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The French alliance
An important aspect of Tipu's policy which clearly brings out the secular and progressive
character of his administration was his deep interest in the revolutionary ideas of France
which percolated his court through the French officers. A Jacobin
Club of extreme revolutionary ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity was formed at
Srirangapatna by the French soldiers commanded by M. Dompart, who was in Tipu's service.
There were 59 members in this club, one of whom was Tipu himself. This
club came into existence on 5th May 1797, the fifth year
of the French Republic. The object of this club was to impart instructions in
constitutional principles of democratic nature and for farming laws conformable to those
prevailing in the Republic of France, which had enunciated lofty principles of human
rights. This indicates to what extent Tipu had gone to absorb liberal thoughts, Ripaud was
chosen as the president of the club and Tipu was just a member. While accepting its
membership he declared, " Behold my acknowledgement of the
standard of your country, which is dear to me, and to which I am allied; it shall always
be supported in my country, as it has been in the Republic, my sister !"
Having said this Tipu planted the tree of liberty surmounted by the cap of equality. It is
surprising that despite his full awareness of the absolute and unlimited power he
possessed he called himself "Citizen Tipu"
which is an acknowledgement of his growing consciousness within him that a ruler is a
servant of the people.
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