Tipu’s letters written in chaste Kannada serve to counter BJP leader’s campaign

Karnataka’s Minister for Higher Education D H Shankarmurthy, who had sought to project the erstwhile ruler of Mysore Tipu Sultan as “anti-Kannada”, received a serious setback with a regional newspaper carrying copies of letters written by the warrior king himself in chaste Kannada to the then Shankaracharya of Sringeri.

The 18th century ruler of Mysore, whose commitment to secularism and affinity to Kannada language has been questioned by BJP leaders and Sangh Parivar outfits, had apparently written a total of 29 letters to Sri Sachchidananda Bharathi III, the then Shankaracharya of Sharada Mutt in Sringeri between 1791 and 1798.

The letters, written in chaste Kannada by the Sultan himself, not only bear the ruler’s letterhead and royal seal, but also indicate to the King’s proficiency in the Kannada language.

The letters, which are now a proud possession of the revered Hindu Mutt, also provide an insight into Tipu Sultan’s secular credentials. The correspondence between Tipu Sultan and the then Shankaracharya began after the Swamiji wrote to him about the damage caused to Mutt by the invading Maratha army. Though his letters, Tipu Sultan offers assistance to the Mutt and warns that the invading army Maratha army will have to face the consequences of its acts.

Noted historians, intellectuals and writers in Karnataka opine that the recovery of the two hundred year old letters would serve to counter the malicious campaign unleashed by the BJP and others against Tipu Sultan, who had laid down his life on the battlefield fighting the British forces.

Well-known historian and retired Vice Chancellor of Mangalore and Goa Universities B Sheikh Ali pointed out that it was not uncommon to find Tipu Sultan correspond in Kannada though Persian had become the lingua franca of the entire country under the Mughal rulers. Tipu also made sure that important circulars of his administration were issued in Kannada and reached the people through the popular language.

JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda lashed out at Shankarmurthy, who belongs to the BJP, for questioning Tipu Sultan’s credentials as a Kannadiga. “The Minister will do well to stop criticizing the great ruler, who has earned a position for himself in the history of the country by fighting a brave battle against the British and laying down his life. He is truly a Kannadiga, who has made all the people in India proud by his deeds”, Gowda said.

Several intellectuals like noted theatre and film personality Girish Karnad dared Shankarmurthy to an open debate on Tipu Sultan’s credentials as a Kannadiga and his contribution to the region’s development.

Noted Kannada poet G Marulasiddappa said the Sangh Parivar tried to project Tipu Sultan as a religious “bigot” earlier. Now, they have launched a fresh campaign to paint him “anti-Kannada”. The Kannada poet accused the BJP Minister of trying to “saffronize” history to further its hidden agenda and trigger communal polarization in the country.