TIPPU SULTAN
Prof. Kittu Reddi
Tipu Sultan
was the eldest son of Haider Ali. Born on December 10th, 1750 at
Devanhalli, he was indeed the son of a great father. Haider Ali was one of the ablest personalities in Indian history.
A completely self made man, he had a strong determination, courage and a sharp
intellect which completely counterbalanced his inability: to read and write. On
the battlefield, he was cool, sagacious and intrepid; off it, he was tactful
and vigorous in matters of administration.
Young Tipu
accompanied his father in battle from a very early age. In fact as early as the
age of 15 he went along with his fathet1 on the campaigns. At the same time he
learnt languages, mathematics and science. During the first Anglo-Mysore War in
1768, at the request of his father, he conducted successfully a diplomatic
mission with the Nizam. In his early twenties, he was entrusted in recovering
territories captured by the Marathas. Between 1774-78, he assisted his father
in strengthening and even extending the territorial domain of Mysore. He played
a major role in the Second Anglo-Mysore War and was chiefly instrumental in the
victory at Polur. This victory gave him a great deal of self-confidence.
Unfortunately during the Anglo-Mysore War in 1782, his father died and Tipu
assumed the control. There followed a series of engagements with the British,
in some of which he was victorious and he finally forced their garrison to
surrender in 1784.
The treaty of
Mangalore was a great victory for the young Sultan.
The major
part of Tipu’s life was devoted to wars. After the treaty of 1784, he weeded
out all officers who had earlier intrigued against him. He had to quell
rebellions in Coorg. At this time he dispatched diplomatic missions to the
Marathas in order to prevent a Maratha-Nizam-English coalition. He failed in
this mission; the result was a series of attacks by the Marathas and the Nizam.
Tip~ successfully countered these attacks but at the same time he realizd the
impermanence of these victories. In April 1787, he made overtures of peace with
Cornwallis.
He was
conscious of his isolation and this led him to try to forge an alliance with
the French in Mauritius and the Sultan of Turkey. Although he was not
successful in forging an alliance with either of these powers, his missions
succeeded in promoting trade relations with the states in the Persian Gulf.
The chiefs of
Malabar and Coorg constantly harassed Tipu Sultan. The Raja of Travancore who
was a British protege incited them. Tipu attacked and defeated him. But the
British playing their insidious game, with the support of the Mahrattas and the
Nizam attacked him once again and this led to the Third Anglo-Mysore War. This
war lasted for about two years in three campaigns. In the first two campaigns,
Tipu showed great military skill and strategy and kept the British at bay. In
the third campaign, Tipu offered stiff resistance, but finally he suffered
defeat. Here again by his military and diplomatic skill he averted a complete
disaster. He agreed to the signing of a peace treaty - the treaty of
Seringapatnam in 1792.
Tipu however
would not rest so easily. He recovered rapidly and after paying off his debts,
repaired the damage inflicted by the wars and set up a fine civil administration.
His relations with the Mahratha Peshwa, Mahadaji Scindia improved although the
relations with the Nizam were bitter. Even with the British, the relationship
became cordial due to the policy of non-interference by Sir John Shore. However
with the arrival of Wellesley on the scene, things changed. He was pledged to
an aggressive and expansionist policy. After making sure that Tipu would get no
help from the Mahrathas and the Nizam, he accused him of being in league with
the enemies of East India company and the French.
Tipu was
completely isolated and soon English troops under the command of General George
Harris launched a two-pronged attack on Mysore from Madras and Bombay. This was
the fourth Anglo-Mysore War and, as it proved to be, the last war. The war was
short and decisive. Seringapatnam was attacked and captured on 4th May 1799.
Tipu fell fighting while gallantly defending the fort to the last.
In his fight
against the English, Tipu was a solitary and lone figure even though displaying
the fierceness of a tiger and the tenacity of a bulldog. The Sultan made no
compromises, never deviated from his goal and never ceased to exert his utmost.
In a sense,
Tipu was the last ray of India’s hope, being the solitary ruler who saw from
beginning to end where the British expansion was leading to. He was single
minded in his approach. That is why the English feared him beyond reason. He
was a brave man; he may have fallen short in wisdom and foresight, but never in
courage, in aspiration, in his dream of a united, and independent and a
prosperous Mysore, leading ultimately to a strong and united India.
(Courtesty ‘Sri Aurobindo’s Action’)