 "All you need to know about the Tipu Sultan controversy")
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for a Bandh in six districts of Karnataka protesting against the government celebrating the anniversary of Tipu Sultan. This week, three people have died so far in the protests in Madikeri and Bantwal near Mangaluru.
Tipu Sultan, known as the Tiger of Mysore, died fighting the British in 1799. There are two views on how he was a ruler – a just, secular king who took on the British. He is credited with several inventions including rockets that he used to fire against the British. The other view is of a tyrant who massacred thousands of innocents in Madikeri, Mangaluru and Malabar regions of Kerala and forcibly converted them, while he expanded his kingdom beyond Mysore.
Why the controversy now?
Karnataka government celebrated Tipu’s birth anniversary on November 10. The government’s move triggered protests from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and VHP as they took to the streets. The VHP and BJP combine led protests in Madikeri, which resulted in violence. The arguments from the right wing parties is that Tipu Sultan had imposed Persian replacing Kannada as the primary language and went on a drive to convert people to Islam. He is also to have plundered temples and driven thousands of Hindus from the region.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah says that he fought the British and should be considered a freedom fighter. Noted author Girish Karnad, who has written plays on Tipu Sultan, says the Mysore king should be viewed in perspective of the days he was a ruler. He was an expansionist but also a just king who protected temples in his Kingdom. His palace in Srirangapatna and Bengaluru is surrounded by temples.
Death threat to Girish Karnad
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Girish Karnad in his speech during the celebrations of Tipu Sultan anniversary had said that the Kempe Gowda International Airport, the airport in Bengaluru named after its founder should ideally have been named after Tipu.
Tipu Sultan was born in Devanahalli, the village on Bengaluru outskirts where the airport is located.
Karnad later apologised but got a death threat on twitter from Sekhar Chandra. Chandra’s tweet that said Karnad will meet the same end as scholar M M Kalburgi who was shot dead on August 30, was deleted.
Karnad’s remarks also sparked outrage among BJP leaders and Vokkaliga community leaders. Siddaramaiah has clarified that there is no such move to rename the airport.
Why protests?
Protesters call the government move to celebrate the anniversary of Tipu Sultan insensitive. They say that the government has overlooked what Tipu did to the people of Madikeri and Mangaluru, where thousands have been massacred during his rule. Tipu, they allege was a despot and forcibly converted thousands to Islam.
What Next?
The BJP, which lost the last assembly elections to Congress due to corruption charges of its main leader B S Yeddiyurappa, has found a reason to make a comeback in the state. The party looks to capitalise on hurt sentiments of Hindus with Siddaramaiah’s move and mobilise its cadres around the issue.