History of Vijay Durg
The mighty edifice of Vijay Durg (formerly Fort William) is situated in the city of Kolkata, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River. Built in the year 1696, the magnificent structure is spread over 70.9 acres and is embellished with hundreds of arched windows that overlook lush green gardens. Meticulous stonework adorns the surface of the building .
Fort William has a long and illustrious history attached to its name. Interestingly, there are two Fort Williams. The original one was built in 1696 by the British East India Company under the authority of John Goldsborough. The construction was started along the Hooghly river and the South-East Bastion was the first its adjacent walls were the first sections to be constructed. Eventually, it was named after King William III in the year 1700. 1701 saw John Beard adding the North-East bastion to the fort and the construction of the Government House was started right in the centre of the fort. Finally, Fort William was completed in the year 1706 with the final edifice having two stories and projecting wings.
In 1756, the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj Ud Daulah, attacked the Wiliam Fort and temporarily conquered the city. He renamed the region ‘Alinagar’ and assumed control of the fort as well. This led the British to build a new fort in the Maidan under the watchful eye of Robert Clive. The construction of the new fort began in 1758, after the Batte of Plassey in 1757. A period of two years and a cost of approximately two million pounds was incurred as well.
Over the course of its existence, Fort William has served a number of purposes, each of which was in stark contrast to the other. Initially, it comprised of wings and an inner bastion where prisoners were hauled which is why it was known as ‘the black hole of Calcutta’. Today, Fort William is the property of the Indian Army and has a capacity of accommodating up to 10,000 army personnel. It also serves as the headquarters of the Eastern Command. Due to its importance with respect to Indian intelligence, access to the interiors of the fort is limited
Brief History of Army Pre Primary School
Army Pre Primary School, Vijay Durg was inaugurated on 07 Jan 1974 as Eastern Comd Kindergarten School. In 2008, name of school was changed to Shaurya Army Pre School (SAPS). In 2012, school was brought under ambit of Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) and is now known as Fort William Army Pre-Primary School. School has shifted to its new location near Treasury Line in Mar 2020. Management of school is overseen by GS (Trg) Br on behalf of HQ Eastern Comd since Jul 2020. (Earlier by China Cell).
Message from Principal
Education is the cornerstone of human progress. It is more than just acquiring knowledge; it involves developing critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a sense of empathy.
Our goal is to cultivate students into compassionate, ethical, and well-rounded global citizens who embody the values of respect, kindness, perseverance, resilience, and independence.
Through value-based learning, we are committed to fostering academic excellence, personal growth, and a lifelong commitment to service within a supportive and rigorous learning environment. Our innovative curriculum emphasizes experiential learning, critical thinking, and cultural awareness, preparing students to navigate the challenges of the 21st century and make a positive impact on the world.