A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Shivkumar Dige while hearing a plea filed by Faiyaz Shaikh, the Pune President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party, directed Pune police to chart out a route for a rally, commemorating Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary, for which it had earlier denied permission.

Shaikh sought permission to organize a rally to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Maulana Azad and Tipu Sultan, in addition to celebrating Constitution Day on November 26. However, the Pune Rural Police had refused to grant permission for the rally, particularly the one intended to mark the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan.

Shaikh then moved the Bombay High Court seeking permission to conduct the rally on December 24. The police raised concerns about potential law and order issues, citing letters they had received from members of another community who threatened to disrupt the rally. The police suggested that Shaikh should instead celebrate Tipu Sultan’s anniversary at a private location, far from the public eye.

According to Live Law, during the hearing, Justice Mohite-Dere raised an important question:

“Is there a ban on celebrating the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan?”

The Additional Public Prosecutor, Kranti Hivrale, responded that there was no such ban. However, she reiterated the police’s concerns about maintaining public order in light of the potential disruptions that might arise from the rally. The prosecutor emphasized that granting permission for the rally could incite violence or create tensions between communities.

Justice Mohite-Dere, however, challenged this reasoning. She pointed out that the police were responsible for maintaining law and order and that their authority in this matter should not be undermined by external pressures. She acknowledged that rallies could sometimes lead to disturbances, but emphasized that such risks should not be an automatic ground for denying permission.

“We understand if the rally cannot be permitted in a particular area due to law-and-order concerns. But yes, you can always ask them to change the route. If they commit any offense, you are free to lodge an FIR,” Justice Mohite-Dere explained, underscoring that the police had the tools to manage any potential disruptions.

Further, Justice Mohite-Dere directed the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Pune Rural, Pankaj Deshmukh, to appear virtually before the court. Deshmukh informed the judges that the police objection was specifically related to the celebration of Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary. The police had no issue with the celebration of Constitution Day or Maulana Azad’s birth anniversary, but their primary concern was the potential for unrest that could arise from the Tipu Sultan event.

The judges, however, were not convinced by this singular objection. They pointed out that Shaikh’s request was not solely for the celebration of Tipu Sultan’s anniversary, but for a rally that included the birth anniversaries of both Maulana Azad and Tipu Sultan, along with the celebration of Constitution Day.

“You decide the route for them, but you cannot ask them to celebrate it at their own place. There is no reason why they cannot be allowed to take out the procession,” Justice Mohite-Dere said, firmly asserting that law and order could not be used as a blanket reason to deny the rally, as Live Law reported.

The court then made it clear that while the police had the right to impose certain conditions to ensure that the rally would proceed smoothly, they could not use potential disturbances as a pretext to block the event altogether. Justice Mohite-Dere clarified that if the organizers used derogatory language or committed any offenses during the rally, the police were free to take action and file a case. She reiterated that the rally could go ahead as long as it complied with the law and the conditions set by the police to prevent any untoward incidents.

In the course of the hearing, the judges instructed Faiyaz Shaikh to meet with Superintendent Pankaj Deshmukh and work out the details of the route for the rally. The court further directed Shaikh to submit an undertaking, assuring the authorities that the rally would proceed without any untoward incidents and in compliance with the conditions set by the police.

The matter was then adjourned until December 17, with the expectation that both parties would reach an agreement on the route and other logistical details for the rally. This case highlights the role of the judiciary in ensuring that the fundamental rights of citizens, including the right to freedom of expression and assembly, are upheld, while also acknowledging the necessity of public order.

This legal episode also underscores the complexities involved in organizing public events in a multi-communal society, where tensions between different groups can often make the process of seeking permission for rallies more challenging. In such situations, it becomes imperative for authorities to ensure that no group’s right to celebrate or commemorate historical figures is unduly curtailed, and that law-and-order concerns are dealt with fairly and in accordance with the law.

As the case continues, it is likely to set important precedents for how similar cases are handled in the future, especially when it comes to the celebration of contentious historical figures or events.

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BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal known for his anti-Muslim stance has sparked a row over his comments comparing Muslims in the state to Tipu Sultan. While addressing a rally in Vijayapura, keeping the Assembly elections in mind, Yatnal raised the Tipu Sultan discourse again.

