Drawing inspiration from Colachal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Officers’ Mess at Pangode Military Station here now is in proud possession of a painting that depicts a slice of history from the annals of Travancore State Forces.Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma of the Travancore Royal Family on Friday presented a painting showing the surrender of Dutch forces before the Travancore State Forces in 1741.The painting, which was received by Pangode Station Commander Brigadier Cherish Matheson, has Captain De Lannoy of the Dutch Navy surrendering to the then Maharaja of Travancore.In a simple function held at Pangode Brigade Officers’ Mess, Marthanda Varma also handed over the crest of the Madras Regiment done in sand and a photograph that showed the lowering of Union Jack in front of the Travancore Forces, when he was 14 years of age.According to Marthanda Varma, it was probably the only instance when the Union Jack was lowered in front of any power other than the King or Queen of England. The 16 Madras Battalion of the Indian Army, presently stationed in Pangode, was created with the merger of Travancore State forces.Marthanda Varma appreciated the efforts of the Indian Army in reviving the forgotten history by conducting a War Memorial Service on July 25 at Colachal.The battle of Colachal was fought between Travancore Forces and the Dutch Navy in 1741 and its significance lies in the fact that for the first time, a leading European military power was defeated by any Asian Power, both on land and sea. Brigadier Cherish Matheson, thanking Marthanda Varma for his magnanimity, said that the painting will inspire the generations to follow. He called it a good omen for the Amphibious Brigade, which is being raised in Pangode.