Tipu Sultan – Birth 10 November 1750, Martyrdom 4 May 1799

By Dr. Shakeel A. Samdani,

When India was being freed from foreign rule on 15th August 1947, it
was hoped by Muslims that those who sacrificed their life and honour in freedom struggle will get
due recognition and will be remembered in times to come. It was also expected that the injustice
done to them during the British rule will also be removed and they will get a proper place in the
history of India. That hope was natural because they had fought the alien rulers shoulder to shoulder
along with their Hindu brothers. But all these hopes evaporated just after drawing of freedom. The
expectations started soaring and those who had tendered ‘apology’ to the British to gain favours and
freedom, began to rise in every field including history. Subsequently they launched attempts to wipe
out names of Muslims from the pages of history of the freedom struggle. These people went on to
authenticate false history propaganda by the British. This resulted in character assassination of such
people who not only sacrificed their everything but also might have become a source of inspiration
for coming generations. Those people not only got neglected, but also labelled as cruel, inhuman,
religious bigots, etc. Among such people, one is Tipu Sultan Shaheed.

Tipu Sultan was born on Saturday, 20th Zil-Hij, 1163 Hijri, i.e. 10th of Nov. 1750 at a district named
Devanhiki, North West of Kolar and about 33 km from Bangalore.1

It is reported that from the age of 6 to death of his father, Tipu always joined all battles fought by his
father and thus he learnt in practical field the art of warfare and tactics. He was placed in command
of selected soldiers when he was only 16. At this young age he had to face the English Army at
Bangalore and he gave crushing defeat to English. He succeeded to his father’s office on 29th Dec.,
1772; at the age of 32. When Tipu Sultan took charge of the affairs of the Sultanate Khudadad in
1782 it extended up to 400 miles covering a vast area of about 80,000 miles. The whole sultanate
was divided into 20 districts for effective administrations. Every district comprised about 40 tallukas
on an average.2
For the first time in the history of this state, it was also in control of certain small islands. He was
immediately immersed in the struggle against the English, containing the war that had begun under
his father and in which he had already taken a vigorous part.3

His own education in Persian made him fairly well versed in Islamic History and theology, and this
too helped to direct him to the course he now took. From his accession Tipu treated himself as an
independent sovereign, not needing any diploma of inferior office from the Mughal court at Delhi.4

Tipu gave his sovereignty a colour of religious militancy which was not at all present in the Mughal
imperial polity of 18th century. Tipu would not put his own name on the coins he minted. Rather the
coin invoked God as the all powerful sovereign. It also bore the names of Prophet Muhammad SAW
and Haider, i.e. Ali, the prophet’s cousin and model for heroes in Islam.5

His formal name to his government, sultanat-e khudadad [God given government], also recalled his
assertion that his was no ordinary government, but one with a divinely ordained mission.

Tipu Sultan and Secularism

It is alleged by many Historians and certain communal-minded writers that Tipu was religious fanatic.
According to them, he suppressed Hindus and Christians. He used to demolish temples and
confiscate their lands. It is alleged that he even went to the extent of circumcising no-Muslims en
masse and forced people to embrace Islam. Kirk Patrick says that he was of intolerant nature. The
History of Mysore, Wilkis calls him a die-hard zealot.

It is alleged by one English historian that Sultan forced 70,000 people to embrace Islam in the city of
Coorg itself, although even an average student of history of Mysore maybe knowing that the total
population of Coorg during Tipu’s reign not even half that number. Moreover this population
comprised Muslims and Christians as well. To prove the point further, a Hindu historian
Ramachandra Rao Rangnuri himself says that only about 500 people embraced Islam after Sultan’s
conquest over Coorg, that too when these Hindus were on the threshold of embracing Christianity
after getting fed up with the caste discrimination in their own religion. He urged them to stick to their
own religion. In case the matter gets worst, they might consider accepting their faith i.e. Islam.
Therefore, on this occasion, Surendra Nath Seth has tried to defend Sultan saying that he is not a
communal person. In addition to this, Mahatma Gandhi has defended Tipu by saying that he is
extremely friendly and amicable relations with his Hindu subjects and he was an advocate of
harmony between Hindus and Muslims.6

The allegation that Tipu was a religious bigot or anti-Hindu is far from true. There are many
examples when Tipu Sultan gave funds and grants to the temple, Maths, and Hindu religious places.
Tipu furnished Sree Shankaracharya of Sringeri with funds for reinstalling the displaced image in the
Sharda temple desecrated by Pindaris of the Maratha army under Parshuram Bhau. The letters
written by Tipu to Swamiji of Sringeri express such sentiments of respect for Hinduism as to
disapprove the charges of religious intolerance levelled against him. These letters were discovered
in 1916 by R. Narasimhachar. In one of the Tipu had quoted a Sanskrit verse. He had requested the
Swamiji to pray for the prosperity of his kingdom and destruction of its enemies. These letters
express great respect for Holy place and for Swamiji which completely falsifies the British
propaganda that Tipu was bigot and persecuted Hindus.