“All MLAs ask me, in your constituency there are one lakh Tipu Sultans (Muslim votes) how a Shivaji Maharaj descendant won from Bijapur. Going forward in Bijapur, none of the followers of Tipu Sultan will win. Even by mistake you should not cast your votes for Muslims,” he said in Kannada.

Congress MLC Nagaraj Yadav condemned these remarks, “Polarising votes like this is unconstitutional. Calling Muslim voters Tipu Sultan is very wrong, Yatnal should be debarred from contesting elections,” he said.

In 2018, he had made shocking comments on Muslim voters, “I never asked Muslims to vote for me, I had faith in Hindus that they would vote for me,” he says in the video. Clearly biased in his approach, he further adds, “Hindus are the one who ensured my win in the elections. I will work to develop the Hindu community, not the Muslims.”  He had also said that elections were a “war between Hindus and Muslims”.

Why the controversy around Tipu Sultan?

The legacy of Tipu Sultan, the 18th century  ruler of erstwhile kingdom of Mysore has been contested often by warring political parties, especially when Assembly elections are around.

Tipu is recorded in history as being a tyrant and rebels and conspirators were dealt with an iron hand in those times. The punishments Tipu applied to rebels or conspirators included the forced conversion and the transfer of people from their home territories to Mysore, reported Indian Express. BJP’s narrative against Tipu banks on his militarism and his perceived attack on Hindu rulers and subjects. However, historian Kate Brittlebank, author of ‘Tiger: The Life of Tipu Sultan’ said that while he undoubtedly ordered forced conversions in areas he annexed, Tipu also patronised various temples and Hindu shrines, including the Sri Ranganatha temple at Srirangapatna and the Math in Sringeri, wrote the publication in its article.

Tipu and his life has been used by the politics of the day as per their convenience as at one point he was celebrated as a ruler who valiantly fought against the British and currently, the far-right focus more on his autocratic ways and forced conversions of annexed regions as well as his religious identity. Precisely why the BJP refers to Muslim as Tipu Sultan’s supporters.

BJP’s comments on Tipu

Karnataka BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel , on February 15, said that supporters of Tipu Sultan should be chased away to the forests and “only those who perform bhajans of Ram” should remain “in this land”. He had also termed the upcoming Assembly elections as a war of ideologies of Vinayak Savarkar and Tipu Sultan, implying BJP versus Congress.

On February 11, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while attending an event in communally polarised Dakshina Kannada said, “Should the Congress and JDS which pay respect to Tipu [Sultan] be given votes? Or should the votes be given to the BJP which respects Rani Abakka (a local queen who fought the Portuguese in the 16th century)?” 

On Sunday, some right wing organisations in the state demanded the Tipu Sultan circle in Yadgir district be renamed as ‘Savarkar Circle’. Until Monday, section 144 was imposed in Yadgir to avoid any untoward incidents. On February 22, pro-Hindu organisation Shivaji Maharaj Sangathan alleged that supporters of Tipu Sultan named a circle after him in 2010 unofficially, reported Hindustan Times

Last year, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said that the people of the State wouldn’t forgive Congress leaders for displaying a soft corner for terrorists and for talking about Tipu Sultan in order to appease the minority vote bank, reported Siasat.

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The post Descendants of Tipu will not win, says BJP MLA in Karnataka appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Tipu Sultan, also known as the Tiger of Mysore, possessed a “Ram” ring that was auctioned in 2014 for over 1.4 lakh pounds, bought by an unnamed bidder. This ring was apparently recovered from his body after he was slain during the fourth Anglo-Mysore war on May 4, 1799 near Srirangapatna Fort.  The British army included the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley and the ring was gifted to his niece Emily Wellesley who married into the Raglan family. The ring was auctioned from the Raglan collection.

Many questions have been raised around the reason a Muslim ruler would wear a “Ram” ring, no definite answer has surfaced. There are some letters between the pontiff of Sringeri temple patronised by Tipu Sultan and in these letters he urges the temple seer to pray for him and Mysore. These letters also reveal that Tipu Sultan made donations for temple reconstruction, repairs, and the installation of new idols. In one of these letters he acknowledged having received gifts from the temple which may have included this ring.

