Bangalore Map dated March 22, 1791

220 years old map of Bangalore!!

Prepared on 22nd March 1791, by Lord Cornwallis during the Third Anglo-Mysore War, with a plan to attack Bangalore. At that time, the town just comprised of today’s Avenue road, Chikpet & surrounding areas (Which is also popularly called petta by British and Pete, pronounced as “pay-tay” by locals).


The town was enclosed by thick hedges/bushes and a strong fort adjoining it at the south part.

During the third Anglo-Mysore War, Since Tipu was the ruler, Srirangapatna was the capital of Mysore Kingdom. While approaching Srirangapatna from North, Bangalore is on the way. So, Lord Cornwallis chalked out the strategy to attack Bangalore and successfully captured the town and its fort, and established his base. Next step was to strike Srirangapatna. But the British army was taken aback due to a flurry of Rockets launched by Tipu during the fight. Tipu had experimented with rocket science in that era and is now considered to be the father of rocket. NASA also acknowledges it

 — in Bangalore, India.


Mike Ghouse
A Banglaorean

The competing narratives of Tipu: What they say, and why

Tippu Sultan is the son of Karnataka, and he cared for his people and has done a lot of good. The Victors, the British were hell bent on maligning anyone that was a threat to them, Tipu was no exception. 

What he has done for Karnataka is unmatched, he laid the foundation for industry, irrigation and communal harmony. His most trusted deputy was a Hindu, who literally raised him. 

BJP is resorting to dirty politics, that is what they have done, where ever they go, they create
problems.
Mike Ghouse

Historical evidence on the life and times of Tipu Sultan is mixed, and his assessment has often been based on current perceptions, prejudices.

Written by Amrith Lal , Monojit Majumdar | Updated: November 16, 2015 10:03 am

Tipu Sultan

Why is a late 18th century Mysore ruler at the centre of a polarising debate?

Last year, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that from now on, the state would officially celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, the “Tiger of Mysore”, on November 10 every year. A controversy followed, and the historical role of Tipu was debated among those who saw him as a bulwark against colonialism and a great son of Karnataka, and those who pointed to his destruction of temples and forced conversions of Hindus and Christians to accuse him of tyranny and fanaticism.

The disagreement flared up again as the planned celebration approached. The VHP began an agitation, and the BJP announced a boycott of the ceremony at the Karnataka Vidhana Soudha. On the other hand, Siddaramaiah insisted Tipu was a patriot and “true secularist”, and speaking at the Vidhana Soudha function, playwright and Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad said Tipu would have been as revered in Karnataka as Shivaji was in Maharashtra if only he was Hindu. Karnad also said that Tipu was born in Devanahalli, where Bengaluru airport is located, and the airport should ideally be named after him.

On November 10, a 67-year-old VHP leader was killed after falling off a wall while trying to dodge bricks thrown by protesters in Kodagu. A day later, a Muslim man succumbed to a bullet injury he suffered apparently while participating in a pro-Tipu protest. Girish Karnad and Pratap Simha, the BJP MP from Mysuru who has been leading the protests against the Tipu celebrations, have received death threats online, allegedly from opposing camps in the quarrel.

So, who was Tipu Sultan and when did he rule? What is he best known for?

Tipu Sultan was the son of Haider Ali, a professional soldier of humble origins who started out as a junior officer in the army of the Wodeyar king of Mysore, and rose rapidly to ultimately take power in 1761.

Tipu was born in 1750 and, as a 17-year-old, participated in the first Anglo-Mysore War. He subsequently fought against the Marathas, and in the Second Anglo-Mysore War of 1780-84. Haider died while the war was on, and Tipu succeeded him in 1782. The war ended with the Treaty of Mangalore, at which Tipu had the upper hand.

In India’s wider national narrative, Tipu is a man of imagination and courage, a brilliant military strategist who, in a short reign of 17 years, mounted the most serious challenge that the English East India Company faced in India. He engaged Company forces in four rounds of fighting during 1767-99, and gave Governors-General Cornwallis and Wellesley sleepless nights before finally being killed on the battlefield defending his capital Srirangapatnam in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore war. With Tipu gone, Wellesley imposed the humiliating Subsidiary Alliance on the reinstated Wodeyar king, reducing Mysore to a client state of the Company.

Tipu was a moderniser who reorganised his army along European lines, using new technology, including what is considered the first war rocket. He devised a comprehensive land revenue system based on a detailed survey and classification of land, in which the tax was imposed directly on the peasant, and collected through salaried agents in cash, widening the resource base of the state. He worked to modernise agriculture, giving tax breaks for developing wasteland, building new irrigation infrastructure and repairing old dams, and promoting agricultural manufacturing and sericulture. He sent ambassadors to Europe to learn technical knowhow, built a navy to support sea trade, and commissioned a “state commercial corporation” to set up factories outside Mysore. Mysore started trade in sandalwood, silk, spices, rice and sulphur, and ultimately came to establish 30 trading outposts across Tipu’s dominions and even overseas.

