In News:

In a significant step towards decolonising the Indian Armed Forces and aligning with indigenous historical consciousness, Fort William, the headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army in Kolkata, has been renamed Vijay Durg. This renaming is part of a broader initiative to remove colonial-era symbols and practices and restore Indian military heritage.

Historical Background of Fort William

• Construction: The original Fort William was constructed in 1696 by the English East India Company. It was later attacked and captured by Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, in 1756.
• The Black Hole Incident: The original fort had an inner bastion used for imprisoning captives, leading to the infamous “Black Hole of Calcutta” narrative.
• Reconstruction: After the Battle of Plassey (1757) and the defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah, Robert Clive initiated the construction of a new fort, which was completed in 1773 or 1781 (sources differ).
• Naming: It was named Fort William in honour of King William III of England.

Architectural Features

• Design: The fort is octagonal in shape with a massive structure made of brick and mortar.
• Area: Spread across 70.9 acres on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, it features hundreds of arched windows and lush green surroundings.
• Aesthetics: Its walls are adorned with intricate stonework, reflecting colonial military architecture.

Recent Changes and Renaming

• New Name: Vijay Durg – Inspired by Vijaydurg Fort in Maharashtra, a prominent naval base of the Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• Other Changes:
  • Kitchener House has been renamed Manekshaw House, after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
  • St. George’s Gate has been renamed Shivaji Gate.
• Implementation: According to the Defence Public Relations Office in Kolkata, the name change was decided in mid-December 2024, and internal communications have already adopted the new nomenclature, though an official notification is awaited.

Broader De-Colonisation Drive in Indian Defence

The renaming of Fort William is part of a larger movement initiated by the Government of India to eliminate colonial vestiges in the armed forces. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a 2022 speech at Kevadia, Gujarat, urged the forces to discard “legacy systems” and move towards “freedom from the mentality of slavery (gulami ki mansikta se mukti)”.

Key Initiatives:

• Indianisation of military music during the Beating Retreat ceremony.
• Adoption of a new naval ensign (2022) inspired by the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, moving away from British colonial symbols.
• Renaming of military establishments and symbols rooted in colonial heritage.
• Review publication (2024) titled “Colonial Practices and the Armed Forces – A Review”, released at the Joint Commanders’ Conference in Lucknow by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

In News:

In a significant legal and environmental development, Mount Taranaki—officially now known by its M?ori name Taranaki Maunga—has been granted legal personhood by the government of New Zealand.

This move marks it as the third natural feature in the country to receive such status, following the Te Urewera National Park (2014) and the Whanganui River (2017).

This recognition reflects an increasing global trend toward acknowledging the intrinsic rights of natural entities and respecting the spiritual beliefs of indigenous communities.

About Taranaki Maunga

• Location: Situated in Egmont National Park, North Island, New Zealand.
• Dual Naming: Historically known as Mount Egmont, it is now officially referred to by its indigenous name, Taranaki Maunga, as part of decolonization and cultural revival efforts.
• Elevation: Stands at 8,261 feet, making it the second-highest peak in the North Island of New Zealand.
• Geological Type: It is a stratovolcano (composite cone) with a nearly perfect symmetrical shape—one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world.
• Formation: Formed due to the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Australian Plate. The magma source lies deeper than that of the Taupo Volcanic Zone volcanoes.
• Topography: Surrounded by a circular ring plain formed from lahars (volcanic mudflows) and landslides.
• Status: A snow-capped dormant volcano and culturally revered natural landmark.
• Cultural Significance: The M?ori, indigenous people of New Zealand, regard Taranaki Maunga as a sacred ancestor, embedding it deeply in their oral traditions and spirituality.

Legal Personhood and Its Significance

Granting legal personhood to Taranaki Maunga means it now holds rights, duties, and liabilities akin to a legal human being, and its interests will be represented by appointed guardians—often including indigenous representatives.

This legal framework recognizes:

• The spiritual and cultural relationship that the M?ori have with the mountain.
• The need to protect natural ecosystems not merely for utility but as living entities deserving of rights and dignity.

Comparative Insights: India’s Legal Approach to Natural Entities

India has witnessed similar developments:

• Uttarakhand High Court (2017–18): Granted legal personhood to the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, along with the Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers. However, the Supreme Court later stayed this ruling.
• Punjab and Haryana High Court (2020): Recognized Sukhna Lake (Chandigarh) as a living entity for environmental protection.
• These decisions stem from the Doctrine of Parens Patriae, which allows the state to act as a guardian for those who cannot protect themselves—extending this protection to natural entities such as rivers, forests, and wildlife.

In News:

In a significant defense development with wide-ranging geopolitical implications, the Russian Federation is preparing to mass-produce the Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile, a new-generation weapon system with enhanced range and destructive capabilities. This move is part of Russia’s broader strategy to upgrade its missile arsenal amid ongoing tensions with NATO, especially in the context of the Ukraine conflict.

Key Features and Strategic Purpose

The 9K720 Iskander-M, developed by the Machine-Building Design Bureau (Kolomna), is a medium-range tactical ballistic missile with an effective range of up to 1,000 kilometers. It is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear warheads, making it a versatile and high-impact weapon in regional conflict scenarios.

• The missile is precision-targeted and designed to neutralize high-value enemy assets, including NATO’s military infrastructure in Eastern Europe, especially in Ukraine.
• The production of the upgraded missile, unofficially referred to as the Iskander-1000, is expected to begin in full swing by 2025.
• The missile is reported to be highly destructive, with the ability to conduct deep strikes with minimal detection, offering Russia a tactical advantage in asymmetric warfare.