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The post Why did Tipu Sultan have a Hindu god’s name on his ring appeared first on SabrangIndia.

• The director of a play on Tipu Sultan received death threats in Mysuru, Karnataka

• The play is being staged in Mysuru, the threatening letters came from Shivamogga

• The play director has filed a complaint with the police on the issue, a probe has been ordered

The director of a play based on Tipu Sultan in Karnataka, C Cariappa, received a death threat letter which demanded that he stop the play immediately or he would be killed. The director has filed a complaint with the police and further investigations are underway.

Addanda C Cariappa is the author-director of the Kannada play and book titled “Tipu Nijakanasugalu” who has received a death threat letter from Shivamogga for his play based on Tipu Sultan.

The letter demands that the director to stop the play immediately or he will be killed. The director has filed a complaint with the Jayalakshmipuram police station regarding the issue.

Tipu Nijakansugalu, a play about Tipu Sultan, is being held in Mysuru and has received a good response from the public, with shows being sold out daily. Says the director, “The show was last staged in 2018 before this. This time, I got a threatening letter stating I had to stop the play, otherwise I would be killed. The play isn’t pro-Tipu or anti-Tipu. It is the real Tipu and it has been going on well.

Director Cariappa further said, “Yesterday there were 1,200 people in the audience. It was a full house. It was the 7th show and all of them were sold out. It is happening in Mysuru’s Kala Mandir. I filed a complaint with Jayalakshmi puram police after getting the letter.”

While the campaign against Tipu Sultan, singled out by the saffron brigade because he was a Muslim ruler and also progressive has racheted up since the majoritarian BJP-led NDA government came to power at the Centre in 2014. From 2018 onwards and especially this year, protests by the VHP, BJP and RSS against any commemoration or celebration of his have been persistent.

In 2018, both the Chief Minister and his deputy skipped the event to observe the Tip Jayanti celebrations.While Kumaraswamy cited medical reasons, Parameshwara who was to replace him too skipped it. The BJP had appealed to the government to drop the celebrations after the JDS-Congress coalition government announced that Tipu Jayanti would be observed on November 10 in continuation of the previous Congress government’s policy. While Tipu Sultan is considered a freedom fighter by the state government, he has been singled out for a vilification campaign as “religious bigot” by the BJP and its affiliates. The Tipu Jayanti celebrations, which began in 2014 under the Congress government on November 10 each year, have been marked by protests and court cases every year.

Thereafter, in 2019, then Karnataka CM, Yeddiyurappa banned Tipu Jayanti. The CM, who was accused of capturing power through mdishonourable means, is convinced that Tipu Sultan was a blood-thirsty tyrant who persecuted Hindus.

Background: Campaign against Tipu

1999: The saffron brigade’s claim that he was an ‘anti–Hindu fanatic’, had, for the first time resulted in the ‘postponement’ of the celebration of the 200th death anniversary of ‘martyr’ Tipu Sultan by the Karnataka government way back 23 years ago when the NDA-I government under prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was in power at the centre.

October 1999 saw a curious turn in Karnataka state politics. The 1999 state assembly elections to 224 constituencies took place in October and the Indian National Congress (INC) secured a huge majority winning 132 seats. A distant second was the NDA comprising of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) Faction under Ramakrishna Hegde. The former prime minister Deve Gowda and his associates including the deputy chief minister, Siddaramaiah made up the Janata dal (secular) faction.

Truth about Tipu Sultan?

While the sultan’s campaigns in the southern state of modern day Kerala have been marked by reports of atrocities on locals, there is little to suggest, that this was religiously and not politically motivated.

In fact, independent historical accounts recognise Tipu for his challenge to British rule and also his progressive policies related to affirmative action for the marginalised sections.

It is well recognised that British imperialists had entered the Indian sub–continent through the innocuous channels of trade and commerce during the early part of the 17th century. Once they had set their feet firmly on the Indian soil under the protection and patronage of the later day Mughal emperors. However, it was not long before political ambitions became manifest, especially in the circumstances of the decline and disintegration of the Mogul power after the reign of Aurangzeb.

The British were adept at exploiting the age–old communal and religious differences of different sections of the Indian people. Agrarian and Adivasi revolts though intrepid were scattered. These took place in the 19^th century before the so–called ‘sepoy mutiny’ or the Indian rebellion (also described at times as India’s first war of Independence) against the British in 1857. 

