The France of Louis XVI was rapidly becoming the rival of England in the Far East which is another reason why the British government worked with the revolutionaries to overthrow the French monarchy. From the
Lahore Daily Times:
4th of May marked the death anniversary of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of
the south Indian kingdom of Mysore, who died gallantly defending his
capital Seringapatam against the combined forces of the East India
Company and the Nizam in 1799. In Pakistan, Tipu is remembered as a
noble soldier and a martyr who raised his sword to preserve India’s
freedom from foreign occupation. Pakistani texts ranging from historical
fiction such as ‘Aur Talwar Toot Gai’ by Naseem Hijazi to television
and filmic productions including Tipu Sultan a drama serial produced by
PTV and Tipu Sultan a film based on Tipu’s life, portray Tipu as a
semi-divine warrior having an incredible strength to fight and crush his
enemies. With his god-like power, Tipu is shown to embark upon a
glorious military career and achieve stunning successes not only against
indigenous rivals but also foreign invaders. Tipu’s agile armies carry
fire and sword into the battlefields and pound dread in the hearts of
the enemies. He certainly would have stalemated the British were it not
for the treachery of his own ministers and officers.
The picture
of Tipu as a mighty Muslim warrior who fiercely resisted British power
has had immense staying power in Pakistan. But there is much more in
Tipu’s personality which needs a greater attention. The aim of this
writing is to highlight those aspects of Tipu’s character that have been
veiled by deific trappings in order to give a more telling portrait of
him.
In our version of history, what is rarely highlighted is the fact
that Tipu was a man of daring vision and enterprise. Fascinated by
technological advancement of the west, Tipu set himself to the task of
modernising and industrialising his kingdom. He was mindful of the
importance of having one’s finger on the pulse and therefore, the need
to adopt western techniques to place Mysore on the forefront of
industrial progress and prosperity. He, on the one hand, welcomed
medical experts from abroad and invited skilled artisans to energise
industry in Mysore, and on the other hand, hired French technicians to
improve his arsenal and forts. When Tipu sent an envoy to France he
specifically instructed them to bring craftsmen who could make “muskets
of novel designs, canon-pieces, and iron guns”.
Irfan Habib
reveals that the exquisite craftsmanship of muskets produced by Mysorean
foundries was endorsed by Cossigny, the governor of Pondicherry, who
thought them equal to any manufactured in Europe. The judgment
pronounced in Paris on two pistols presented by Tipu’s ambassadors to
Louis XVI in 1788 also supports the viewpoint of Cossigny. Tipu also
showed keen interest in trade and commerce with countries abroad and
believed that the future of India could be changed by skillfully using
the sea. Tipu employed the thriving ports of Kanara and Malabar to
introduce fabulous Mysorean products including the spices, the ivory and
the sandalwood, to the world across. Paying tribute to Tipu Praxy
Fernandes writes, “No other sovereign in Indian history had given such
an impetus to industrial production.” Through a systematic state effort
Tipu strengthened trade relations with the Middle East and set up
factories across the Persian Gulf. Tipu’s glittering and thriving Mysore
also offered a testimonial to his belief in cultural pluralism which
stands in sharp contrast to the narrow and chauvinistic nationalism
displayed by the west and India today. His was a kingdom where Hindus,
Muslims, and Christians lived in perfect harmony. In fact it was so
constructed that it invited foreign investors and workers. Apart from
encouraging Europeans Tipu also welcomed and supported Asian merchants
from China, Arabia, and Armenia. Mysore, in fact, manifested how
ethnically diverse societies can create a legacy of tolerance and
civilization. (Read more.)
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