Karnataka govt's Tipu Sultan mistake: Was 10 Nov his birthday, or the day he hanged 700 Melkote Iyengars?

[Malcolm Merlyn]

 

The tragic death of a Coorg man during a clash between pro and anti-Tipu Jayanti protesters was needless and avoidable. But, the question most people are asking is why, after 300 years, does a government insist on spending tax-payer money to celebrate the memory of a person who is disliked by entire communities within the state?

 

While Tipu’s legacy can be debated by historians, it all becomes clouded when politicians enter the picture. Nobody was demanding that Tipu be celebrated, so why did the government see it fit to thrust another “jayanti” on the state? The BJP regime did something similar when it introduced Valmiki and Kanakadasa jayantis as public holidays. Tipu Jayanti is probably the Congress reply; but there’s a difference. Valmiki and Kanakadasa were not known to have killed people. Nobody protested, very few even cared.

That Tipu Jayanti is a hurried and ill-informed decision is apparent from the fact that the government did not even get its dates right. Former Bangalore University Vice Chancellor Thimappa Manchale Suryanarayanarao called out the government’s ignorance on social media, “I just learnt from a historian that the tyrant Tipu’s birthday falls on November 20. November 10 is the day on which he hanged 700 Iyengars in Melkote.” As a result, the Melkote Iyengars do not celebrate Diwali even today. By cruel irony, that is the day the Karnataka government decided to celebrate its supposedly secular hero. How embarrassing can this get?

 

 

It’s difficult to imagine that the state government was unaware that entire communities within and outside the state bore a deep resentment towards Tipu Sultan. It’s not just the Melkote Iyengars, it’s the Coorgs, who he killed and converted, it’s the Mangalorean Catholics, whose churches he destroyed, and the Nairs of Wyanad and Malabar, who he tried to exterminate. Evidence for this comes from Tipu’s own letters and diaries. Instead, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah casually dismisses history by saying that the protests were by “communal forces”.

That’s not true, according to Coorgs. Says Coorg-born Gautham Machaiah, former executive vice-president, Zee Networks, “Coorgs are not opposed to Tipu Jayanti because he was a Muslim. He was a tyrant. He butchered thousands of Coorgs, mainly women and children, and forcibly converted innumerable people. We would have equally opposed Tipu Jayanti had he been a Hindu or a Christian.” The seething anger among Coorgs is ripe for exploitation, and that’s where the BJP has stepped in.

The call for a bandh on Thursday came from the BJP and its associated organisations. While the bandh call was political, what the district authorities seem to have failed to grasp is that the bandh was supported by the entire community. Being government-sponsored, there was never a question that the Tipu Jayanti celebrations would take place, but why did the police allow the celebrants to take out a procession? That was when the trouble started; stones were thrown, the crowd was caned, and a person died.

Coorg is a verdant paradise. The people are mostly peaceful; their biggest worries revolve around the rains, which are vital for the district’s coffee crops, and the shortage of labour. They work hard and are known for their hospitality. An unusually high number of homestays welcome visitors from all over the world. Coorgs are outgoing, cheerful, and it takes a lot to upset them. But, there is a tipping point for everyone, and the government should know what that is. While the Coorgs dislike Tipu Sultan, they also reserve equal hatred for the last Hindu king of Coorg, Chikkaveeraraja, who casually killed and raped Coorgs and their women. This is not about religion, as the state government or the likes of Girish Karnad would have us believe when they say Tipu would’ve been revered like Shivaji if he was a Hindu.

There’s little doubt that the BJP and its sister organizations are exploiting hurt sentiments. Tuesday’s violence occurred because some people, from both sides, came prepared for a fight. It should have been anticipated and prevented. Two ministers in the Siddaramaiah cabinet have their roots in Coorg, they did not see this coming?

The situation was further muddied by Girish Karnad, who, while addressing the Tipu Jayanti celebrations in front of the chief minister in Bangalore, made the bizarre suggestion that the Kempegowda International Airport should be named after Tipu Sultan. It was a suggestion that was applauded by the audience, but nobody else was amused. The chief minister, doing the right thing, quickly dissociated himself from Karnad, "We have nothing to do with Mr Karnad’s statement and there is no proposal before us to change the airport's name." That’s missing the point. It is the state’s decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti that gives intellectuals like Karnad the courage to air such ridiculous thoughts.

However, in an interview to CNN-IBN, Karnad said he was misquoted.