Among the early challenges that were posed by Nawab Sirajuddaula of Bengal, who was eliminated without much difficulty by Clive in the battle of Plassey fought in 1757. Clive had, of course, succeeded through the intrigues and high treason of Mir Jaffar. 

The second challenge, which was much more formidable than the first one, had come to the British from Tipu Sultan and his father Nawab Hyder Ali Khan of Mysore, whose kingdom at one time stretched over a vast area in Deccan, comprising not only the whole territory of the present day state of Karnataka, but also included sizeable portions of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra states. 

Apart from fighting numerous battles with their other enemies, that included “Hindu chieftains” Tipu and his father fought four major wars against the British and their allies. So significant were the military exploits and victories of Tipu and Hyder, and so crushing and humiliating were the defeats suffered by the British in the first two Mysore wars, that the British considered this Deccan Sultanate as a “deadly enemy” and poisonous thorn in their side and spared no effort through treachery, intrigues and subversion to bring about the downfall of this Sultanate — an objective which they had failed to achieve on the battle fields otherwise. 

To the misfortune of India, the British succeeded in their efforts to kindle selfish ambitions and envy in the hearts of the Maratha rulers and the Nizam of Hyderabad; in fact these forces had joined with the British in forming in a common alliance against the Sultan. 

The courage and chivalry of Tipu Sultan on the battlefields earned from his friends and foes the title of the ‘Tiger of Mysore’ for the Sultan. It is said that the British feared Tipu so much — not only in India but also in England — that mothers used to frighten their children just by using the name of Sultan. 

There are multiple versions about the role of Tipu Sultan in fighting the British in India. In some books of history pertaining to Tipu Sultan, written either by the British authors or other writers influenced by the British, the Sultan has been depicted as a Muslim religious fanatic, who was intolerant of other religions and persecuted their followers. In these versions, it is alleged that hundreds and thousands of Hindus and Christians were either massacred or forcibly converted to Islam on the orders of the Sultan. Tipu is also alleged to have destroyed in his religious frenzy, scores of temples and churches. 

Tipu and his father Hyder Ali have also been shown in some books as usurpers, who in their greed for power had deprived the legitimate Hindu Raja of Mysore of his throne and his kingdom. It is pointed out that with the fall of Srirangapatnam, the capital of the Sultanate, and the death of Tipu on the battle–field in the fourth war of Mysore in 1799, when the British bestowed the throne of Mysore to the Hindu Raja, the British acted most justly; in fact, they undid an act of grave “injustice” and “tyranny” perpetrated on the Raja and his Hindu subjects by Tipu Sultan and his father. 

More modern historical research of the period has also shown the various allegations to be “historical myths” and fiction invented by the British and their henchmen to malign the Sultan with an avowed objective of sowing seeds of discord and hatred between Hindus and Muslims in order to strengthen and perpetuate the British Raj in India. 

Tipu was certainly a very pious and God fearing Muslim. But Tipu Sultan’s religious nature and piety, as stated, did not prevent him from being compassionate and just to his non–Muslim subjects. In fact, he was liberal and generous to them as illustrated by the following events. 

Even to this day, there are numerous Hindu temples in the Deccan which are enjoying the benefits of jagirs granted by the Sultan. It is noteworthy that once, in a war with the Marathas, the Maratha army had laid siege to the Sultan’s capital city of Srirangapatnam. Angered by their defeat, the Maratha troops, before their retreat, ransacked not only the populated suburbs of the capital, but also looted the famous temple of Sri Ranga in the vicinity of the city on the banks of river Cauvery. When this sad story of plunder of the temple reached the Sultan, he not only got the damage repaired, but also restored to the temple the equivalent of the wealth carried away by the invaders. His Hindu subjects gratefully acknowledged this act of generosity and liberalism on the part of Tipu. The holy temple itself is a standing monument to this day to Sultan’s religious liberalism and benevolence. 

Tipu Sultan’s great respect and regard for the Shankaracharya of the famous Sringeri Mutt and his several munificent grants for this Mutt situated in his kingdom are well known. 

