TIPU SULTAN
Context:
- Mysore King Tipu Sultan is at the centre of a controversy in Mumbai with the BJP claiming that Congress leader and Mumbai Suburban Minister Aslam Shaikh is planning to name a playground in the Muslim dominated Malwani locality after the 17th century ruler.
About Tipu:
- Tipu SultanΒ also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore based in South India and a pioneer of rocket artillery.Β
- He introduced a number of administrative innovations during his rule, including a new coinage system and calendarΒ and a new land revenue system which initiated the growth of theΒ Mysore silk
- He expanded the iron-casedΒ Mysorean rocketsand commissioned the military manualΒ Fathul Mujahidin.
- He deployed the rockets against advances of British forces and their allies during theΒ Anglo-Mysore Wars, including theΒ Battle of PollilurandΒ Siege of Srirangapatna.
- Tipu Sultan and his father used their French-trained army in alliance with the French in their struggle with the British,Β and in Mysore’s struggles with other surrounding powers, against theΒ Marathas,Β Sira, and rulers ofΒ Malabar,Β Kodagu,Β Bednore,Β Carnatic, andΒ Travancore.
- Tipu’s father, Hyder Ali, rose to power and Tipu succeeded him as the ruler of Mysore upon his father’s death in 1782.
- He won important victories against the British in theΒ Second Anglo-Mysore Warand negotiated the 1784Β Treaty of MangaloreΒ with them after his father died from cancer in December 1782 during the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
- Tipu’s conflicts with his neighbours included theΒ MarathaβMysore Warwhich ended with the signing of theΒ Treaty of Gajendragad.Β
- The treaty required that Tipu Sultan pay 4.8 million rupees as a one-time war cost to the Marathas, and an annual tribute of 1.2 million rupees in addition to returning all the territory captured by Hyder Ali.
- Tipu remained an implacable enemy of the BritishΒ East India Company, sparking conflict with hisΒ attackon British-allied Travancore in 1789.
- In theΒ Third Anglo-Mysore War, he was forced into theΒ Treaty of Seringapatam, losing a number of previously conquered territories, including Malabar andΒ Mangalore.
- He sent emissaries to foreign states, including theΒ Ottoman Empire,Β Afghanistan, andΒ France, in an attempt to rally opposition to the British.
- In theΒ Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, a combined force of British East India Company troops supported by theΒ Marathas& the Nizam of Hyderabad defeated Tipu.
- He was killed on 4 May 1799 whileΒ defending his stronghold of Seringapatam.
Source: THE HINDU.