Some more on his impartiality...
Gandhiji wrote, in Young India that Tipu was an embodiment of
Hindu-Muslim Unity. No Indian friends who did not enjoy the
confidence of his own people could have fought three desperate wars with an European
Power. He was popular with his army & his people. He was greatly interested in Sufism,
the liberal trend in Islam, which just believed only in the unity of God & the unity
of Man. He held the Hindu saint, Sadhus and Gods in high esteem. He consulted Hindu
astrologers. He fed the Brahmins and bore the expenses of the Hindu ceremonies.
If he crushed the Hindus of Coorg, the Christians of Mangalore and the Nayars of
Malabar, who were all hands in gloves with the English to Subvert his power, he did not
spare the Muslim Mopillas and Mahadevi's in the interest of Law & Order, and to
improve the conditions of his state. He attacked the Nawab of Savanur, threatened the
Muslim ruler of Kurnool and was more hostile towards the Nizam and the Nawab of Carnatic
then towards the Marathas. His harshness at times was politically motivated and was not at
all based on religious factors. Tipu's sense of respect for Hindus could be guesssed by
the fact that he would not attack the Dindigal fort from the rear, as a temple was there.
When it was suggested to him that Purnaiya's loyality was suspect, & that the Brahmin
community was undependable, he quoted a quranic verse which forbade the blaming of the
whole community for the fault of one. When a officer reported to him that a Hindu had
married a Muslim girl, he reprimanded the officer and warned him not to raise such
personal issues.
He never allowed any sectarian element to enter into his administration, for he was
well aware that in a state of overwhelming majority of Hindus, any intolerant policy would
lead to disastrous consequences. During the several wars he fought, no person of
Character, rank of influence ever deserted his cause or went over to the other side. His
religious policy could be summed up by his own code of law wherein he declared, "....
to quarrel with our subject is to war with ourselves. They are our Shields and our
buckles, and it is they who furnish us with all things. Reserve the hostile strength for
our enemies." |