Dr S. Radhakrishnan in his book, Present Crisis of Faiths, wrote:

“Tipu on many occasions requested the Sringeri Shankaracharya to offer prayers to God. Once, he expressed great pleasure at the Sahasra Chandi Japa performed under the guidance of the Shankaracharya for the welfare of his kingdom”. 

It is nothing but slander to attribute to Tipu Sultan, a man of such broad–minded religious liberalism and catholic out–look, narrow–minded religious fanaticism. Similarly, stories of mass conversions and massacres of non–Muslims are also without any foundation whatsoever. 

As happened with other rulers of various religious denominations, the various battles fought by the Sultan were of political rather than religious nature. He fought not only against the Marathas and British but also against the Nizam of Hyderabad and Nawab of Arcot. Of course, the Sultan had to suppress with an iron hand, rebellions by sections of people, who included not only Hindus and Christians, but also Muslims. All this was done in the business of ruling the kingdom and was not done as persecution of non–Muslims.

The figure of Tipu Sultan does not deserve to be demonised. A proud patriot, he contributed to developing indigenous industry and might and also had put in place policies of just governance. But in an India in 2022, where politics is dominated by medieval notions of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and violence and revenge sought to be exacted on denominational populations, campaigns of the kind that Karnataka is seeing only succeed in keeping “demons” alive in our midst.

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The post Stop drama or die: Threats to Tipu Sultan play in Mysuru appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Prohibitory orders have been issued in Shivamogga after clashes broke out between two groups in Shivamogga town of Karnataka, on Independence Day. Violence broke out after one group protested the display of a picture of Hindutva leader VD Savarkar at a local business hub, by trying to replace it with a portrait of Tipu Sultan.

According to the Times of India, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), that prohibits a gathering of four or more people, has been imposed and will stay in effect till August 18. Moreover, schools will also remain shut today, not just in Shivamogga, but also in neighbouring Bhadravathi town. 30 platoons of armed police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed in the area.

Trouble began when one group placed a portrait of Savarkar at a business hub in the Ameer Ahmed Circle area of the city. Soon another group protested, as the business hub was located right next to a mosque. This group in turn tried to place a portrait of Tipu Sultan at the spot, leading to an outbreak of violence.

Police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. One person was arrested following a complaint by the Shivamogga City Corporation for allegedly forcing the staff of the business hub to remove the picture of Savarkar. In wake of the violence, local businesses downed their shutters.

Superintendent of Police Laxmi Prasad told NDTV, “We have imposed Section 144. Tension flared up so we had to resort to lathicharge.”

According to TOI, a youth, identified as one Prem Singh from Rajasthan, was reported stabbed at Gandhi Bazar, barely 200 meters from the spot. The youth has been admitted to hospital, and police are verifying if the attack on him was related to the clash. SP Prasad told Hindustan Times, “We will probe if the stabbing is related.”

HT also reports that later in the day, right-wing groups such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal held a flash protest in the city.

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Hours after Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary celebrations, it has come to notice that a dome of the Gumbaz has developed cracks and minor cracks have been seen in other parts of the monument, as reported by the Deccan Herald.

The monument is currently under the management of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Wakf Estate Secretary Irfan Ahmed has said that he had written to the ASI in this regard 15 days ago.

“The officials have informed that the funds have to be released from Delhi. We are waiting for them to take up the works,” he said. Sunil of ASI said that the cracks in the Gumbaz had not been brought to his notice. “I will visit the spot and take stock of the situation. In case cracks are observed, a report would be submitted to higher officials.”

Earlier, in May this year, the ASI had taken up restoration work at the Tipu Sultan palace at Chamarajpet, to repair cracks on the roof. These cracks allegedly came up due to work taken up by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) at the adjoining KR Market metro station.

According to ASI officials, not only the roof, but the east-facing wall has also developed cracks. The palace is one of the oldest monuments in the city and several other factors like the age of the monument, the deterioration of materials as well as climate are other reasons for the cracks to develop, sources said.

Last year in 2018 heritage activists in Karnataka had cried hoarse over the deteriorating condition of the Gol Gumbaz after the building started to develop cracks on its dome and corner minarets. Even the walls and the parapet of the building have now developed cracks, allowing rain water to seep in and posing serious threat to the strength of the structure.

