Why do Konkanis, Kodavas and Christians hate Tipu Sultan?

 

Currently, Tipu Jayanti is the talk of the town in Karnataka. The government has decided to celebrate Tipu Jayanti on November 10 but many have expressed their opposition to government’s decision.

 

TV Mohandas Pai, the Chairman of Manipal Global Education and ex-member of the board of directors of Infosys said that celebrating Tipu Jayanti is equal to having Aurangzeb's anniversary who was a tyrant and a fundamentalist.

 

Speaking in the same lines, SK Mukharjee, Chief Justice of the High Court, reacting to a PIL, filed by one Manjunath, has said that Tipu was not a freedom fighter.

 

“Tipu is not a freedom fighter just because he fought against British and said that he is just a king of a province. The British waged war against the Nizams of Hyderabad also, can it be ascertained that the Nizams are also the freedom fighters?” the CJ questioned.

 

The court has postponed the hearing of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) appeal for Thursday with a note, “Let his soul rest in peace as his Jayanti celebrations would cause trouble to the government.” 

 

There are many people who say Tipu was a fighter and he had introduced many things to India, including silk industry, which today is life and bread for thousands of people in Karnataka alone.

 

Though some historians uphold the contributions of Tipu, Pai focused mainly on revealing the negative side of the Tipu and told that he killed many people and converted others to Islam by the power of his sword.

 

“Many communities in the state like Konkanis, Christians from Mangaluru and Udupi, Kodavas still hold a grudge against Tipu as he had destroyed many Konkani temples in Kasaragod and had butchered many unarmed Kodavas and had put thousands ofCatholicss in dungeons”.

 

Pai also suggested the government to celebrate Mysuru Diwan Mirza Ismail, instead of celebrating Tipu Jayanti and urged the government to bring different communities together and not to divide the people of the state by such celebrations.

  

Last year too, the government had celebrated Tipu Jayanti across the state on November 10, which had triggered disputes and caused violence in Kodagu district, resulting in killing of Kuttappa, a Vishva Hindu Parishat activist.

 

Tipu has undoubtedly fought against the British. Whether he is a freedom fighter is a debatable issue. Hatred against any community is not acceptable. Especially when there is a tensed situation, the government should first clear airs and convince the people opposing the event as to why holding such an event is important and then should proceed with the celebrations.