Why is he then seen unfavourably?

As with nearly every historical figure, perspectives on Tipu differ. Both Haider and Tipu had strong territorial ambitions, and invaded and annexed territories outside Mysore. Haider annexed Malabar and Kozhikode, and then conquered Kodagu, Thrissur, Kochi and Mayyazhi (Mahe). Tipu went to war with the English and Marathas, raided Kodagu, and crushed revolts in Kochi and Travancore.

Not surprisingly, in these areas, the narrative of his reign is markedly different. In Kodagu, Mangaluru and Malabar, he is seen as a bloodthirsty tyrant, who burnt down entire towns and villages, razed hundreds of temples and churches, and forcibly converted Hindus. This narrative is sometimes backed by a historical record that has Tipu himself boasting about having forced “infidels” to convert to Islam, and destroyed their places of worship.

Is there any scope for the two opposing narratives to be reconciled?

Real or imagined differences between any two opposing historical narratives appear sharpened periodically — most commonly in the context of current political battles. The disagreement over Tipu is old, and has combusted every few years after ‘political’ provocation. The current escalation probably cannot be separated from the larger context of majoritarian muscle-flexing by Hindu extremists across the country.

Much of the criticism of Tipu is rooted in accounts of those he vanquished — and of colonial historians who had powerful reasons to demonise him. Tipu defeated the Company in wars, allied with the French to frustrate its attempts to control politics of the Deccan and Carnatic, and sought to challenge its vital trading interests. Tipu’s keenness to subjugate Kodagu was linked directly to his desire to control the port of Mangaluru, on whose path Kodagu fell. Tipu battled nearly all powers in the region, irrespective of the faith of his opponents. It is likely that his Islamic zeal had something to do with finding ideological ballast for relentless warring.

To argue, like Siddaramaiah, that Tipu was a nationalist patriot and secular, is futile. Neither nationalism nor secularism is a philosophy that existed in the 18th century. To read these modern concepts back in time is misleading and fallacious. If Tipu fought the British “only to save his kingdom”, so did every other pre-modern ruler in history.

If there is evidence that Tipu persecuted Hindus and Christians, there is enough evidence too of his patronage of Hindu temples and priests, and of handsome grants and gifts to them. His patronage of the Sringeri mutt and donations to temples at Nanjangud, Kanchi and Kalale are well documented.
Tipu was a multilayered personality who must not be seen through the prism of morality or religion. It is not necessary that he be judged either as a hero or as a tyrant.

How does the conflict fit into the politics of Karnataka today?

The Congress and socialists see Tipu as a nationalist figure because he fought the East India Company. His building of roads, a centralised administration, irrigation systems and a modern standing army is stressed to decommunalise his legacy. Championing Tipu as a “statesman” is in line with the Congress’s religion-neutral nationalist tradition.

The row over Girish Karnad’s suggestion on renaming Bengaluru airport reflects something different. The airport is named after Kempe Gowda, a chieftain revered by the Vokkaligas, the core base of the JD(S). The party has picked on Karnad’s remarks, and forced the CM to distance himself from them.

For the BJP and the Parivar, the Tipu controversy is an opportunity to push the political conversation to religious identities and force a polarisation. Siddaramiah, who has built a broad coalition of OBCs and minorities with reasonable success, now faces a challenge from Hindutva politics.

What happens now? How far can this disagreement go?

State Assembly elections are due only in 2018, but Siddaramaiah’s celebration of Tipu has given the opposition an issue to galvanise cadres and target the government.

When linguistic states were formed in the 1950s, many regions that read their historical past differently were merged under a common linguistic identity. Kodagu, now part of Karnataka, has always seen Tipu as an invader — the old Mysore state’s narrative of him as a moderniser was unlikely to be acceptable only because it was now the official state narrative. The Marathas are an exception who found pan-Indian acceptability overcoming past narratives in regions they conquered. Karnad’s point that the evolution of the Marathas into pan-Indian icons was helped by the fact that they were Hindus, is significant.

In much of India, history continues to be seen through an ethnic, communal, regional or religious lens. There is every possibility, therefore, of the Tipu controversy being raked up again.

July 4th, India, America and Muslims - a shared heritage

Happy 4th - Muslims and Indians are an integral part of American Heritage

Upon declaration of our independence on July 4, 1776, two of the first three heads of states who recognized the sovereignty of the United States were Muslims and one of them was a Muslim from India.