Sringeri was not the only holy place which enjoyed the patronage of Tipu. To the Lakshmikantha
temple at Kalale in Nonjangud Taluk, he gave four silver cups, a silver plate and a silver spittoon. To
the Narayanaswami temple at Melkote he presented gold and silver vessels along with an elephant
and few jewels.8

There are numerous examples of gifts, grants and donations by Tipu to the temples and Hindu
religious leaders. There s no need to describe them.

During the reign of Tipu gave high positions to Hindus in his government e.g. a Hindu Brahmin
Purnaiya was the finance minister and in terms of power he was the second most powerful person
after prime minister Mir Sadique. Lala Mahtab Rai Sabqat, a Brahmin was a close confident of Tipu
and the personal Munshi of the Sultan. Hari Singh was a high ranked official in the cavalry of
Mysore. Narsimha Rao was a top ranked government official. The commander of Coorg was also a
Brahmin. Rama Rao was the commander of one of the Cavalry Brigades. Sri Nivas Rao and Appa Ji
were often sent for diplomatic parleys.

Thus, the attempts of a few British historians to depict Tipu as communal are highly erroneous. Tipu
was just and fair to all. His appointment of numerous Hindus to high offices and his grants and gifts
to Hindu temples and Brahmins falsify the wrong accusation that Tipu as intolerant.9

Tipu Sultan not only gave grants and money to the temples owned by the Hindus but he also
granted them complete religious freedom. All non-Muslims, Hindus and Christians alike, were free to
follow their own religion.

But like a modern enlighten ruler he was not in favour of inhuman and unnatural rites and ritual. He
introduced social reforms both among Hindus and Muslims. In the words of Mohd Iliyas Nadvi: “In
this direction on the one hand where he imposed strict ban on the non sensible and anti Islamic
practices among the Muslims, he also sternly abolished all such ridiculous practices among the
Hindus. In those days some Hindu women in Sultanate Khudadad used to have four or more
husbands and they had a matriarchal society which was strictly banned by him. The women folk
from Malabar used to roam topless in the market. He opposed it. In some temples, particularly the
temple of Kali of Mysore human sacrifices was made to please God and deities. He imposed a
blanket ban on it. Slavery was prevented among Hindus. Hindu women were auctioned in markets in
big cities. Maids used to be kept in houses to satisfy their sexual lusts. A royal decree was passed
which made slavery unlawful. Custom was prevalent among the Hindu women in Coorg that only the
eldest son of the family was permitted to marry a woman who used to become the wife of his
brothers. He imposed a ban on it also.”10

These were reasons that Hindu majority stood by his side until his martyrdom on 4th May 1799. The
day Sultan met his martyrdom; several bodies of Hindu women including young girls were found
lying around the Sultan’s body. Even the British officers were stupefied to observe such dedication
and intense affection of the Hindu populace towards a Muslim ruler. When the Sultan’s funeral
procession was being taken along, Hindu women were weeping bitterly and smearing their heads
with mud. When the capital was besieged, several Brahmins observed a day long fast according to
their religious rites seeking the Sultan’s victory.11

Tipu Sultan was far sighted person and far ahead of his contemporaries in the sense that in spite of
his involvement in regular wars, he tried to bring about ‘industrial revolution’ in Mysore. He
established factories in foreign countries at Cutch, Muscat, Pegu, Ormuz and Jeddah. He also
attempted to establish them at Basra and Aden. Trade relations existed with China and negotiations
were conducted for establishment of trade contracts with France, Turkey and Iran. Armenian
merchants were persuaded to settle down in Mysore.

