Great king Tipu Sultan, now just a pawn for parties

by Guest Sun Oct 29, 2017 1:23 am

History has, unfortunately, not been kind to most Muslim kings, who ruled India and their legacies of success and achievement. We Indians have somehow failed to give them the recognition they deserve and instead assess their rule using modern yardsticks.
What Chhatrapati Shivaji is in Maharashtra, Tipu Sultan is not in Karnataka. Many, especially the politicians, have no problem celebrating a Hindu ruler while spinning controversies about a Muslim king. Sadly, because Tipu was a Muslim, he is not only ignored, but also dammed by some.

Let’s not touch upon the Moghuls and their empires that came before him. The most talked about, cherished, celebrated and also damned (by a bunch of morosophs) figure, Tipu stood up against the British rule and fought it, leading eventually to the emancipation of India from its clutches.

But he is so disliked by a few that they even call him a ‘rapist’ and ‘mass murderer,’ although history has time and again proved him to be an able administrator and an innovator, who developed the rocket technology and facilitated modernisation of trade.

These are the people, who supported the British at the cost of their so-called loyalty and patriotism, which they have been proclaiming from the rooftops. But Tipu Sultan, whose concern for the people of the land was unquestionable, has been villified with his religion overshadowing his innovations, his struggle and contributions. If Tipu wasn't born a Muslim, I am sure he would have been celebrated by everyone as he was feared most by the British among the kings of the time.
Being aware of his strong military base and innovative weapons, including rockets, the British saw him as the biggest threat to the East India Company.

The Nizams of Hyderabad, Arcot Nawabs and Wadiyars luckily did not meet a similar fate as Tipu’s because they fawned over the British. Look at the properties that their descendants possess today. Would this have been possible if their ancestors had fought the British instead of supporting it?

Unfortunately, centuries after his death, Tipu’s image is being tarnished, while people like Veer Savarkar are given the status of national hero.

Tipu has now become a hot topic among politicians, who want to use him to win votes. And it’s not just the Congress as many believe. Even the BJP tried its luck with Tipu politics in 2008 when it held a grand exhibition in Srirangapatna highlighting his contributions. The saffron party’s endeavours did not end there. Its former Karnataka Chief Minister, Jagadish Shettar, wrote a foreword praising Tipu for his “significant role...His concept of nation state, his idea of state entrepreneurship, his advanced military skill, his zeal for reforms, etc. make him a unique leader far ahead of his age” in the book ‘Tipu Sultan, a crusader for change’ by well known scholar, Sheikh Ali, that was published by the Karnataka government. Another former Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa, even dressed like Tipu while participating in the Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

So now why this hypocrisy when the Congress wants to celebrate Tipu Jayanti officially ?

The BJP is bent upon inciting communal hatred among peace loving Hindus and Muslims and the likes of Union Minister, Ananth Kumar Hegde and Mysuru-Kodagu MP, Pratap Simha are making fallacious comments on Tipu with their limited knowledge of history.

Contrary to what is believed by members of the RSS and BJP, Tipu Sultan was a secular king with respect for all religions and concern for people of all communities. His capital, Srirangapatna, reflected his secularism.

Had he been a fundamentalist as painted by the BJP and RSS, there would be no temple left in its vicinity and Srirangapatna and its surroundings would have a huge Muslim population. The ‘facts’ that the BJP and its crony historians present about the massacre of Hindus in the Kodagu region are undoubtedly taken from a distorted account given by the British.

BJP leaders, who are busy politicising Tipu ahead of the Tipu Jayanti on November 10, were presented with the real facts about him by none other than the first citizen of India chosen by their own party bosses.

The President called a spade a spade by speaking the truth about Tipu Sultan and not succumbing to the belief held by the party he represents. His remarks are truly appreciable.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/291017/great-king-tipu-sultan-now-just-a-pawn-for-parties.html