Tippu Sultan, the historic personality whose name has been embarking controversies over past couple of months. A few political and religious leaders expressed their disapproval and protested against Kollywood superstar Thalaiva Rajnikanth to desist from doing the biopic on Tipu Sultan who is referred by the protestors as a tyrant and murderer. While on November 10, 2015, one VHP leader was killed and over 30 other activists were injured in protest against Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary celebrations at Mysore, Karnataka.

What Makes Tipu Sultan as So Controversial Ruler of Indian History?

With the emergence of many of similar kind of the incidents recounted above, Tipu Sultan has yet again opened up a Pandora’s Box. The former ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, who widely called as The Tiger of Mysore has been always commended as one the most powerful rulers India ever had. Born to the Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore as the eldest son, Tipu Sultan was elucidated with prominent principles of politics and military under the counsel of his father at an early age of 15, which aided to emerge as the one of the most authoritative rulers of the nation during his times.

Tipu Sultan who opposed and bravely fought against the British rule in southern India posed a grave threat to the East India Company  during the late eighteenth century has equal numbers of followers and criticizers. He is admired by a large section of people and historians for being the greatest ruler and at the same time he is detested for being for the self-interested motive of instituting  Islamic rule throughout the nation.

Top 7 Untold Facts You Must Know About The Tyrant Tipu Sultan

The main reason behind the controversial criticism of the Hindu right wing groups is that his tyrant policies against the non-Muslims. Go through unfamiliar and untold facts about Tipu Sultan which would certainly redefine your view towards the great warrior of Indian soil.

#1. Was A Ruler, Who Demolished Many Hindu Temples

Concerned and self-interested over the furtherance of Islam religion in his territories Tipu Sultan attacked and demolished Hindu temples in Malabar. Considering the evidence of the history, it is being articulated that his attacks were more ferocious than atrocities committed by Mahmud of Ghazni, Nadir Shah and Alauddin Khalji against Hindus in Hindustan.

Some of the prominent temples which were destructed in his attacks were Chirackal Taluqa, Ponmeri Temple of Badakara, and Thiruvangatu of Tellicherry. Due to his hatred and difference for Hindus and Hinduism, he used to compel non-Muslims and his antagonists to accept Islam which also include women and children as his victims.

#2. Tipu Desired to Emerge as an Emperor, Although Failed

The Tiger of Mysore, Tipu desired to become the a Padishah and ruler of India defeating the British empire in India. What adds more prominence to this aspect is that Tipu sultan who was against the Hindu beliefs used to seek information from some Brahmin astrologers concerned with his aspiration.

Followed by which his yearning to be the ruler of India used to get heightened when the Brahmin astrologers used to suggest some rituals to get his desire come true. Upon which the Tipu used to perform all the stated rituals at the Sree Ranganatha Swami Temple honoring the astrologers grandly with rewards. However, the great ruler might have understood that it was all due to respect and love towards him to get the best words by the Indian culture and tradition when the he failed to  achieve his cherished goal.

#3. Forceful Change Over of Hindu’s to Adopt Islam and Turn Up as Muslims

There are abundant evidence and the literary works which narrate and bear witness to the brutality of Tipu Sultan.  He is often referred as the cruel and intolerant Muslim ruler who compelled Hindi and non-Muslims to follow Islam religion and to become Muslims. Some the literary works of “Malabar Manual” and “Voyage to East Indies” by William Logan and Fra Bartolomeo clearly manifest the tyrant rule of Tipu Sultan.

One of the example for his monocracy over is that he forcibly converted one thousand Hindus to Islam after capturing them in Coorg and held them all captive in the Sreerangapatanam fortress. Fortunately, all these Hindu Coorgi Hindu captives successfully managed to break away during the war between the British and Tipu Sultan and followed their own religion after reaching their own kingdom.

#4. Claimed to Be One of Utmost Islamic Ruler for his Brutalities

It is enjoined by the then in-charge of British forces in Mangalore that every worst possible brutality on Brahmin were persuaded by the  Tipu Sultan during his acquisition of Palghat Fort in the year 1783. Innocent Brahmins were beheaded by the soldiers of Tipu Sultan from the fort Zamorin.

Later to avoid witnessing such enormities and incidents, the Zamorin abandoned the fort determinately so that he and his Hindu followers. However, brutalities against the Hindu’s were continued by the Tipu Sultan which spread to the Kerala region too during his reign. Raged with the unfriendly rule of Tipu Sultan, fellow rulers and Rajas took the aide of the British empire as to stay safe from him.

#5. Christened the Names of Places with That of Muslims Erasing That of All Hindu’s

After the regime of Tipu Sultan many unusual facts were disclosed by his son, noted Muslim historians such as Kirmani and Ghulam Muhammad about the one-man rule policies of him. Highly influenced with the Islam religion, Tipu Sultan always cherished to christen the Muslim names to places and things to witness the Mohamadean touch.

Following which he changed the names of many names of places which were earlier known with Hindu names by the new christened Muslim names. Some of this changes were changing of Mangalore or Mangalapuri to Jalalabad, Mysore to Nazarabad, Bepur to Sultanpatanam, Cannanore to Kusanabad, Gooty to Faiz-Hissar, Dharwar to Quarshed-Sawad, Dindigul to Khaliqabad, Ratnagiri to Mustafabad, Kozhikode to Islamabad, and Dindigul to Khaliqabad. While after the death of Tipu Sultan people and locals residents of this place reverted to old names.

#6. Known for the Architecture of His Palaces Across Bangalore

Tipu renovated the Bangalore Fort into a stone fort by Haider Ali in 1761, which was actually built by Kempe Gowda of Vijaynagar Empire in the 16th century. Within the Bangalore fort, there is a palace made of wood magnificently known as Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace which though started during the period of Hyder Ali ended during the reign of Tipu Sultan. An illustration of Indo-Islamic architecture, the walls of the palace are decorated by pretty flower motifs. Currently, the fort is a tourist place in Bangalore near the Kalasipalyam Bus Stand.

#7. Tipu Sultan was Father of Congreve Rockets, Mysore Missiles

Many Mysore rockets were sent to England in the Royal Arsenal lab for R&D by Col. (Later Sir) William Congreve in the year 1801. Later after 4 years, Royal Arsenal ascended with their first Congreve rocket only on account of the Technology invented by Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. British used these Congreve Rockets in the Napoleonic Wars and during the War of 1812. Mysore Missiles are highly acclaimed for their prominence in winning the Battle of Baltimore in the year 1814.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_SllA8GWuk

On a concluding note, we would like to make it simple stating that though Tipu Sultan was a great leader while he failed to be a good ruler and people’s king during his regime which earns his the perplexed titles. Though how tyrant he might have been while his quote,

It’s better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life”

invokes full of courage among the young blood of the nation.

If you are allowed to entitle the Tipu Sultan with a suitable title, what would you do? We would like to hear from you. Hence leave your stray thoughts below in the comment box and share these facts with your dear ones enlightening them from the mystified state.