ISLAMABAD – Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in the Indiansubcontinent, is being remembered around the world not only as a patrioticand brave ruler but also as a champion of religious tolerance.
Tipu Sultan, also known as the Tiger of Mysore, had strongly resisted theconquest of British East India Company in southern India and he wasreluctant to welcome them on his soil.
He was born on November 20, 1750, in Diwanhali, a town near Bangalore.
Tipu Sultan was named after a famous saint Hazrat Tipu Mastan his full namewas Fateh Ali Tipu.
Tipu Sultan was a simple and true Muslim, his life was free from religiousprejudice. That is why non-Muslims held high positions in his army andstate.
Tipu Sultan named his kingdom the Kingdom of God. Despite being a ruler, heconsidered himself as an ordinary man.
Tipu Sultan had a strong resistance against British imperialism and tookserious and practical steps to liberate the people of the subcontinent fromforeign domination.
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There is a famous saying of Tipu Sultan that “a day’s life of a lion isfar better than to live like a jackal for a hundred years”.
He implemented far-reaching military reforms, boosted industry and trade,and reorganized the administration. He agreed that the foremost problem ofthe people of the subcontinent was British imperialism.
During the last battle of Mysore, when the defeat of Seringapatam wascertain, Tipu put up a strong resistance against the besieging British andclosed the fort, but a few treacherous comrades opened the gates of thefort to the enemy.
A fierce battle took place in the fort. A fire in the ammunition depotweakened the resistance of Tipu Sultan’s army.
The French officer advised Tipu to flee and save his life, but Tipu did notagree and on May 4, 1799, he was martyred while fighting the enemy on thebattlefield.