The plaster has been peeling off. This is evident especially along the staircase and on walls where one can see huge holes. Its white colour is turning to brownish. No major conservation work has been taken to protect the building in the recent past, leaving it to suffer irreversible damage.

Until now, officials have only taken up cosmetic conservation work. This will not help save the monument. In April 2019, ASI officials sought funds of up to Rs 1 crore after inspecting the mausoleum to carry out restorative work. They had said that they would make sure to use original materials used to build the structure and refrain from using any modern materials or machines to maintain the novelty of the monument.

Will it be restored to its former glory or will negligence chip away at it slowly?

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The post In ruins: Gol Gumbaz, the largest dome in India, is crumbling away appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Image Courtesy: indianexpress.com

On Sunday, Mysuru’s erstwhile ruler Tipu Sultan’s 270^th birth anniversary saw more than 5,000 people throng to pay homage to him in Srirangapatana, The Hindu reported.

Known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’, Tipu had died fighting British troops at Srirangapatana during the fourth Anglo-Mysore War on May 4, 1799. He was laid to rest next to his parents Hyder Ali and Fakr-Un-Nisa at Gumbaz in Srirangapatna, the historical town which saw heave security arrangements to maintain law and order.

TanveerSait, former Minister and Congress MLA representing Narasimharaja Assembly segment in Mysuru district, visited the Gumbaz-e-Shahi in the morning and paid his respects to Tipu and his parents.He had staged a protest against the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G Sankar, who did not heed to their request to lend the Bannimantapa Grounds to celebrate Tipu Jayanthi. Finally, Sait moved the Karnataka High Court seeking action against (MUDA) and the DC, on Friday.

Despite controversies revolving around Tipu’s name, the secretary of the Tipu Wakf Estate praised the communal harmony and national integrity being displayed by the people. According to Mr. Pasha, a pavement vendor at Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangapatna, at least 75% of the visitors to Tipu’s tomb are from non-Muslim communities. “At least 10,000 people would visit by Monday,” he said, expecting the numbers to quickly escalate. 

The celebrations, which were held by the state government from 2015, were discontinued this year after an interim order was passed by the BJP-led government on July 30, just days after the party came to power in the state. In the first year of celebration, two persons were killed in Kodagu district after violent clashes.

This order by the BJP-led government was challenged in the Karnataka HC on November 6, the high court’s division bench, headed by Chief Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice S.R. Krishna kumar, directed the state government to reconsider its July 30 cabinet decision and respond by third week of January 2020. The bench also said that private celebrations of Tipu Jayanti were allowed and asked the state government to place on record the order cancelling Tipu Jayanti celebrations in the state.

Why did the BJP wish to stop the celebration?

There are historical accounts of Tipu funding many temples and monasteries, but not once have accounts been highlighted, while his acts against the Hindu community are often exaggerated.

Tipu is credited with modernisation of the army, roads and irrigation system, and historians point out attempts are being made to show Tipu’s multi-layered personality from a narrow sectarian prism.

The ruling BJP and its right-wing allies consider Tipu a tyrant, religious bigot and anti-Hindu who forcibly converted hundreds of Hindus to Islam and persecuted those who opposed. Every year since 2015, the BJP ran a campaign criticizing Tipu for killing Kodavas and Mangaluru Christians, and pillaging temples in south India.

Appachu Ranjan, the MLA of Madikeri in Kodagu and a BJP leader, had also petitioned the Karnataka Education Department to remove all references to Tipu Sultan in textbooks printed in the state.

A few Kannada outfits also call Tipu Sultan “anti-Kannada”, alleging that he had promoted Persian at the cost of the local language.

This is not the first instance of right-wingers painting Muslim rulers to be tyrants and barbarians and tampering with history. Roads and cities named after Muslim kings from the medieval era have had their names changed.

The Mughal sarai station was renamed after BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya and Allahabad was renamed to Prayagraj.

The TajMahal, an iconic monument and a UNESCO world heritage site considered a ‘symbol of love’ saw no place among the Hindu and Buddhist monuments in the tourism booklet issued by the Uttar Pradesh government. BJP leaders have also said that the Taj Mahal was earlier a temple called Tejo Mahal and it would be restored to its glory.

