External
Policy
The central theme of Tipu Sultan's external policy was that a new political development
had taken place in India, which had completely upset the traditional balance of power in
the land, and that unless that balance was restored, the national identity would be lost. He
was the solitary figure of the 18th century who realized the true intentions of the
British to reduce the Indian rulers to the position of a pensioned Nawab or Raja.
He attempted first to secure the support of his Indian neighbours, the Marathas and Nizam.
When he failed to secure the necessary response, he turned his attention to such foreign
powers as France, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan.
The main intentions of his foreign policy were two :
to gain military and political assistant from abroad so as to eliminate the British from
India; and to establish economic contacts so as to promote the well beings of his people
at home. |
