Tipu Sultan - Modern history's misplaced hero or unwitting martyr? --- By Dr. Shahir Asfahan

Tipu – The man who inspires many different emotions, based on what spectrum of political ideology one subscribes to. Nevertheless, he was resting in peace, satisfied with the life he lived and celebrated in history for the valour he displayed, both by friends and foes alike. Such was his aura, until his soul was exhumed by the current crop of politicians to play politics.
For whatever he was, he ought to be judged by the times he lived in and so he stood out like a giant among the pygmies of his time. Never bowed to the British, sacrificed his family, wealth and throne but never yielded. He died on the battle field fighting to the last breath and is defenceless against the insinuations that are thrown at him now by those who cannot sacrifice their petty agenda for a few votes. He can neither engage a lawyer nor put a 100 crore defamation suit  nor organize a protest nor appeal in the supreme court of the land against his detractors. This has allowed a section of the politicians aiming to drive a wedge in the secular fabric of India to run wild with allegations and half-truths.
Even a cursory reading of history shows that at a time, when many of the regional kingdoms were lining up to the Europeans for protections in exchange for sovereignty , this king and his illustrious father made the Europeans taste the true nationalism of what would be a future India. A neutral reading of history will show the visionary that he was, tamed the British with his rockets (who built on these after his death), organised sericulture and built outposts and defences against the British.
He may have been cruel and barbaric by today’s standard but if that is the yardstick to measure yesterday’s heroes then all the present day descendants of kingdoms that cooperated with the British in suppressing our freedom struggle, should be deemed traitors and tried in the court of law instead of giving membership of the parliaments and palaces to keep. However truth is not  only the casualty of war but also of politics.
Tipu’s place may not be safe in the hearts of the present day cowards but celebrated in the departed company of the tigers of Indian history.!