Tipu Sultan has been the subject of quite a political tug-of-wars. It is an irony that the right-wing religious fanatics are blatantly pointing the finger towards him, spreading religious vitriol, looking to erase the acts of development of an erstwhile pioneer from the minds of the public.

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The post Thousands throng to Tipu’s tomb on his birth anniversary appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A Lingayat leader, Yeddi can’t look beyond his caste. His earlier term as Chief Minister saw corruption at its worst. The Reddy Brothers of Bellary looted the state to their hearts’ content. The then Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde called the district the Republic of Bellary. Yeddiyurappa resigned after the Lokayukta’s report. But the BJP found him indispensable, given his hold on the Lingayats. So Yeddiyurappa is again the CM through blatant horse-trading and suitcase politics.

A lady called Shobha Karandlaje controls Yeddiyurappa  through remote. Yeddi is a puppet and Shobha is his puppet-master.  The bachcha-bachcha of Karnataka knows this but the conspiracy of silence prevails and nobody utters a word. Yeddiyurappa Govt is full of turncoats, the Aya Rams and Gaya Rams. Chameleons who change colors at the drop of a hat! And now these third-rate chameleons are targeting the Tiger of Mysore, the one and only Tipu Sultan! And chameleons are having an upper hand. They have put the Tiger on backfoot, banning his birth anniversary celebrations. Mera Bharat Mahan.

I read about Tipu Sultan in my history books. Then, I read his story in Amar Chitra Katha, one of my favourite comic books. And then in 1990s, I watched the serial on Doordarshan: The Sword of Tipu Sultan. As power played hide and seek, I stayed up late in the night to watch Tipu, played so convincingly by Sanjay Khan. And I turned into a die-hard Tipu fan.

Last year I read the book :The Sword of Tipu Sultan. Written by Bhagwan Gidwani. It is an amazing book on Tipu and his father Hyder Ali. The most striking aspect of their character was their liberal, secular values. The father-son duo was way ahead of its time. Hyder Ali was an ordinary soldier but rose to become the Sultan of Mysore, thanks to his bosom friend Purnaiyya Pandit, a Brahmin and a Sanskrit scholar. Purnaiyya convinced Hyder that the latter had king-like qualities. When Hyder Ali ascended the throne of Mysore, he appointed this Sanskrit pandit his Prime Minister. And to the end, Purnaiyya served both Hyder and Tipu with utmost loyalty.

When Tipu turned five, Hyder Ali engaged a Maulvi and a Pandit to tutour him. And Tipu was tutored for seven years by Maulvi Obedullah and Govardhan Pandit! Tipu had immense faith in “Sarva Dharma Sambhaav” (equality of all religions). There was a temple dedicated to Lord Ranganath within the campus of his palace!

In the end, Tipu was betrayed by his close confidant Mir Sadiq. The British promised Mir Sadiq the throne of Mysore. But a Hindu loyalist of Tipu, Shekhar put Mir Sadiq to death. Tipu Sultan was the ONLY king in the history of India, who attained martyrdom fighting the British. Most of Indian rulers became bootlickers of gora sahebs. When Tipu’s corpse was recovered from the Seringapatam Fort, he had his sword still clutched in his hand. He fought like a tiger, admitted his British enemies.

Tipu was no ordinary ruler. He corresponded with Napoleon Bonaparte. Tipu was ecstatic to learn about the American Independence in 1776. He had a copy of the American Declaration of Independence brought to Mysore. And when APJ Abdul Kalam visited the headquarters of the American space agency NASA, he saw Tipu Sultan’s portrait on the wall. Kalam Saheb was told that Tipu was a pioneer of rocket technology!

Karnataka is an Andher Nagri, ruled by a Chaupat Raja. Yeddiyurappa and his gang of small-minded bigots have banned the Tipu Jayanti. Sometimes dark clouds gather and the Sun can’t be seen. But these clouds are swept away by winds and the Sun comes out shining. Similarly, Yeddiyurappa can ban the Tipu Jayanti but when this CM will be thrown into the dustbin of history alongwith the infamous Reddy Brothers, Tipu Jayanti will again be celebrated in Karnataka. Chameleons can’t eclipse the Tiger for long!

