TIPU SULTAN

 On 4th May 1799, Tipu Sultan was martyred while defending his fort against the British in fourth Anglo-Mysore war. He became a symbol of resistance against British colonalism. The ‘Mysorean Rocket’ used by Tipu is genesis of modern artillery & rocket warfare. 

Tipu Sultan's victory against the British at the Battle of Pollilur in 1790 is often described as ‘the severest blow that the British ever sustained in India’, and resonated for years in both Britain and Mysore. By the end of the year, one in five if all the British soldiers in India were held prisoner by Tipu In his sophisticated fortress of Seringapatam. For thirty years, first Haidar Ali, Tipu’s father, then Tipu himself, had been at the forefront of the British public’s consciousness. Tales of attacks on British forces appeared in the newspapers. 

Tipu was the most feared ruler of his time in Britain. When he died there were jubilant celebrations. Authors and play writers were also a part of it. The siege and looting of Tipu’s capital at Srirangapattana is the opening scene of Wilkie Collins’ famous novel, The Moonstone. Tipu Sultan was the only ruler who understood the imminent threat from British. He fought four wars – in that sense, he could be called the first freedom fighter in the subcontinent. He seek help from Ottomans and French since they did not pose a colonial threat. 

Tipu was fascinated by western technology. There were gun manufacturers, engineers, clockmakers and other experts from France who were working in Mysore. He set up his own manufacture of bronze cannons, ammunition and muskets to “Make in Mysore”. He was the pioneer of Rockets. Tipu Sultan's chief minister Purnaiya was a Hindu. His main advisors were Brahmins. He was a generous patron of Hindu temples, including the Sri Ranganatha temple near his palace at Srirangapattana, and Sringeri Math, whose swami he respected and called Jagadguru.

Tipu Sultan extensively used tiger imagery to convey a sense of his awesome power. Tiger images emblazoned his golden throne, his textiles, coins, swords and his soldiers uniforms. He used the Sun symbol, long associated with royalty and divinity among his Hindu subjects. Tipu Sultan wrote a Book of Dreams, the Khwab Nama, in which he recorded his dreams. He looked for signs and portents about the outcome of his battles in his dreams.

Allama Iqbal paid a tribute to Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, in his brilliant composition ‘Sultan Tipu Ki Wasiyat’ (The Testament Of Tipu Sultan) in Zarb e Kaleem.

تو رہ نوردِ شوق ہے منزل نہ کر قبول 

 لیلیٰ بھی ہم نشیں ہو تو محمل نہ کر قبول     

If you traverse the road of love, Donʹt yearn to seek repose or rest:

If Layla be your companion close that litter shun with great contempt

 

اے جوئے آب بڑھ کے ہو دریائے تندو تیز 

ساحل تجھے عطا ہو تو ساحل نہ کر قبول    

O streamlet, onward flow and get transformed to torrent strong and deep: 

If bank is eʹer on you bestowed, Abstain, flow on with mighty sweep

 

کھویا نہ جا صنم کدۂ کائنات میں

 محفل گداز گرمی ٔ محفل نہ کر قبول

Donʹt lose your bearings in this world because with idols it is full: 

The assemblage here can cast a spell, disdain, or strings of heart shall pull

 

صبح ازل یہ مجھ سے کہا جبرئیل نے 

جو عقل کا غلام ہو وہ دل نہ کر قبول

Gabriel on Creationʹs early morning, a piece of useful counsel gave: 

He bade me not accept a heart enchained by mind of man like slave

 

باطل دوئی پسند ہے حق لا شریک ہے 

شرکت میانہ ء حق و باطل نہ کر قبول  

Untruth conceals in various masks but Truth and God are both unique: 

There canʹt be pool ʹtwixt good and bad—This fact is known from times antique 

 

اے جو آب بڑھ کر ہو دریا تند و تیز

 ساحل تچھے عطا ہو تو ساحل نہ کر قبول  

This couplet was written in the first page of the diary of Capt Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed. 

His father painted the verse in his hujrah at Nawakili after his Shahadat