Marthanda Varma

"Ruthless in his ambitions and vendetta, courageous in his military conquests, Martanda Varma left behind a rich legacy of administrative and economic reforms, war triumphs and military might, and cultural renaissance, etching his name in the annals of Kerala’s history as the proud builder of a new, expansive and modern Travancore kingdom. Like the Victory Column that stands anonymously, uncared for and uncelebrated in modern India, his place in scripting a unique victory of an Indian sovereign against a powerful European force, ensuring its total collapse thereafter from the country, though forgotten, remains cherished and worthy for all times to come."