 

Former Director-General of Police Shankar Bidari was one of the first to react to Karnad. He said on social media that Karnad’s statement was totally unwarranted and irresponsible in the context of prevailing situation. Predictably, the BJP took out processions on Wednesday to protest Karnad’s statement. Kannada associations, who see Kempegowda, the founder of Bangalore, as a hero, and Vokkaligas, to whose community Kempegowda belongs, were upset too. Karnad has since apologized.

 

 

Meanwhile, the BJP called for a second day of bandh in Coorg and there is talk of further protests. Congress spokesmen have been appearing on TV and putting out weak defenses, they seem either to lack any sense of history or they are in denial. That’s not surprising; they are representing a government that did not even get the date of Tipu’s birthday right. It’s a strong argument for governments to stick to the work they are elected to do. Leave history to the historians. Meanwhile, the people of Coorg need to move on. Is it worth losing lives over a tyrant who lived and died three centuries ago?

[Yoda-esque]

Karnad now saying he converted and killed lot of innocents but not in Karnataka lol

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[coffee_rules]

A lot of journos saying Tipu killed all those people in malabar because he wanted a direct communication with the farmers and the zamindars were opposing that. So, he killed most in the zamindar/landowner community. Even Melakote killings were because Tipu was fighting the rich brahmins who were against lowly farmers. 

[rkt.india]

what an argument!

[bulbul]

What Guardian says about Tipu's birthday? unless Queen confirms, date stands as Nov 10th.

[vvvslaxman]

He killed he didn't kill.. why did this guy suddenly become relevant? Are they unit-testing "religious tolerance" by promoting dead muslim rulers?

[bulbul]

He killed he didn't kill.. why did this guy suddenly become relevant? Are they unit-testing "religious tolerance" by promoting dead muslim rulers?

Cm SIddu runs a movemnet AHINDA [ Minorities/back ward castes etc].. he have some resistance with Con party [ Siddu is outsider] so just trying to consolidate votes

[vvvslaxman]

Cm SIddu runs a movemnet AHINDA [ Minorities/back ward castes etc].. he have some resistance with Con party [ Siddu is outsider] so just trying to consolidate vote

That explains. But people jump on the bandwagon as soon as something that fit their narrative happens without even wanting to do an analysis of why a controversy  out of the blue pops up. 

[New guy]

Can see the usual suspects trying to flair communal tensions just to support their favorite party. Pathetic from educated people. Tipu's celebrations have gone on for years, only when a certain party comes to power does these things become relevant and communal and so called educated posters jump to this attempt at dividing the country

[New guy]

Let me tell a few things about history to these educated people

1) You cannot correct history. What happened happened. If you look at correcting every evil deed in history, you will go back to the cavemen years and still be counting wrongs for someone or the other

2) History is never in isolation. People are products of their time. You cannot look back at history and say this community's actions caused this. For all you know, you might not even exist if history took another route. If certain people didn't die certain others wouldn't even be living. So the Hindus then or the Muslims then are not on a 1 to 1 with hindus and muslims today.

3) This is a classic technique by a party to flair up old tensions and create a communal atmosphere. If you cannot find anything to blame in a community now, you look at history to try and discredit then. Also a attempt to overlook the true problems facing the nation today

4) Look at any history where such feeling were created, whether Nazi Germany or any such evil chapter of history and see what happened before. You will see the exact fear mongering, brain washing of youth, looking at history which is happening today in our country. And our youth are being brain washed

5) Why does it matter to use today? Hinduism today in India is the most successful in terms of money power and clout. Hindus are prospering by every day and have representatives everywhere, in banks, among businessmen, CEOs, politicians, teachers, every place in power Hindus dominate. Why then are we looking at imaginary slights to Hindus when none exist? Who does it benefit except communal parties?

6) Yes I know every party is equally communal. Congress supports Muslims. However, the only true danger to any country is when religious law favor the majority. When Hindus are in every place in power in India, minorities cannot do jack-shit. They cannot change anything. However if ruling party support majority and such feelings are festered we have every chance of a Nazi Germany. History is rife with such examples when majority ran riot. 

 

So when so called liberals bend over backward to go with minorities, it is because they know their history, they know the true dangers of such tensions and letting majority run riot without any checks. 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2015 by New guy

[bulbul]

Can see the usual suspects trying to flair communal tensions just to support their favorite party. Pathetic from educated people. Tipu's celebrations have gone on for years, only when a certain party comes to power does these things become relevant and communal and so called educated posters jump to this attempt at dividing the country

Any link to show there were Tipu Jayanthi officially sponsored by govt like this year? Also when his birthday or death day?

