Are you interested to know about the 10 Interesting facts about Tipu Sultan? I am sure the answer is yes. So, the first thing you should know that he is famous for the title of the pioneer of Rocket Technology in India. Yes, people remember this legendary ruler of Mysore, for protecting Deccan India from foreign invaders for a long period. 270 years ago the Tiger of Mysore was born on 20 November in Devanhalli, Karnataka. His full name was Sultan Fateh Ali Khan Shahab. He is known for his bravery in several wars. As well as he is famous for the sacrifices that he made to save his land. Once while hunting in the forest with a French friend, a tiger suddenly attacked Tipu Sultan. But he killed the tiger without fear. Since then, he is known as the “Tiger of Mysore” for his bravery.
10 more interesting facts about Tipu Sultan:
And now everyone knows the story behind his name. Now, read this article to know 10 more interesting facts about Tipu Sultan.
The life story of Tipu Sultan: interesting facts about Tipu Sultan
- Tipu Sultan’s father, Hyder Ali was a military officer of Mysore. Later he came to power in 1761 as the ruler of Mysore. Hyder Ali was not literate but he wanted to give proper education to Tipu. At a very young age, Tipu Sultan learned all the arts of war. And he became very efficient in martial arts. He learned military strategies from the French too. Thus, Tipu Sultan became his father’s support system. He supported Hyder Ali in the first battle of Mysore against the British in 1766. When Hyder Ali became a powerful ruler throughout South India, his son Tipu Sultan played an important role in his several successful military campaigns.
- Being the eldest son of Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan ascended the throne in 1782 after the death of his father. After he sat on the throne, he introduced Farsi as the new official language of Mysore. Before that, the official languages of Mysore were Kannada and Marathi.
Facts and truths of Tipu Sultan:
- People usually say that there was an ugly historical truth behind all these achievements of Tipu Sultan. He committed acts of genocide, also destroyed the temples and churches. Tipu Sultan forced more than 10 million Hindus and Christians in the Malabar region to convert to Islam. He imprisoned those people and forced them to eat beef. For those, who refused to convert their religion to Islam, Tipu Sultan hanged them to death. He was never guilty of his barbaric acts. Moreover, he was very proud to do so. These barbaric acts of Tipu Sultan made him notorious in the pages of history.
Tipu Sultan’s symbol, uniform, and sword:
- Tipu extensively used tiger imagery to convey a sense of his great power. Tiger images emblazoned his golden throne, coins, swords, and his soldier’s uniforms. He also used the Sun symbol.
- Tipu Sultan’s sword was very special and one of the world’s rare artifacts. The weight of his sword was about 7 kg 400 grams. It was made from special steel called wootz. There are small crystals of carbon in the sword and the creator craved a symbol of Tiger on it. However, in 2004, Vijay Mallya bought his sword for 21 crores from a private auction.
Military Manual:
- Tipu Sultan also wrote a military manual called Fathul Mujahidin. The manual states the operation of Mysore rockets. He wrote another book named ‘Khwabnama’ in which he recorded his dreams. This was the book where he searched for signs and pictures about the results of his fight.
Known as the first rocket inventor:
- You already know the fact about Tipu Sultan that he is famous as the pioneer of Rocket Technology in our country. The former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam called Tipu Sultan the innovator of the world’s first war rocket. The rocket which he invented is still there in a museum in London.
First freedom fighter:
- Tipu Sultan got the idea that the British were a threat to our country and he was the first one to understand this. He fought four wars to out the British from India. So, in that sense, we can call him the first freedom fighter of India. Tipu sent missions to the Ottoman and French rulers seeking them as allies to out the British. Tipu was the cause of fear for the British in his time. So, when he was no more, there were jubilant celebrations in Britain.
- The first battle in which he succeeded was the Second Anglo-Mysore. And it ended with the Treaty of Mangalore. Another important war of his life was the Third Anglo-Mysore War. The war ended with the Treaty of Srirangapatnam and he had to leave half of his territories. In 1799, the East India Company, along with the Marathas and the Nizams, attacked Mysore, the fourth Anglo-Mysore war took place. The British captured Srirangapatnam, the capital of Mysore, and killed Tipu Sultan.
Founded Lalbagh Botanical Garden:
- Besides being a great fighter, Tipu Sultan was also very fond of gardening. He founded the 40-acre Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore. We all know that Mysore is popular for its silk sarees. Tipu Sultan was the one who built foundations for sericulture in Karnataka. These are the lesser-known facts about him, right?
So, here we get to know the interesting facts about Tipu Sultan who is the hot topic of discussion and argument as he is accused of brutality. We all know about his oppressive side as a ruler, but he donated a lot to the temples. There were two temples on the premises of Tipu’s palace Dariya Daulat in Srirangapatna. However, all these show the other side of him and it creates a huge controversy. Whatever the case, 20 November 2020 marks the 270th birth anniversary of this great Indian ruler of eighteen centuries. Let’s remember him for his heroic acts.