Deployment of Oreshnik Missile Systems in Belarus

In a parallel development, Russia has confirmed the deployment of Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile systems in Belarus, a strategic ally. This decision follows agreements between the Russian and Belarusian leadership, reinforcing the military integration under their collective defense pact.

• The Oreshnik system, though less publicly detailed than the Iskander, is designed for tactical use and contributes to enhancing Russia’s regional defense shield.
• According to Russian foreign ministry officials, Belarus already hosts a joint Regional Forces Group, non-strategic nuclear weapons, and modern Russian defense systems.
• The positioning of these systems near NATO’s eastern borders heightens tensions with Western powers, particularly the United States, Poland, the Baltic States, and the European Union.

Geopolitical Ramifications

The Iskander-M and Oreshnik missile programs are part of Russia’s strategic doctrine to deter NATO's influence and reassert its military dominance in Eastern Europe. These deployments are:

• Likely to escalate NATO-Russia tensions, increasing the risk of a regional arms race.
• Expected to complicate European security dynamics, especially in Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltic states, which are seen as potential frontlines.
• Raising the prospect of further military escalation in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Prompting NATO countermeasures, including deployment of missile defense systems and increased troop presence near Eastern borders.

In News:

An eight-year-old girl, Shasa Fathima, from Kottakkal in Malappuram district, Kerala, recently died after undergoing nearly two months of treatment for brucellosis at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode. This tragic incident has renewed public health concerns regarding zoonotic infections in India.

What is Brucellosis?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by various species of the genus Brucella. The bacteria primarily infect: cattle, swine, goats, sheep & dogs.

Humans typically contract the infection through:

• Direct contact with infected animals or their secretions (blood, placenta, fetus, uterine fluids)
• Ingestion of contaminated animal products, especially unpasteurised milk and cheese
• Inhalation of airborne bacteria (e.g., in lab or farm environments)

Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare, as per WHO guidelines.

Symptoms and Incubation Period

• The disease presents a wide spectrum of symptoms: fever, weakness, weight loss, general discomfort or malaise.
• In many cases, symptoms may be mild or go undiagnosed. The incubation period ranges from one week to two months, most commonly between two to four weeks.

At-Risk Populations

• Brucellosis can affect individuals of all age groups. However, certain occupational groups are at higher risk, including: farmers and dairy workers, butchers, hunters, veterinarians, laboratory personnel. These individuals are often exposed to animal blood and reproductive fluids, which are primary modes of transmission.

Status in Kerala

Kerala has reported sporadic cases of brucellosis in recent years. In 2023, cases emerged from Kollam (July) and Thiruvananthapuram (October). While the disease is not new to the state, fatalities remain rare.

In response, the Department of Animal Husbandry has initiated awareness campaigns for dairy farmers and conducted milk sample testing across cooperative societies to monitor possible sources of infection.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment typically involves a combination of antibiotics:

• Doxycycline (100 mg, twice daily for 45 days)
• Streptomycin (1 g daily for 15 days)

Effective preventive measures include:

• Vaccination of livestock (cattle, goats, sheep)
• Pasteurisation of milk and dairy products before human consumption
• Public awareness campaigns on the dangers of consuming unpasteurised animal products
• Regulatory policies on the sale of raw milk

In News:

A new species of water flea, Bryospilus (Indobryospilus) bharaticus n. sp., was recently discovered from moss growth on the walls of the Korigad Fort near Pune, Maharashtra.

This marks the first recorded discovery of the genus Bryospilus in Tropical Asia, underscoring the ecological uniqueness of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage biodiversity hotspot.

Taxonomic and Morphological Highlights

• It belongs to the genus Bryospilus, a group of tiny crustaceans known as water fleas, which typically inhabit rivers, ponds, and pools.
• The species displays adaptations for semi-terrestrial life, notably using its antennae with large spines for crawling through thick, debris-laden water films on moss surfaces.
• It lacks a main eye—an evolutionary adaptation to low-light habitats where color vision is unnecessary for foraging.

Ecological and Evolutionary Significance

• The genus Bryospilus includes species found in semi-terrestrial habitats in rainforests of West Africa, South and Central America, and New Zealand, making this Indian discovery a significant biogeographical addition.
• The organism’s relatives are typically found in littoral (vegetated) zones of water bodies, whereas some occur in open waters.
• The researchers suggest that ancestors of this species existed on the Indian subcontinent prior to the breakup of Gondwanaland, around 200 million years ago, hinting at Bryospilus bharaticus as a potential Gondwanan relict species.
• Each known Bryospilus species has been isolated to a specific former Gondwanan continent, reinforcing the evolutionary legacy of this find.

Research and Conservation Implications

• The discovery was part of an ongoing survey of underexplored crustacean taxa in the Western Ghats, led by Sameer Padhye and Kan Van Damme, and published in the Journal of Crustacean Biology (Oxford Academic, Sept 2024).
• The species was found in pristine, undisturbed moss habitats on Deccan Plateau hill forts, highlighting the importance of conserving such microhabitats.
• Zooplankton like water fleas are highly sensitive to environmental changes and serve as bioindicators of ecological health. The presence of B. bharaticus indicates low human disturbance in its habitat.
• The authors warn that air pollution and habitat disturbance could threaten these fragile ecosystems and stress the urgency of habitat protection, especially for organisms invisible to the naked eye.