Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described Tipu Sultan as a “very complex personality” in Indian history.
He mentioned Tipu’s struggle against British colonialism and the controversial aspects of his rule.
Actually, Jaishankar was speaking at the launch program of famous historian Vikram Sampat’s book ‘Tipu Sultan: The Saga of the Mysore Interregnum’ at India Habitat Center in Delhi.
Jaishankar said, “Tipu Sultan is indeed a very complex personality in history. On the one hand, he is known as an important figure in the struggle against British colonialism. His defeat and death can be seen as a turning point for the future of South India.” However, Jaishankar also acknowledged that Tipu Sultan’s rule had an “adverse” impact on the Mysore region. “Also, even today in many areas, even in Mysore, there is a lot of negative sentiment about his rule,” he said.
Jaishankar emphasized that Indian history has focused too much on Tipu Sultan’s wars with the British, while ignoring other aspects of his rule. He said, “Contemporary historiography, especially at the national level, has mainly focused on Tipu Sultan’s wars with the British. Ignoring or downplaying other aspects was a systematic process.”
The External Affairs Minister said that instead of understanding the complexities of history, “selectively presenting” the facts has promoted a “political narrative”. “History is complex in every society, and politics presents facts selectively,” he said. Same thing happened in the case of Tipu Sultan also. “The emphasis on the conflict between Tipu and the British promoted a particular narrative for years.”
Sharing his views on the book, Jaishankar said, “As a diplomat, I was impressed by the information and insights given in this book about Tipu Sultan. We often study post-independence foreign policy, but the fact is that many of our states and empires were also active in international affairs as per their interest. Tipu’s contacts with French and English representatives are particularly fascinating.” In conclusion, he said that open-minded research and genuine debate are essential for the development of India’s pluralistic society and vibrant democracy.
Jaishankar praised the alternative visions emerging under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Over the past 10 years, changes in our political system have encouraged the rise of alternative viewpoints,” he said. We are no longer prisoners of vote bank politics.”
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