[bulbul]

Only if liberals checked Con party during their minority appeasement there was no need to bend backwards now. But how can we expect liberas in this country to show some spine in criticizing  every communal issues this country faces.

 

[Yoda-esque]

Only if liberals checked Con party during their minority appeasement there was no need to bend backwards now. But how can we expect liberas in this country to show some spine in criticizing  every communal issues this country faces.

 

Liberal is a wrong term to use here..just saying

[bulbul]

Liberal is a wrong term to use here..just saying

Do you think we can  pull people out of their delusion?

Funny thing is how these people think they are keeping check of intolerance when all they do is blabbering in media and adding more fuel to fire.Its amusing when people who rarely does any help to the same people whom they think they are protecting.

But end of day living in thier own bubble make people think they are saviors of everything.

[RedFever]

Let me tell a few things about history to these educated people

1) You cannot correct history. What happened happened. If you look at correcting every evil deed in history, you will go back to the cavemen years and still be counting wrongs for someone or the other

2) History is never in isolation. People are products of their time. You cannot look back at history and say this community's actions caused this. For all you know, you might not even exist if history took another route. If certain people didn't die certain others wouldn't even be living. So the Hindus then or the Muslims then are not on a 1 to 1 with hindus and muslims today.

3) This is a classic technique by a party to flair up old tensions and create a communal atmosphere. If you cannot find anything to blame in a community now, you look at history to try and discredit then. Also a attempt to overlook the true problems facing the nation today

4) Look at any history where such feeling were created, whether Nazi Germany or any such evil chapter of history and see what happened before. You will see the exact fear mongering, brain washing of youth, looking at history which is happening today in our country. And our youth are being brain washed

5) Why does it matter to use today? Hinduism today in India is the most successful in terms of money power and clout. Hindus are prospering by every day and have representatives everywhere, in banks, among businessmen, CEOs, politicians, teachers, every place in power Hindus dominate. Why then are we looking at imaginary slights to Hindus when none exist? Who does it benefit except communal parties?

6) Yes I know every party is equally communal. Congress supports Muslims. However, the only true danger to any country is when religious law favor the majority. When Hindus are in every place in power in India, minorities cannot do jack-shit. They cannot change anything. However if ruling party support majority and such feelings are festered we have every chance of a Nazi Germany. History is rife with such examples when majority ran riot. 

 

So when so called liberals bend over backward to go with minorities, it is because they know their history, they know the true dangers of such tensions and letting majority run riot without any checks. 

 

 

Is newguy = MTC coming up with this burkha logic in every other post..

[Yoda-esque]

Do you think we can  pull people out of their delusion?

Funny thing is how these people think they are keeping check of intolerance when all they do is blabbering in media and adding more fuel to fire.Its amusing when people who rarely does any help to the same people whom they think they are protecting.

But end of day living in thier own bubble make people think they are saviors of everything.

For these people, poverty represents romanticism .As long as they aren't directly in contact with it and it remains a notion ,they are all for it.

But beware if the poor try to come up to their level.How dare they....!

[New guy]

Only if liberals checked Con party during their minority appeasement there was no need to bend backwards now. But how can we expect liberas in this country to show some spine in criticizing  every communal issues this country faces.

 

Can you tell me what harm came out of that so called appeasement? What really happened? As I said Hindus are the most prosperous and most powerful group in India. What appeasement are you exactly talking about? Some media reports? Allowing divorce and 4 marriages? That is appeasement? That made Muslims very powerful under congress?

Is newguy = MTC coming up with this burkha logic in every other post..

I think this is the chief reason I do not even enter political debates here. A bunch of lpw IQ guys just name calling and adding no points

[panther]

It's all right New guy I will up vote your post, I support the liberals of India. 

[New guy]

And talking about the ills of history

 

How many Indians have the British government killed? What about the Queen who still has our looted koh-i-noor? Yet Modi is there shaking their hands and making deals? Praising the British. That's ok because they are not Muslims?

Yeah, life and countries move on from history. 

 

[jalebi_bhai]

Is newguy = MTC coming up with this burkha logic in every other post..

 

MTC and King Tendulkar. Amazing combo they made.