Q. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Fort William?
1.It was constructed by the British East India Company after the Battle of Buxar.
2.Black Hole of Calcutta incident is associated with the fort.
3.After India’s independence, Fort William became the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command.
4.It has been renamed as Shivaji Fort to honour India’s military heritage.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanations –
Statements 1 and 4 are incorrect. The original Fort William was constructed by the British East India Company between 1696 and 1706, long before the Battle of Buxar (1764). It was later rebuilt after being damaged during Siraj-ud-Daulah’s attack in 1756. Fort William has been renamed Vijay Durg, as part of India’s efforts to shed colonial legacies and embrace indigenous heritage. The new name draws inspiration from the historic Maratha naval fort Vijay Durg in Maharashtra, symbolizing India’s rich cultural heritage.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. The Black Hole of Calcutta incident occurred in 1756 when Siraj-ud-Daulah captured Fort William, and many British prisoners were confined in a small dungeon, leading to several deaths. Following India’s independence in 1947, Fort William was repurposed as the headquarters for the Indian Army’s Eastern Command.
Source: The Hindu
