THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Madras Regiment will celebrate the 277th anniversary of Colachel Battle, which saw Marthanda Varma defeating the Dutch forces, on Tuesday at Colachel.
The event will be attended by Indian Army officers from the Pangode Military Station, civil authorities, police officials, retired armed forces officers and local dignitaries. The victory of King Marthanda Varma’s Tranvancore Army against the Dutch Naval Forces in 1741 is celebrated every year on July 31 as Colachel Day.
Colachel is situated 68 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Kanyakumari district. July 31 marks the day of the victory of Travancore forces over a vastly superior European naval force, a landmark event in Indian history. ‘’On July 31, 1741, in a most unique amphibious battle the forces of King Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch, both at sea and land.
This earned the House of Travancore the unique distinction of being the only Asian military power to ever have defeated a leading European sea power at sea and land,’’ a defence spokesperson said. To mark his victory, Marthanda Varma erected a victory pillar which stands to this day.
Till the Madras Regiment adopted it, the memorial was in a neglected condition. The 9th and the 16th battalions of the Madras Regiment trace their history back to the Travancore forces which was merged with the Indian Army after Independence.
The highlights of Tuesday’s event will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Colachel war memorial followed by a military band display by the pipe band of the Madras Regiment.
In memory of this historical battle, the military station at Pangode had also named its stadium after the venue of the famous battle.