Tipu was visionary & liberal, historians say on Tiger of Mysore’s Jayanti

Bengaluru: While his date of birth is disputed, Tipu Jayanthi is generally celebrated on the 10th of November. On this occasion of remembering the Tiger of Mysore, we recall his contributions and his ideals which were quite different from many of his contemporary monarchs.

For one, Tipu Sultan was a highly educated person. His father, Hyder Ali was illiterate but ensured that his son would get a good education. Thus, Tipu Sultan was educated in multiple subjects and was found to be a good learner.

When he later became the ruler of Mysore Kingdom, he was influenced by ideas of the Enlightenment, such as justice and equality, and can be seen as an enlightened ruler. “He called himself Citizen Tipu. He was a member of the Jacobite club and he planted the Liberty Tree in Srirangapatna. That shows he was a person who wanted the liberty of the people at large.” Said professor Shaikh Masthan, a history professor at Bengaluru University.

A progressive administrator, Tipu also made several administrative reforms which increased the economic power and wealth of Mysore. Professor Masthan points to measures such as the plantations of mulberry and sugarcane and the cultivation of tamarind trees.

Another reform that he spoke of was that of land reforms. “It was he who brought about land reforms and the concept that the tiller of soil should be the owner of it. He worked against zamindari and landlordism.” Professor Masthan said.

Professor of history Usha Devi also recognized Tipu as a visionary and liberal leader, “He was so enterprising that even modern technologies that were invented in Europe were adopted in Mysore.

When we come to our own state here, socially deprived people were uplifted and he brought in several changes. He liberally granted land to the landless.” She said. She added that several ships of riches of Mysore state were carried to London.

These riches came on the back of a robust economy and trade with Arab nations through the Malabar coast, which was under the rule of Mysore through Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan’s conquests.

Tipu Sultan has been vilified by the Hindu right as being in tolerant and cruel to Hindus. However, there is a lot of nuance to it. In his time in Kerala, he abolished the so-called ‘breast tax’ and polyandry.

“As a progressive Sultan who had seen the value in Islam, he could not tolerate the demeaning of the dignity of women, so he wanted to bring some reform and ordained that every woman should be completely clothed and shouldn’t be employed in the service of temples.

Many Hindus were there in his administration. If he was an enemy of Hindus, Poornaiah would no thave become his minister or Khanderao.” Professor Shaikh Masthan said. Professor Usha Devi said that he contributed much to temples. He gave tributes to Sringeri mutt and gave an emerald to Nanjangud temple.

In fact, he prevented the looting of Sringeri temple from Maratha forces. The historians also warned against judging historical figures by modern standards, as the context of various diplomatic and political scenarios was very different, and advised that people should stick to the facts, whether negative or positive.