Tipu's Mysore - An Industrial state

Tipu Sultan envisioned a prosperous and progressive state in Mysore and Industrialized Mysore to the greatest extent. He realized that Industrialization is the need of the hour and for any state to become self sufficient, industrialization is going to be the key.
He setup a wide array of industries in his dominions based on the conditions, geographical demographics of the particular region to compliment and boost the production and propagation of that particular trade. 

Ramanagar Silk industries

 He introduced and setup the silk industries in Ramnagar, the toy and wooden handicrafts industries in Channapatna, the state armoury in Srirangpatan, the highly fertile river delta of Srirangpatan and neighbouring Mandya was used for irrigation. Kolar for gold extraction, Mangalore for fisheries and ports, Kunigal for stud farming, Srirangpatan was also a seat of learning.

Channapatna toys

He envisioned Coorg for coffee production and timber. Chikamagalur is also known for coffee production till date. Nazarabad was the military research and training center where the Mysore army trained with the French.

Coffee crops from coorg

Mysoori or the Mysorean race

The term Mysore is derived from the name Mahishasura, it is an ancient establishment dating back to the era of chalukyas and much past it.
Mysore was not very relevant as a state nor at the helm of affairs until, it shone at the centrestage of the world during the reign of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.

Mysore has been a melting pot of various cultures, Kannadigas (kshatriyas of the Chola, Chalukya dynasties, Vijayanagara Kingdom, etc.), the early Afghan settlers running away from the massacre of Genghis Khan via the land route, the Traders and Merchants of Arabia via the sea route,  Warrior tribes from Samarkhand, the soldiers of Khanate, Marathas.
All these different races mixed and formed this race of people called the Mysooris or Mysoreans.
Fearless, Loyal, sturdy yet caring, accepting and tolerant.
This place has been known for it's accepting, tolerant and loving people (till date the people of karnataka are considered far tolerant towards immigrants from various other states)

The Mysorean, Mysoori (in Urdu) became prominent as a sturdy opposing entity to the the British empire in India. No Indian state nor any country can claim to equal the fear struck at the hearts of the English, than the forces of Mysore. A force to reckon with, the Mysorean Army was a single unit under the one command of their able leader. Technologically advanced, they had a strong Naval presence along the Malabar coast. They had trade ties with countries from Africa, Europe and south east Asia and a strong industrial setup which was self sustaining.

Tipu's Flag- Mysore Sultanat

Tipu's Flag

This is the official Parcham (Flag) of the Mysore Sultanat, under the reign of Tipu Sultan. Tipu was very fond of the Tiger and considered the traits of the Tiger to be imbibed in the soldiers of his Army and his Sultanat (Country). Ferocious, Majestic, Fearless, Wily, Brave, Competitive, awe inspiring, willingness to accept any challenge if it means protecting our loved ones or protecting their Honor.
The famous quote by Tipu- "I would prefer to live the life of a Tiger for a day than that of a Jackal for a 100 years" was delivered by Tipu in the face of certain defeat and death in the Final Mysore war when the British east India company had besieged the Srirangpatan fort and stealthily broken through it. Tipu was so fond of the Tiger that he had reared 6 Tigers which he kept as pets and had them chained to the pillars of his Durbar whenever, he was present in the Palace for any official hearing in his courts called the Diwan-e-Aam (Court of Commons) and Diwan-e-Khaas (Court of the Elite). When the war was won and Tipu was martyred, and the spoils of war were being split between the British, Maratthas and the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Nizam was mocked and asked to take the Tigers reared by Sultan (in his share) as an inspiration to develop some courage.
The tiger was a part of the royal insignia and was extensively used on weapons and in armory.

 

Technology and Military enhancements

Tipu was a patron of Military enhancements, he believed in technological enhancements and is the Father of the modern Missile technology. His Army was well trained and he had a Naval base in coastal Mangalore. He was a great Military strategist but, much is said and praised regarding the military strategies of his great father Nawab Haider Ali Khan Bahadur, who despite being unable to read or write was one of the best military strategists to have ruled in the Indian subcontinent.

The weaponry of the Mysore sultanate was formidable and quite ahead of it's time during the 18th century.
Tipu commanded of the best cavalry and he himself rode to fight in his battles with the british, the Nawab of Hyderabad and the Marathas. He believed in peaceful existence between neighbors but, he had two major thorns in his shoes- The Nawab of Hyderabad and the Marathas. The Nawab's overtures to the British and his constant betrayal was a cause of concern.
Tippu Sultan is the father of the rocket and missile technology. He extensively used the first known missiles called "cushoons" against the british in all his wars with them.

