Why is Tipu relevant now? Should we bother about historic personalities who are long dead and gone?
That is almost like asking whether history is relevant at all as the discipline deals with characters long dead and gone! In the case of people like Tipu Sultan they become relevant because they are made into a political football by the acrimonious politics of our times. Ever since the Congress Government started the Tipu Jayanthi in 2014 to commemorate his birth anniversary, it caused great angst to several communities in Karnataka, whose ancestors had suffered his brutalities. The BJP did its share of ridiculous myth-making as a counter, talking about Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda as his killers—all with an eye to target the Vokkaliga vote bank. In all of this, I felt that it was truly a historian's responsibility to set the record straight, bring the facts on the table and present the unvarnished truth of Tipu Sultan, as he was, with warts and all.
While growing up in Kerala, there was a dichotomy in the narrative we heard about Tipu Sultan. The textbooks, the Doordarshan series and the academic narrative of that time portrayed him as a great hero who fought against the East India Company and a secular icon, while the collective memory talked about a different picture. Which is the truth?
This story is from the December 15, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Tirunelveli.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 15, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Tirunelveli.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
I Know How to Play Real Characters
Jennifer Lopez speaks to Katie Ellis on how Unstoppable made her realise that she can overcome anything in life
Of Our Non-violent Ancestors
Pattanaik provides a comprehensive insight into the mysterious world of the Harappan civilisation
The Corrosive Power of Pride
Pride fosters a sense of superiority that harms relationships, distorts the mind, and impedes personal and spiritual growth
Market on the Sands
The Rathgama Wella Fish Market
Market on the Sands
The Rathgama Wella Fish Market
Stop Inane and Diversionary Debates, and Focus on What Really Matters
Acute Angle
Stepping Across the Worry Lines
The Raghu Dixit Project launches a new album Shakkar as a vernacular statement about India and diversity
Untangled Threads He Weaves
An embroiderer who grew up poor is a celebrity in demand with collectors and artists
Every Woman's Brushstrokes
A beautiful blue and pink-hued sky surrounded by lush greenery. Within this is a tree with specks of orange and yellow, besides which is a bed where a woman is sleeping her flowing tresses falling into the foliage.
2032 Olympics: Pause & Effect
Since the time it was announced as host city for 2032 Olympics, the road so far has been far from ideal for Brisbane and Queensland. Uncertainty over venues and spiralling costs have led to some confusion. With the 100-day review nearing completion, Gomesh S finds out how the city is gearing up for 2032 Summer Games...