Americans, Indians and Muslims have a connection since the very beginning of our independence. We were all opposed to colonial rule, and fought them and chased the British out of America, but they continued to rule India through divide and conquer for another 150 years.

Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States of America, signing the Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship, the first of its kind. Friesland, one of the seven United Provinces of the Dutch Republic, was the next to recognize American independence (February 26, 1782) and Tippu Sultan, the King of Mysore State (India) was the third. According to Dr. Range Gowda, Tippu Sultan's historiographer, the congratulatory letter to America is preserved in a French Library. Tippu celebrated America's independence by bursting fire crackers in Srirangapatna.

What does July 4th mean to Muslims and Indians?

It means everything and the biggest thing is freedom. Islam is indeed about freedom of conscience, justice and liberty.

The Pledge of Allegiance is one of the most cherished statements for Muslims, "One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." There are several verses in the Quran that assert those values, so it's like coming home for Muslims.

The concept of equality is etched and nurtured in the Muslim psyche in every ritual and spiritual practice of Islam. Prophet Muhammad delivered the following words in his last sermon, "All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor does a black have any superiority over white except by piety and good action." Muslims hold this declaration close to their hearts and as American Muslims, "We hold these truths to be self-evident..."

The raging battle among Americans to keep the state and church apart resonates with Muslims living in America as the Quran speaks out to them, 49:13- "O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in the sight of God, is the best in conduct. God Knows and is Aware." Indeed, knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance of the otherness of others and appreciate a different point of view without having to agree with it.

Honoring merit appeals to Muslims: you can be who you want to be and Muslims bpast about their ability to rise on the basis of their merit. The Prophet tells his own daughter that she will not get a free pass to paradise because she is a daughter of the prophet; she has to earn it on her own through good deeds to fellow beings, such is the emphasis placed on merit and individual responsibility. That is what capitalism, democracy and America are all about.

Every immigrant in general and a Muslim in particular loves the idea that you are innocent until proven guilty. They see the wholesomeness of justice in America and they love America for it. An observant Muslim recites at least 17 times a day that God alone is the judge and we must refrain from judging others.

On July 4, 2015 we will be celebrating the 239^th birthday of America. It is time to reflect upon our journey from the historic declaration of independence on July 4^th, 1776 to July 4^th, 2015.

Our Founding Fathers had a vision and laid the ground work for a sustainable cohesive America for centuries to come, " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

We have come a long way, and still have miles to go to realize the above truths, and to fulfill the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. Indeed, the last two months have packed an incredible amount of events in our history. The pulling down of the confederate Flag in several states after the tragic events in Charleston, South Carolina gives us a lot of hope, the Supreme court's landmark decision to make same sex marriage legal brings freedom to the GLBT community; yet another decision by the Supreme Court brought freedom to those who were vulnerable, the sick and the poor Americans. Thanks to President Obama for making health care a reality for all Americans. The affordable care Act is the law of the land now.

First, I pray for the spirit of that freedom to be born again, again and again every year, for eternity. Indeed, we are the land of the free and the brave. The whole world looks up to America with admiration, although we still have a few more milestones to achieve.

Donald Sterling, the basketball billionaire and Don Imus, the popular American Radio host and several others faced severe retribution for racial slurs. Rick Sanchez and countless Senators and Congress persons were taken to task for making Anti-Semitic comments. Now thank God for the Supreme Court, no one will dare abuse the freedom of these three communities: African Americans, Jews and the LGBT community.

Two more communities, among many need such freedom; women are still not getting equal pay, and I hope the Republicans will join the Democrats and pass that bill.

Who is left behind? Hispanic Immigrants and Muslims!

In 1986, President Reagan brought relief to 3 million undocumented aliens through his amnesty program. Now President Obama is working on freeing 11 million aliens from the tension of separation with their family members. As a nation we need to collectively reflect on the issue and do the right thing; legalize those here with agreed upon conditions.

In recent years, American Muslims have become an easy target for abuse without any consequence. Some US presidential candidates top the list for bigotry, having said that they would not hire a Muslim in their cabinet.

The problem is two-sided: we the Muslims are not connected enough with mainstream society for a vast majority of Americans to stand up for us, empathize with us, or even understand the truth about us that we are no different than them in our endeavors and aspirations of life. We need to get out of our shells and be part of American society.

We must however express our gratitude to the millions of Americans who have stood up for us, compelled by their sense of justness and fair play after 9/11 and as recently as the Phoenix and Garland rallies.

As Muslims we are making serious efforts to be fully participating and contributing members of American society for the security, peace and prosperity of our homeland. We have unequivocally stood up for free speech.

As American Muslims we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in the U.S. constitution. Our faith reinforces the creed of "One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all."