Mysore was developed as the foremost nation in the field of military advancement and technology in the Indian subcontinent. The Mysore army trained with the French military to be well versed in European military tactics. The armory of Mysore produced exquisite military equipment which are well respected even today. The exclusive bubri marked equipment bearing the insignia of the Mysore state were a beauty.

Tracing my heritage in the land of the Sultan

Me being a resident of Bangalore, an urbanite. Whose roots and family tree span past the Mysore sultanate era, it has always been my forte to trace my heritage back to the erstwhile Mysore state.
The sense of pride in carrying the badge of being a Mysorian in my chest always emanates from within me.
My efforts have got me to like minded souls and experts who are dedicated to researching and unearthing facts and the hidden truths from the history of the sultanate of Mysore.
Firstly, the seminary Darul Umoor secondly, Prof. Sheikh Ali who is the former vice chancellor of the Mangalore and Goa Universities not to forget Ex-President of India A.P.J Abdul Kalam and Bhagwan Gidwani the author of 'the sword of Tippu Sultan.'
It is shameful to note that, a few authors of questionable repute are maligning the image of the Sultan for their own petty gains, reasons vary from being a half-baked religious rightist to a politically motivated salvo.
Here is a video tribute to the people of Mysore, to our valiant King, to our proud culture and heritage!

Description

Being a religious, humble man that the Sultaun was, he never had himself pictorically represented as it is forbidden in Islam. The only representations of the Sultaun are those derived from the works of British artists who as a matter of fact never had seen the Sultaun in their lifetime.
Their interpretations are purely imaginative and more so maligned intentionally for propagandist reasons.
The only true work which can be accepted is that of a French Artist who visited the Mysore Durbar and carved the image of the Sultaun upon returning back home. which is the same picture as on this blog. The current popular depiction of the Sultaun which is widely circulated is that of a Bald, overweight, clean shaven Sultaun, who is depicted that way to please the British masses and show their most formidable foe as belittled and a no-show. The Indian government is circulating the same because it is in their interest to show a non-religious Sultaun which, has now become the only way to tag someone as SECULAR.

Muslim historians who have seen their Sultaun give the following depiction-"The Noble Sultan was of tall stature more than 6ft in height, broad shoulders, chest being 40 adi(inch), explicit facial features, fair with a Roman nose, which gave him a dignified look nothing short of artistic beauty."

Can we go with the British depictions???

Alexander Beatson, considered to be a propagandist Author who, published a volume entitled "View of the Origin and Conduct of the War with the late Tippoo Sultaun" on the Fourth Mysore War, described Tippu Sultan as follows: "His stature was about five feet eight inches; he had a short neck, square shoulders, and was rather corpulent: his limbs were small, particularly his feet and hands; he had large full eyes, small arched eyebrows, and an aquiline nose; his complexion was fair, and the general expression of his countenance, not void of dignity".

What do you think of a Man who undergoes military training from the age of 6 or 7, a master swordsman and a legendary horseman, whose genes are from a father who was a Khan and massive at that. Nawab Haidar Ali was a big guy, one of the giants of the Mysore army.
Tipu Sultaun was called the "Tiger of Mysore". It is said that Tipu Sultaun was hunting in the forest with a French friend. He came face to face with a tiger. His gun did not work, and his dagger fell on the ground as the tiger jumped on him. He wrestled the tiger with his bare hands and tore its jaws open. That earned him the name "the Tiger of Mysore".

Two depictions, both are poles apart...

It clearly shows the intentions of an imperialist, extremist and narrow thinking British society, a country which milked an entire nation of it's riches, robbed them of their ideals, maligned their history and bled them dry. Not just that, they even sowed the seeds of eternal hatred between two communities who once ate their meals in one platter, shared their joys and sorrows, overlooked by their righteous king!!

Birth of an Icon.

Tipu Sultan was born at Devanahalli, in present-day Bangalore district, some 45 kilometers North of Bangalore City. The exact date of his birth is not known; various sources claim various dates between 1749 and 1753. According to one widely accepted dating, he was born on November 10, 1750 (Friday, 10th Zil-Hijja, 1163 AH). His father, Haidar Ali, was the de-facto ruler of Mysore. His mother, Fakhr-un-nissa (also called Fatima), was a daughter of Shahal Tharique, governor of the fort of Cuddapah. Tipu Sultan was a religious man practising Sunni branch of Islam, he was named after the famous Sufi saint Tippu Mastaan.