fort William preserves more than 600 cannons and 497 rifles. A display of the Tank (captured from Pakistan War of 1971), a warship model and an original MIG 21 symbolizes the Indian Army, Navy and Air-force respectively. The 1971 war against Bangladesh was the only instance when all three were involved.
• The New Fort William is the only one of its kind in India having three defense levels – outer rampart, moat and inner rampart. The Fort spans 30% of the Hugli river and 70% of the maidan area. The maidan area is devoid of buildings (previously even trees) for easy visibility of the approaching enemies. Near to the outer rampart stands the Princep’s Lion. The moat encircles the fort in an octagonal shape and was connected to the Hugli river, being filled with crocodile infested water up to 8 feet deep upon opening of the drawbridge. Now however, a permanent bridge has been erected and the moat is filled with lush green vegetation. While entering the inner rampart through the East gate we see British cannon bearing the Queen’s emblem.

Moat area

Entrance to the inner rampart

• Dalhousie Barrack built in 1861 is used as an officers’ mess. Currently it is occupied by 1300 men including the entire GRN battalion.

Dalhousie Barrack

• The Netaji Cell commemorates the 1940 hunger strike of Subhash Chandra Bose. The Chowringhee House was handed over to the Bengal Presidency when India’s capital was shifted to Delhi and is now resided by General Officer Commanding.
• The Kitchener’s house (near treasury gate) was built in 1781 in Gothic Gregorian architechtural style. It was resided by Commander in Chief of the British army including Lort Lytton, Lord Ripon, Lord Dufferin, Lord Landsdowne and named after its last occupant H. H. Kitchener of Sweden. A brass gun (out of service since 1938) stands at the entrance of the building and was coordinated with the firing at the Ball Tower. The Dining hall is furnished with wooden table and chairs bearing British insignia. The conference or antique room displays silver wares, trophies and a leopard skin. The long varendah overlooks the moat.

Statue of H. H. Kitchener

Varendah at Kitecher's House

The brass rifle

• Ball tower- erected in 1824 it was used for signaling by semaphore to British ships passing along the river. In 1881, Calcutta Port Commissioner installed the ball to act as a time piece for shipping.
• Command museum was set up in 1956; this building was previously used for storage of ammunition. This interractive museum was renovated in 2010 and serves as a time line museum. The collectables on display are well documented and self-explanatory.

Gallery 1: The gallery depicts the history of Bengal since the Vedic ages to post-independence. A miniature replica of the old and the new fort is displayed here.

Gallery 2: World War II and Burma Campaign

Gallery 3: Captured weapons and shells from WWII to 1971 are on display. The Ammunition replenishment system is demonstrated to the visitors. Interestingly, the British made all their guns malfunctioned before leaving India.

Gallery 4: War of 1962; Sino India conflict at Sela, Walong and Mismi Hills

Gallery 5: War of 1971

Gallery 6: North East state heritage and ongoing operations.

Command Museum

• Command library (previously St. Peter’s Church): The church was in use till it was dedicated to the victims of cholera epidemic in 1869. Later in 1956 it was converted to the library and currently houses 35,000 books. A beautiful stained glass window and a collection of rare books and chronicles adorn the library. The oldest gun of Fort William is placed at its entrance.

Command Library

• Other parts of the Fort William include:

Main entrance

St. George Gate

Treasury Gate

Calcutta Gate (facing Dalhousie square)

Water Gate (facing Hoogly river)

East Gate or Plassey Gate

Headquarters of Eastern Command Building

North Barrack and Adjacent Barracks

South Barrack

Queen’s Barrack

Granary Barrack

Royal Barrack

Gun Park

Army Officers Institute

Officers’ mess and single officers’ quarters

Command mandir, gurudwara and St. Patrick’s church

The Ramparts for Army officers

Old Government House (now canteen) previously residence of Governor General

Curio shop

Fort William club, golf course, swimming pool, squash and tennis court, joggers’ park, banquet hall

• The Fort William preserves the legacies of warfare with deep respect. However one can’t help but feel with a heavy heart in the words of Einstein “we may have vanquished an external enemy, but have been incapable of getting rid of the mentality created by the war”.

References:

A guided tour of Fort William conducted on 23.07.2023 courtesy Own The Past OTP

Fort William: A historical perspective

Most pictures taken from Google images as photography is prohibitted within the premises