Kolkata: The descendants of freedom fighter Tipu Sultan, based in Kolkata were worried about him being branded as a fanatic ruler who indulged in forceful conversions. Adding on to their worries was the sudden announcement made by BJP-led Karnataka government doing away with the celebration that marks Tipu Jayanti, on November 10.
However, between the two, misinformation and fake propaganda doing the rounds has been the most painful for his descendants. But, the Sahebzada Md Shahid Alam, Secretary Mysore Family Fateha Fund Committee Waqf state and C-Trustee, Prince Gholam Mohammad Waqf Estate, has come forward to use a unique way of silencing the “alleged claims” of Tipu being a fanatic.
Speaking to eNewsroom on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, Alam said, “In one of the editorial columns, one of the readers had replied to another such letter, which had accused Tipu Sultan of being a fanatic ruler among other allegations. Here the writer had given reference of an article by Gandhi Ji, praising Tipu in his journal Young India. This information made me think of using the writings of Mahatma to snub the fake propaganda being made about Tipu Sultan.”
Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Fatehali Tipu Sultan of Mysore is represented by foreign media as a fanatic who oppressed his Hindu subjects and converted them to Islam by force. But he was nothing of the kind. On the other hand, his relation with his Hindu subjects was of a perfectly cordial nature.” He further in his opinion piece highlighted, “The Sultan’s Prime Minister was a Hindu, who be it acknowledged with shame, betrayed that great lover of ‘Independence’ into the hands of the enemy. The Archaeological Department of Mysore State is in possession of over thirty letters written by Shankaracharya of Shingeri Math. These letters are written in Kannada character.”
Adding to that he said, “This bit of information that I got from this letter to the editor’s column, made me rush to the National Library’s periodical section to get a copy of a particular edition in which Gandhi Ji had praised my ancestor. A bit of scavenging through edition after edition, I finally got to see for myself that in the January 23, 1930 edition, he did write a piece on Tipu Sultan, which was carried on page number 30. I immediately had that particular section photocopied and brought it back for reference and sharing with people to counter hatred being spread about him (Tipu).”
Pausing a bit, he added, “To mark the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we are not just going to offer a special prayer for the father of our nation at the Tipu Sultan Masjid, but will also be sharing copies with media and the common public, where the Gandhi Ji has called Tipu Sultan a monument of Hindu-Muslim unity.”
A copy of that particular edition shared with eNewsroom, Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Fatehali Tipu Sultan of Mysore is represented by foreign media as a fanatic who oppressed his Hindu subjects and converted them to Islam by force. But he was nothing of the kind. On the other hand, his relation with his Hindu subjects was of a perfectly cordial nature.” He further in his opinion piece highlighted, “The Sultan’s Prime Minister was a Hindu, who be it acknowledged with shame, betrayed that great lover of ‘Independence’ into the hands of the enemy. The Archaeological Department of Mysore State is in possession of over thirty letters written by Shankaracharya of Shingeri Math. These letters are written in Kannada character.”
According to Historians, this is not the first time that a stalwart like Mahatma rose in defence of Tipu Sultan. Prof K.A.S.M Ishrat Alam, a faculty member of Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University said, “It’s not just Gandhi but also JL Nehru wrote in support of Tipu Sultan. Sadly, today Sultan’s effort to help India get freedom from colonial rule is being distorted. My question to those who call him a coloniser is – Isn’t it the job of a king to expand his empire. If he is being accused of colonising, then should all kings be accused of the same?”
However, the fact that Tipu’s descendants resorting to Gandhi’s writing to come to their rescue, not just coincides with the 150th anniversary of Gandhi but also with the centenary year of Young India Journal, a bi-weekly journal, which had Gandhi as its editor. Its first edition was published on October 22, 1919.
