Army celebrates 268th year of Colachel battle

The Indian Army celebrated the 268th anniversary of the victory of Travancore forces over the Dutch at the War Memorial at Colachel in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

The Indian Army celebrated the 268th anniversary of the victory of Travancore forces over the Dutch at the War Memorial at Colachel in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

HT Image

The Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore kingdom, Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, was the chief guest at the function, an Army press release here said.

Major General (Rtd) VDI Devaram, ex-Colonel of the Madras Regiment, Brigadiers O P K Pillai, Arumaraj (Retd), Cherish Mathson and Pangode Station Commander Col R K Chaudhary were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony.

Dignitaries laid wreaths at the War Memorial. Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, in his speech, stressed the importance of protecting the War Memorial as an "island of Army beauty."

The Travancore forces defeated the Dutch both at sea and land in Colachel in a unique amphibious battle in July 1741, which earned the House of Travancore the distinction of being the only Asian military power ever to have defeated a leading European sea power.

The then king Marthanda Varma recorded the victory of Indian soldiers and sailors by erecting a majestic victory pillar near the Colachel beach. The Archaeological Survey of India now protects the pillar.