Lessons from Tipu's Life in Today’s World
By Dr A. Khan
Chicago , IL
May 4th marks the 210th death anniversary of Sultan Fateh Ali Khan, a.k.a. Tipu Sultan - the greatest freedom fighter who sacrificed everything to see his homeland free of foreign occupation. Tipu Sultan is remembered for his gallantry in fighting the British, but he was also a very able and visionary leader, an entrepreneur, a democrat, a man of letters and a man of science and industry. He was ahead of his times.
Tipu Sultan was the first leader who had given importance to industrial production. Whenever he learned of some new development, he wanted it for Mysore; this is evident by his communication to his counsels. In a letter to his consul in Muscat, Tipu Sultan writes “Jazeriah Diraz (an Island) is near you. Silkworms and their eggs are produced there. We wish you to procure some of both and dispatch them to us together with 5 or 6 men acquainted with the proper mode of rearing them.” It marked the beginning of the great Mysore mulberry silk industry.
In another communication, he presents the idea of cultivating saffron: “Having ascertained in what part of Long Island saffron is cultivated, engage two persons in our service and send them thither to purchase one or two manunds of seed, which when procured is to be sent to us.” In another letter he advices his counsel on matters related to melaurgy: You write that you have recently discovered a vein of lead…that you have sent seven pieces of it by the post…You must collect that said lead in the Fort of Sidhout. It is usual for a silver-mine or silver-earth to be found under a lead mine. You must therefore send for the said earth and collect it together…persons skilled in such earth will be sent shortly from the Presence to examine it.” He was also fascinated by scientific instruments and was always curious to explore their working.
Tipu had an extensive knowledge of the Western world. He promoted a culture of modernization and innovation. He was quizzical about the goods manufactured in the Western world. Instead of importing goods from abroad, Tipu focused on producing them at home. Over a short period of time Tipu Sultan set up factories to manufacture an array of products: scientific instruments, watches, cutlery, hour-glasses, scissors, arms and ammunition, paper, glassware etc. Tipu also brought in hundreds of foreign technical expertise and skilled technicians belonging to various nationalities: French, German, Turk, Arab, and Chinese.
Tipu Sultan was a very well educated leader. As a prince he had studied French philosophers Voltaire, Rousseau and Diderot. Tipu Sultan was a seeker of knowledge. His library, found after the fall of Seringapatam, covered a wide spectrum of subjects: poetry, philosophy, sciences, arts, Sufi mysticism, physics, chemistry, astrology, medicine, novels, and translations of books from other languages.” It has been recorded that during his meal times, there was public reading of prominent books. Tipu was a master at the art of calligraphy, he also authored a book on the rules of calligraphy Risala dar Khatt-e-Turz-e-Muhammdi.
Tipu Sultan was a unique ruler and a visionary, someone who was way ahead of his times. Author Praxy Fernandes observes “Tipu’s conception of the nation-state, the responsibilities of the government to the people, his elimination of feudalistic intermediaries, his attempt to set up a uniform system of laws, and his creation of a civil service, were progressive and out of tune with his time and therefore unacceptable to those around him. The greatest tribute his conquers, the British, paid to him was the adoption of these ideas in their future governance of India….In the field of diplomacy he struck new and unprecedented paths. His missions to foreign countries, his contacts with Paris, Constantinople, Kabul, Persia, Pegu, and Muscat were, apart from their prestige and glamour value, bold and courageous forays, the actions no doubt of an ambitious man, a man with a vision of the world.”
In 18 th century, Tipu Sultan understood very well the intricacies of power. His governance system was based on a strong central government, a well developed district and provincial administration under central government, well trained civil service, uniform set of rules across the state, and direct relationship between the people and the state.
In contrast to the Mughal, Tipu did not devote his efforts towards construction of majestic buildings; rather he excelled in constructing pragmatic public projects such as vast networks of roads and irrigation systems. Tipu’s major achievement was the creation of state corporation. He encouraged small investors to invest money and gave them dividends.
Praxy Fernandes in ‘The Tigers of Mysore: A biography of Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali’ observes: “If Tipu Sultan had been allowed to rule Mysore peacefully for few more decades, there is little doubt that he would have brought about an economic revolution of the first magnitude.”
Tipu Sultan was a sultan among sultans, he lived and died following his maxim: It is better to live like a lion for a day than to live like a jackal for one hundred years. Had the Marhatas, the Nizam of Hyderabad, scores of other princely states, and Mir Sadiq (Tipu’s minister) not colluded with the British, Tipu Sultan could have succeeded in changing the destiny of his people two hundred years ago.
