Thiruvananthapuram, Saturday 25 July 2009: The Indian Army Saturday celebrated the 268th anniversary of the victory of the Travancore kingdom’s forces over the Dutch in the mid-18th century.

The forces of King Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch in an amphibious battle July 31, 1741, earning Travancore the distinction of being among the few Asian forces to have defeated a leading European sea power at sea and land.

The king recorded this victory with a majestic pillar erected at Colachal beach, in what is now Tamil Nadu. The ex-king of erstwhile Travancore state Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma was the chief guest of the function at the small picturesque costal township, 68 km south of Chennai.

Maj. Gen. (retd) V.D.I. Devavaram, Pangode station commander Brig. Cherish Mathson, and Col. R.K. Chaudhary, the commanding officer of 16 Madras and other dignitaries were also present.

Floral wreaths were laid at the memorial. The victory pillar, earlier with the customs department, was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India on the request of Varma.