Releases the book ‘Mysore Under Tipu Sultan: The Beginnings of Modern Age’

Mysuru: MLA Tanveer Sait emphasised the importance of rectifying historical inaccuracies to ensure a more informed understanding of the past.

He was speaking at the release of the book ‘Mysore Under Tipu Sultan: The Beginnings of Modern Age,’ edited by Prof. Y.H. Nayakwadi. The event was held recently at Rani Bahadur Auditorium as part of Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary celebrations, organised by the University of Mysore’s Department of Studies in History recently.

Sait highlighted the contributions of Tipu Sultan and his father, Hyder Ali, to Mysore’s history. “Both Tipu and Hyder Ali safeguarded the Mysore province, which led to the Maharajas giving them 200 villages. These were later expanded into a larger province. They decisively dealt with those who supported the British,” he said.

Addressing controversial claims, Sait questioned the narrative that Tipu destroyed temples, pointing out that the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangapatna, dating back to the Hoysala era, remained intact during his reign. “If Tipu wanted, he had the opportunity to annex Mysore, but he chose not  to,” he noted.

Sait also shed light on Tipu’s reforms, such as abolishing discriminatory taxes in Kerala’s Malabar region and promoting education, temple grants and advancements in military technology like rockets. “Tipu Sultan should be studied not merely as a person but as a servant of Mysore province who brought progress and resisted colonial powers,” he urged.

Drawing comparisons, Sait remarked that rulers who collaborated with the British have their legacies intact, while those who resisted, like Tipu and the Adil Shahi dynasty, have seen their descendants fade into history.

Reflecting on his participation in the event, Sait said, “I initially suggested inviting a historian to avoid allegations of bias but eventually accepted the invitation. Although I never witnessed Tipu’s era, I feel privileged to head the Tipu Sultan Wakf Estate, managing the affairs of the Gumbaz where Tipu rests.”

The event was attended by University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor Prof. N.K. Lokanath, retired Prof. K.M. Lokesh, Visiting Professor of Tipu Sultan Study Chair Prof. Mahadevi, and Prof. Y.H. Nayakwadi.