Tipu Sultan, the 18th century ruler is back from the grave to haunt the land he once so ferociously ruled. In the protests against Karnataka government for deciding to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Tiger of Mysore, one person has lost his life while others continue to boil their blood amidst winter’s chill. Karnataka government on the other-hand is acting all passive as if it’s a storm in the tea-cup, terming it as another political game to communalise the society. It’s one of the sad irony of our times how one person has lost his life over a ruler who lost his life more than 200 years back in a war fighting against the British!</p?

Tipu was a patriot or ‘bigot’ is debatable. Those who are protesting claim he was a tyrant, an intolerant ruler while the other fraction claims he promoted communal harmony. Whose point are we supposed to buy? This is where history comes to our rescue. The then king of Mysore introduced number of innovations during his rule, including lunisolar calendar, coinage, land revenue system to name few. The great Napoleon sought an alliance with him such was his prowess in warfare. Considered the pioneer in the use of rocket artillery, Tipu used them efficiently during his battles against the British. There is lot more to him but that’s not why the protests are held today. They are held because of his acts towards people of Coorg (Kodagu), Mangalore and parts of Kerala. In fact, Coorg celebrates 10 November as black day across the district. It’s been rightly said, one of the most bitter rivalries down south is between Kodavas and Tipu Sultan. History reveals that there were numerous attempts made by Sultan to capture Kodagu, the land of Kodavas because it would provide direct access to Mangalore port. But the excellency of Kodavas in guerrilla warfare prevented Tipu each time from acquiring the prized land although Kodavas were outnumbered to Tipu’s army by 3 to 1. But later he does capture the land and warns to convert everyone to Islam if anyone dares to ambush. Kodavas who always enjoyed their independence protest and push Tipu back to Mysore. The Sultan realizes his mistake and devices a foul plan, a trap as conventional methods start to fail. The operation succeeds, around 500 get killed, almost 70,000 are held captive. Young men are forcibly circumcised and added to his army. Many were subjected to forcible conversion to Islam, torture and death. Tipu later enters Malabar to quell a rebellion. Calicut, Kasargod too have similar but vivid history of encounters with the Sultan, of forceful conversions. But back home it’s a different story.

Tipu Sultan’s treasurer was Krishna Rao, Shamaiya Iyengar was his minister of Post and Police, Ranga Iyengar another officer, Purnaiya held another important post. There are many such Hindus who worked at important posts in his court and outside. Mysore Gazette lists 156 temples to which Tipu regularly paid annual grants. The letters exchanged between them are available even today. Moreover there are few temples in Karnataka to this date who perform puja in the name of Tipu Sultan, Tipu aarti they refer to it! There are many more temples where he sent gifts regularly. There was one temple just stone’s throw away from his palace. There is this interesting incident about Sringeri from 1791, Maratha army raided the temple and matha of Sringeri Shankaracharya, killing and wounding many, and destroying the shrine of its valuable possessions. The then Shankaracharya petitions Tipu for help. Tipu expresses his grief at the incident. There are many letters exchanged between the two, one of which reads,

People who have sinned against such a holy place are sure to suffer the consequences of their misdeeds at no distant date in this Kali age in accordance with the verse: “Hasadbhih kriyate karma rudadbhir-anubhuyate” (People do [evil] deeds smilingly but suffer the consequences crying).

Tipu later offers Swami with cash, and others gifts. The Sultan continues to write to Sringeri shrine till his last years.

There is also this curious case of Tipu killing Mopilah Muslims of Malabar. Let’s not forget that Mysore Sultanate had a troublesome relationship with Malabar (Kerala of today). Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan’s father had tax rules where Muslim landlords were not required to pay taxes while Hindu landlords were heavily taxed. Mopilah’s didn’t had much land alongside Malabar so it didn’t made much difference to the coffers. As the taxation rose the Hindu landlords of Malbar sold their land for pittance to Mopilah Muslims and traveled to Travencore. After this movement of Hindu landlords to Travencore, Tipu realised Mopilah’s now owned all the land and were not paying any taxes. He makes changes to his father’s rule to tax them all, equally and heavily. Mopilah’s revolt against Tipu and as the rebellion rises, Tipu sends Ghulam Ali to quell the riots. In the task many Mopilah Muslims get massacred, mercilessly without being asked about their religion whatsoever. Then there is this interesting tale about Kishen Raja of the Royal House of Zamorins from Calicut. Zamorins have been in war or revolt against the Mysore Sultanate under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan for about two decades. There were tensions between them. And after a disastrous affair involving Kishen Raja’s deputation of his dewan to meet Tipu instead of meeting him himself, Tipu lost his temper and the much talked about atrocities and mayhem against the Hindu’s occurred. This two instances are proof enough to understand that those were the different times with different boundaries. There were many kingdoms with long history of turmoil and they fought against each other every time they smelled opportunity. Hindu ruler killed Muslims, Muslim ruler killed Hindus, Hindu ruler killed Hindus and Muslim ruler killed Muslims. The rulers back then saw opportunity to expand, to conquer and whenever they felt like it was the right time, they went at it without worrying about who they are about to kill.

Tipu Sultan without doubt is a controversial figure. Historians differ over his being a fanatic or someone embracing religious pluralism but one thing is quite clear, Tipu is and will be part of our history. There is more to him than just that. For instance he was revered across the land for his warfare. Napoleon wanted an alliance with him; he sends such a letter to Tipu which never reaches the Sultan as a British officer grabs hold of it and then devise an all round attack on Tipu to stop any alliance between him and Napoleon. There are allegations of excesses and all that, but in accounting all this today and protesting over all the nuggets of history we forget one important aspect. Those were different times. There was no concept of India or nationality then as it is today. Mysore was a different kingdom, Malabar or Travancore were another. The kings then as we know from our history books were constantly fighting to acquire more land. And in doing so there were excesses.

The important aspect is in those times it was the rule of the monarchs while today we are republic and republic states must stay away from celebrating the monarchs who ruled in a way not befitting to the democracy we practice today. We have to celebrate the democratic heroes, who strengthen democratic machinery and not those who harm or had ruled opposite to the idea of it. So it’s wrong for the state of Karnataka or say, Maharashtra to celebrate a Tipu Jayanti or Shivaji Jayanti. Individuals may idolize them but state should steer clear of such an act of celebrating the monarchs.

People of the land must remember this saying in Hindi, gade murde ukhadna, which roughly translates to bringing back the dead from grave. That’s what our political class does now and then. They do it for their gains, don’t buy their theatrics. Tipu was a part of history that is long gone. We must remember our history but not quarrel over it. What do you think will we gain of such a mindless protest? We have already lost one life. And what did we gain? Ask yourself these questions. Every now and then political parties cutting across the political spectrum try these cheap tricks to polarize the society and gain votes through fear and a senseless pride.

Defeat it and not become part of such a hollow narrative…