He also introduced the trading system of shares. He established trading company and encouraged
people to join it. He introduced a unique system to stop monopoly of the few individuals. Those who
bought this shares up to the value of rupees five hundred were entitled to draw 50% profit and those
who bought more shares, received profits in decreasing percentage. By this noble method a large
number of people were associated with trade and the monopoly of rich people was stopped.
Moreover, Tipu had envisaged the construction of dam on exactly the same site where now the
Krishna Raja Sagar Dam was built.12

Before we conclude, it would be appropriate to know the feelings of important figures of world as well
as historians. In the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, “Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan were formidable
adversaries who inflicted a sever defeat on British and came near to breaking the power of East
India Company… His son Tipu continued to strengthen his navy. Tipu also sent messages to
Napolean and the Sultan in Constantinople”.13

Historian Tarachand says… “In the fourth war British gold effected what British guns had so far failed
to accomplish. The ministers betrayed the master. Tipu refused to surrender and died bravely in
defence of his fort.”14

Recent Controversy

Very recently D.H. Shankramurthy, higher education minister, government of Karnataka said in
Bangalore that Tipu Sultan was anti Kannada because he promoted Persian during his rule”. This
stirred a hornet’s nest with many calling his resignation from the cabinet. D.H. Sankaramurthy also
charged Tipu Sultan for changing the Kannada inscriptions on cons to Persian. “Where is the need
for our children to learn about him” he asked. The statement drew condemnation from all quarters
more particularly from Hindus. Labour minister Mr. Iqbal Ansari took serious exception to
Shankaramurthy’s remark and observed that,” It should not be forgotten that Tipu Sultan was a
warrior who fought for the freedom of the country”.15

Eminent Scholars and academics have lamented that the history depicting the period of Tipu Sultan
has been distorted due to communalism and the fight against communalism in modern India can be
won only if such misrepresentations are set right. These views were expressed at national seminar
on “Tipu Sultan: State, Economy and Modernisation”. The seminar was organised by the
Department of History, University of Mysore and Directorate Archaeology, Government of
Karnataka. K.K.N. Kurup., historian and former Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University described him
as an architect of modern India who tried to bring about reforms in finance, military, administration,
state organisation, etc; while his contemporary rulers were steeped in medieval beliefs and hence
failed to resist the conquest by the colonial powers.16

Earlier, Sebestian Joseph, Prof. And Chairman, Department of Studies in History, University of
Mysore, said Tipu Sultan provided an alternative model of federalism that was rooted in eighteenth
century Asia. The study of Tipu Sultan was all the more relevant today as the new international order
being created by the forces of globalisation was similar to the scenario that prevailed in the
eighteenth century in some respects, he said. History scholar N.V. Narhsimhaiah said that British
version of history painted Tipu Sultan negatively while in Mysore records, there were a number of
instances that proved unambiguously that he wanted to end the colonial rule. Tipu Sultan, whose
kingdom, once spanned the entire south has been described as the ‘ideal’ king by Mahatma Gandhi
in Young India. The temple at Shrirangapatnam was dear to him and he filled his cabinet more
kannadigas than Mysore Maharajas can claim to have done. Noted play writer and actor Girish
Karnad said about Tipu Sultan “He was a thinker and visionary who represented the best of
Karnataka. Unfortunately he has been misunderstood by people of his own country and a lot of
untruth was spread about him.” “For me he is the greatest Kannadiga” he said. “Tipu Sultan was the
only one who had perceived a threat to the country from the East India Company”.17

From the above it can be safely concluded that Tipu Sultan was neither anti-Kannada nor anti-Hindu.
He was a true ruler and not only the pride of Mysore but the whole nation. The allegations against
him are totally baseless, mischievous and wrong. There is no truth in them.

Although Tipu Sultan suffered a defeat against the British in 1799 on account of several unavoidable
circumstances, yet his enemies themselves admire the Tipu personally, was a ruler of extraordinary
calibre, a brilliant administrator, a superb human being and above all a visionary solider. In support
of all these outstanding qualities following are a few statements made by certain non-Muslims,
especially, British historians about him and his government.18

1. Major Base, “He was a God fearing man in the real sense of the world. He never formulated dual
policies and avoided lies and hypocrisy”.

2. Lord Carnwallis (British Governor General in India) “Were Tipu happened to be let go scot-free,
we would have bid farewell in India”.

3. Lord Wellesely (British Governor General during the Fourth Battle). “After Tipu’s death no ruler
has enough guts to challenge us in future.”

4. Dr. John R. Anderson, “Never again would India witness a man of the likes of Tipu.”
5. Sir Thomas Menzo in his autobiography, “Everybody in the Sultanate Khudadad’ was treated with
justice, without any bias and partiality because of which his state had become extremely strong in
the country and still remains unparalleled till now.”

