Daily Times

A ground-breaking project about Tipu Sultan was launched on his 221st death anniversary on May 4. The Muslim Commander from the 18th century was a legendary figure.

The project will include a high quality TV series of international standards, a film, literature and other ongoing projects to highlight the heroes and history of Muslims and Pakistan.

The project comes at a time when there is a dire need for revisiting our history and contributions so that our future generations are well aware of them. The rousing success of similar international projects confirm the unique convergence of national pride and interesting content.

Expressing his views, the found of the project, Haider Ali Daud Khan said, “The project aims to bring hope for the future. The project will show the glorious history of the East that is never depicted in Western media. These are heroes and stories that will inspire our next generations. We are thrilled to bring this project of national importance”.

The project comes at a time when there is a dire need for revisiting our history and contributions so that our future generations are well aware of them. The rousing success of similar international projects confirm the unique convergence of national pride and interesting content

The advent of digital advancements, content creation and aggregation platforms have redefined the way we understand television. TV series with gripping content of historical relevance have generated unprecedented media ratings globally. The project has developed a high quality TV series on Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. The father son duo stood against the tyranny of the imperial colonisers and in the process instilled the true meaning of independence.

The big screen (films) has always had its own charm. Biopics bases on history continue to enchant viewers and critics alike. The project is focused on creating a silver screen experience which has not been seen in Pakistan yet, one that will captivate audiences for time to come.

An appealing series of literature for children and youth based on heroes of Muslims and Pakistan will also be part of the Project.

Tipu Sultan, also known as Tipu Sahab or the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore and a pioneer of rocket artillery.

He introduced a number of administrative innovations during his rule, including a new coinage system and calendar and a new land revenue system which initiated the growth of the Mysore silk industry.

He expanded the iron-cased Mysorean rockets and commissioned the military manual Fathul Mujahidin. He deployed the rockets against advances of British forces and their allies during the Anglo-Mysore Wars, including the Battle of Pollilur and Siege of Seringapatam. He also embarked on an ambitious economic development program that established Mysore as a major economic power, with some of the world’s highest real wages and living standards in the late 18th century.

Napoleon Bonaparte, the French commander-in-chief, sought an alliance with Tipu Sultan. Both Tipu Sultan and his father used their French-trained army in alliance with the French in their struggle with the British and in Mysore’s struggles with other surrounding powers, against the Marathas, Sira, and rulers of Malabar, Kodagu, Bednore, Carnatic, and Travancore. Tipu’s father, Hyder Ali, rose to power capturing Mysore and Tipu succeeded him as the ruler of Mysore upon his father’s death in 1782. He won important victories against the British in the Second Anglo-Mysore War and negotiated the 1784 Treaty of Mangalore with them after his father died from cancer in December 1782 during the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

Tipu’s conflicts with his neighbours included the Maratha-Mysore War which ended with the signing of the Treaty of Gajendragad.

The treaty required that Tipu Sultan pay 4.8 million rupees as a one-time war cost to the Marathas, and an annual tribute of 1.2 million rupees in addition to returning all the territory captured by Hyder Ali.

Tipu remained an implacable enemy of the British East India Company, sparking conflict with his attack on British-allied Travancore in 1789. In the Third Anglo-Mysore War, he was forced into the Treaty of Seringapatam, losing a number of previously conquered territories, including Malabar and Mangalore. He sent emissaries to foreign states, including the Ottoman Empire, Afghanistan, and France, in an attempt to rally opposition to the British.

In the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the imperial forces of the British East India Company were supported by the Marathas. They defeated Tipu, and he was killed on 4 May 1799 while defending his fort of Seringapatam.

In post-colonial Indian subcontinent, he is applauded as ruler who fought against British colonialism.

However, he has been criticized for his repression of Hindus, Christians and even Muslims for both religious and political reasons.