Overview

Over two centuries have passed since his death on 4 May 1799, yet Tipu Sultan’s contested legacy continues to perplex India and her contemporary politics. A fascinating and enigmatic figure in India’s military past, he remains a modern historian’s biggest puzzle as he simultaneously means different things to different people, depending on how one chooses to look at his life and its events. Tipu’s ascent to power was accidental. His father Haidar Ali was a beneficiary of the benevolence of the Maharaja of Mysore. But in a series of fascinating events, the Machiavellian Haidar ran with the hare and hunted with the hounds; he ended up overthrowing his own benefactor and usurping the throne of Mysore from the Wodeyars in 1761.

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9780670094691

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Public debate will continue but Vikram's excellent book will provide the basis for more informed discussion.-- ""Sanjeev Sanyal, writer and economist"" Rarely are people objective about Tipu Sultan, preferring to fit him into a pre-conceived narrative. Vikram gives us the bare truth, so that we can make up our minds about the legacy of an individual who continues to be controversial.-- ""Bibek Debroy, writer and economist"" Sampath does the much-needed work of telling the true story of Tipu, from his fanatical views, to the mistakes he made that eroded the sizeable state his father built.-- ""Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) & scion of the Mysore Roya""

Author Information

Bangalore-based historian Vikram Sampath is the author of seven acclaimed books, including Splendours of Royal Mysore: The Untold Story of the Wodeyars; My Name Is Gauhar Jaan: The Life and Times of a Musician; Voice of the Veena: S Balachander: A Biography; Women of the Records and Indian Classical Music and the Gramophone: 1900-1930.

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