Indians had watched with admiration as Japan modernized itself after the Meiji Restoration of 1868, but its victory over Russia in 1905 was a big inspiration for the revolutionaries. This was the first time in two centuries that an Asian country had defeated a major European power. The last Asian to have done this was Martanda Varma of Travancore, who had defeated the Dutch at the Battle of Colachel in 1741.
