Bengaluru: Tipu Sultan who is also known as ‘Tiger of Mysore’ was the last and the biggest hurdle for British East India Company in Southern India.
Although, the BJP government in Karnataka are making an attempt to remove the lesson on the 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan from school history books claiming that he was a “tyrant” and prosecuted the Hindus, historians say that he was the great ruler who introduced major changes in administration, land revenue system, etc. He was the father of modern rockets.
Here are some of the lesser-known facts about him
Banking system
According to the report published in Economic Times, he introduced banking system wherein, the public used to deposit money. On an annual basis, they used to get interest (nafa) on the principal amount.
Tipu Sultan was a strong supporter of barter system as he understood that trading in currency would reduce Mysore’s purchasing power.
Public Sector Undertaking
PSU system was introduced by him as he had declared that State will have monopoly over certain industries such as sugar, salt, iron, silver, gold etc.
Realising the power of technology, he had setup four innovation centers in Bengaluru, Chitradurga, Srirangapatna and Bidanur.
Father of modern rockets
Tipu Sultan is known as the father of modern rockets as he had created iron tubes filled with gunpowder. These tubes helped Mysore win second Anglo-Mysore war of 1782.
He had also developed cannons.
The rockets of his time are preserved in England.
His support for republic
In order to counter British, Tipu Sultan got closer to French. He had also started liking Jacobin Club and decided to establish Republic in Srirangapatna.
Jacobin Club: It was the most influential political club during the French Revolution of 1789.
Navy
He understood the importance of the Navy and established massive dockyards at Jamalabad and Majidabad.
He also wanted to build a mighty navy.
Religious toleration
He administration followed the policy of religious toleration which can be evident from the fact that during his regime, 156 Hindu temples used to get regular endowments. He had also granted lands to temples.
He had appointed many Hindu officers in his administration.
Foreign relations
During his regime, Mysore had good relations with many foreign countries including Afghanistan, Turkey, Persia, Oman, France etc.
Tipu Sultan’s early life
He was born on 20th November 1750. His father, Hyder Ali was the ruler of Mysore whereas his mother, Fatima Fakhr-un-Nisa was the daughter of Mir Muin-ud-Din, the governor of the fort of Kadapa.
He received Military training from French Officers. At the age of 15 years, he took part in the First Mysore War in 1766.
After the death of his father, Tipu Sultan became the ruler of Mysore on 22nd December 1782.
Death of Tipu Sultan
In the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, when the British broke through the city walls, French Military advisors suggested Tipu Sultan to escape from the secret passage. However, the Tiger of Mysore rejected the suggestion.
He was killed in the war.