(The author  is a 1994 batch IPS Officer. His views are personal. The article first appeared in the Morning Chronicle and is being reproduced here with the permission of the author)
 

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“Only you will decide whether you want the land of Bajrang Bali (Hindu God Hanuman) or a land of worshippers of Tipu Sultan (a ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore),” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reportedly told the crowd gathered at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Parivarthan Yatre rally on Thursday at Hubballi in Karnataka.

Yogi was there as part of the BJP’s preparation for next year’s Assembly elections. And, his inflammatory speech looks to be part of a key strategy of the saffron party – to communally polarise the state’s people and take electoral advantage. As a result, communal hate mongering is in full swing in Karnataka.

“When Lord Hanuman is being worshiped across the country, the Congress government in Karnataka, the state known for Vijayanagar Empire, is promoting worship of Tipu Sultan. The Congress is insulting our rich tradition,” he said apparently attempting to divide the society on religious lines.

This is not the first time that such language with communal overtones is being used in the south Indian state ahead of the elections. Recently, T Raja Singh Lodh, a legislator of the saffron party from Telangana, addressing the Virat Hindu Samavesh convention in Karnataka’s Yadgir district on December 14, called for violence , bragged about ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and said “Hindus must pick up swords”.

He went ahead and called Tipu a “harami” (an abuse), accusing the emperor of converting Hindus into Muslims.

“Whosoever comes in path of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ (Hindu Nation), his existence will be wiped out. We will not spare them,” Lodh reportedly said. He represents Goshamal constituency in Hyderabad.

“I promise you that integral ‘Hindu Rashtra’ will come into existence, but we will have to fight for it. Brothers, prepare yourself, because we need to learn to wield swords,” he said.
“Why do we need to learn it? To protect our country, our religion. To turn the dream of the Hindu rashtra into a reality,” he said.

“Every Hindu must keep arms in their houses. If you don’t have weapons, neither can you save yourself nor your family,” he added.

If its recent strategies are something to go by, the BJP is looking ahead of the complex caste combinations in the state to reach out to all fragmented Hindu voters and isolate the Congress. The party, which came to power at the Centre on the slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (collective efforts, inclusive growth), seems to have shifted to the narrative that “if Congress can use casteism or social engineering, why should we not use religion”.

Analysts say that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who came to power by successfully consolidating the AHINDA (acronym for minorities, Dalits and backward classes) support base in 2013, continues to hold the controversial castes combination that is likely to challenge the Lingayat-Vokkaliga dominant narrative. Therefore, the BJP does not want to leave any stone unturned and is banking on its Hindutva strategy, which is likely to make next year’s polls one of the most polarised elections in the state’s history.

In the 225-member (224+1 nominated) Assembly in Karnata, the Congress has 123 MLAs in addition to the Speaker, the BJP has 44, the Janata Dal (Secular) has 31 plus 8 rebels, 16 independents and two seats are lying vacant. The majority mark stands at 113.

Courtesy: Newsclick.

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In a Twitter post, the popular actor wrote, ‘Instead of focussing omn farmers’ plight.. jobs to the simmering youngsters of our country, roads, schools, hospitals…..instead of focusing on governance and development but on just winning elections..

“Why are you politicians wasting our time digging history #tipusultan #tajmahal and creating hatred for which WE THE LIVING are not responsible..#justasking.”

Prakash Raj’s comments came in the wake of atrocious comments made by a union minister calling the brave Mysore ruler, who died fighting the British, a rapist. Ananthkumar Hegde had also called Tipu a mass murderer. Even though President Ram Nath Kovind had recently said that the 18th century ruler had died fighting the British.

Elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh, Hindutva forces have made more comical commenst questioning the history behind Taj Mahal, one of the seven global wonders.

Earlier this month, Prakash had slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for  his silence on the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh while calling the latter a better actor than him.

Raj also said that the would return the give National Awards he has received for his acting skills to recognise that Modi was a better actor.

Speaking at a function organised by Democratic Youth Federation of India in Bangalore on Sunday, Raj questioned Modi’s decision to follow vicious trolls on social media, who regularly attacked journalists and issued rape and death threats.

He said that while he was not sure who had killed Lankesh, he knew exactly who was celebrating the journalist’s murder.

Courtesy: Janta Ka Reporter
 

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