These quotations help to remind us that in the conception of our past, as held in our nationalist
historiography, Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan have occupied an honoured place. Now, however, at
some official levels at least, there is a strong contrary current. In 1990, a national television serial on
Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan was compelled to carry the admission that the episodes of the serial were
not necessarily historical, a disclaimer never attached to any of the other ‘historical’ or mythological
fantasies that abound in our TV world. More recently, when 4 May 1999 came marking the second
centenary of Tipu’s last stand against the British at Srirangapatnam, it was ignored by the
Government of India and all its agencies. Hostile demonstrations were even organised to oppose the
commemorations held in Tipu’s own native state, Karnataka. How amused Lt. Col. Mark Wilks, the
major British writer on Mysore wars, would surely feel to find his bitter invectives against the two
indomitable opponents of the colonial regime so widely shared in free India.19

Conclusion

Martyrdom of Tipu Sultan was the last chance to save the freedom of India. He tried his best to
defend Mysore and to prevent the British from capturing the southern part of India. His failure was
due to circumstance beyond his control, and not because of any want of sincerity or exertion on his
part. He never allied himself with any foreign element against an Indian power, and he appealed
again and again to the Marathas and Nizams for concerted action, but he could not bring them round
to his point of view.

He was a solitary and lone figure trying to prevent the onslaught of foreigners with the fierceness of
a tiger and the tending of a bulldog.20 Tipu Sultan’s reign and his sacrifice is a milestone in the in the
history of India and he left a living direction to the future rulers by sacrificing his life, Tipu Sultan
proved that the names of those rulers remain alive in memory of masses and the pages of history
who established rule of law and justice.

Tipu Sultan never compromised his ideas, never deviated from the goal which is most significant and
inspiring. His life’s passion was to drive out British from India and, to accomplish this objective; he
went to the logical extent of using all his means, his capacity and his power and even laid down his
life.21

If rulers of today try to adopt the legacy of Tipu Sultan, it is almost certain that the nation will prosper
and develop. There will be peace co-existence and the citizens will enjoy equality in true terms.
Ultimately, masses will trust and love the rulers as they did in lifetime of Tipu. It is the duty of citizens
and intellectuals of the country to launch programs in every nook and corner of the country, so that
message of Tipu Sultan may reach every home of India. The quotation of Tipu Sultan that “to live
like a lion for one day is better to live like a jackal for a hundred years”, should be popularised which
will induce masses to make sacrifices for the nation. Sultan Shaheed has proved though his life and
death that he was not only ‘Sher-e-Mysore’, but as described by Prof. Abdul Mughni, “he was Sher-
e-Hind, (lion of India) and Sher-e-Mashriq (lion of the East)”.22

It is required that historians should pursue the studies relating to him more seriously, so that the
British propaganda against him is properly countered. Lastly, it will be a fit tribute to the great warrior
of India if the new airport of Mysore is named as Tipu Sultan airport. It is also desirable that at least
in Karnataka the birth/death anniversary of Tipu Sultan should be declared as a holiday. All these
actions will be steps in the right direction for recognizing the sacrifices of this great Indian ruler.

References
1. 1. Nadvi, M. Ilays, Tipu Sultan (A Life History) translated by M. Saghir Hussain, N. Delhi 2004,
p.83.
2. 2. Id., at. 95.
3. 3. Irfan Habib, Resistance and Modernisation under Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, 1st ed., N. Delhi, p.
Xxiii.
4. 4. Id., at. Xxiv.
5. 5. I.H. Qureshi: “The Purpose of Tipu Sultan’s Embassy to Constantinople”, Journal of Indian
History, Vol.24 (1945), pp. 77-84.
6. 6. Supra note 1 at 264.
7. 7. B. Shaik Ali, Tipu Sultan, New Delhi, 1971, p.57.
8. 8. Id.,
9. 9. Id, at 58.
10. 10. Supra note 1 at 269. 11.Id.,
11. 12. Supra note 7 at 56.
12. 13. Jawaharlal Nehru, The Discovery of India, 6th ed., Delhi, edn., Delhi, 1956,pp. 272-73.
13. 14. Tarachand, History of Freedom Movement of India, revised edn., Delhi, 1965,1, pp 226-27.
14. 15. www.thehindu.com (The Hindu, dated 22-09-06)
15. 16. www.thehindu.com ( The Hindu, dated 24-09-06)
16. 17. www.thehindu.com
17. 18. Supra note 1, at.360.
18. 19. Supra note 3, at xviii.
19. 20. Supra note 7, at 62.
20. 21. Id.
21. 22. Abdul Mughni, Tipu Sultan, N. Delhi, 2003, p.47

Dr. Shakeel Samdani is an Associate Professor in the Department of

Law, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.