We at America Together Foundation, will take bold congenial steps on behalf of Muslims to get ourselves on a par with the other communities who had previously endured abuse, and with the support of all Americans, we will shame them for their bigotry.

I urge every Muslim to reach out to their fellow Americans to share the joy of July 4^th God willing, Muslims will be celebrating July 4^th2016 en masse all over the nation. We are going to be unfurling big plans soon. The more integrated we are, the safer it is for every one of the 318 million plus Americans.

What does July 4^th mean to me?

The very first step on American soil puts a smile on an immigrant's face; if not you, it has happened to your parents, grand or great grandparents. It's the exuberance you witness on a baby's face when she stands up for the first time, it is the exhilaration you see when a toddler eats the food on his own for the first time, or the relief written all over the face of a student when he or she graduates. Indeed, it is an expression of freedom I felt upon arrival in New York some thirty five years ago. My journey continues as I get ready to celebrate another July 4^th.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer, pluralist, TV-Radio commentator and a human rights activist committed to building cohesive societies and offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His info is in 63 links at MikeGhouse.net -- Mike is also president of America Together Foundation.

Tipu Sultan's ring to be auctioned off at Christies

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA SHOULD BUY THIS HISTORIC RING
AND TAKE PRIDE IN INDIAN RULER'S SECULAR CREDENTIALS

URL - http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2014/05/tipu-sultans-ring-to-be-auctioned-off.html

"RAM" IS INSCRIBED ON THE RING IN HINDI

This is indeed one of the best news I have read about Tippu Sultan, reaffirming his credentials as a secular ruler.

Dr. Range Gowda has done through research and has unearthed the documents found in the Sringeri Mutt in Mangalore - where the Jagadguru of the Mutt has praised Tippu Sultan for saving the temple from the Maratha onslaught and restoring the temple.  Tippu also rebuilt the Ranganatha Swamy temple in Sri Rangapatna.

When I was around 8-10 years old, my Dad corrected the tour guide at the temple for his divisive language when we went on a tour of Mysore. It's amazing, it's almost like hereditary, I do the same, and I have corrected the tour guides in Israel, India, Australia and elsewhere.

He is one of the first three rulers in the world who had recognized American independence and had sent his greetings; the letter is in a French Library per Dr. Gowda. 
He is falsely accused of forcing conversions of Christians and Hindus, he was not aware of it, his overzealous fanatic generals did that, just as Amit Shah could muddle things with his thoughtless idiotic words do in the name of Modi and Modi will get the bad rap for it.
This is one of the few brass busts made on biennial century of Tippu's death in 1999; one of them was given to me as a gift, which I cherish. More at http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/05/tippu-sultan-indias-brave-king-against.html

I sincerely hope the Government of India buys it and displays it in its Museum and take pride in our heritage of secular pluralistic leaders.

Mike Ghouse
http://MikeGhouseforIndia.blogspot.com
www.MikeGhouse.net
# # # # #

Courtesy of  The Hindu

Tipu Sultan's ring to be auctioned off at Christies
Parvathi Menon


It is through the private commerce of the auction house that many a precious relic of India's history has come to light.

On May 22, a remarkable artifact that illuminates a watershed moment in India's history will be auctioned by the leading London auction house Christie's - and presumably thereafter vanish forever from the public eye.

A heavy gold ring worn by 18th century ruler Tipu Sultan during his last campaign against the British in 1799 will be sold as part of the 'Raglan Collection: Wellington, Waterloo & The Crimea.'

Unusually, the 41.2 gm oval ring has the name of the Hindu God Rama in raised Devanagari inscribed on it.

It was taken off the finger of the dead ruler by the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, as his personal spoil of war after the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799.

 The ring then found its way into the hands of another military family, that of FitzRoy Somerset, the 1st Baron Raglan. A famous soldier of the early 19th century, he joined Duke Wellington's service in 1808 and rose to become his right-hand man for the next 40 years. He fought in major campaigns under Duke Wellington, including Waterloo and in the Crimea.

 Tipu's ring to be auctioned off at Christies

FitzRoy Somerset married the Duke's favourite niece Emily Wellesley-Pole who was in possession of the ring, a gift from her uncle.

The ring has been valued at £10,000 to £15,000 and is part of the private collection of Fitzroy John Somerset, the great great grandson of the 1st Baron Raglan. The collection contains items that have been the possession of the family from 1858, including historical medals, arms and armour, militaria, pictures, furniture, silver, books, Indian weapons and works of art, as well as a selection of art.

Though a small object of personal use, the ring with its inscription awakens the spirit of the unusual 18th ruler who was its owner.

The historical record shows Tipu as Catholic in his religious outlook and forward-looking in his world-view. He sought out what was modern and transformatory for the time, putting it to use in his paramount objective of defeating the British.