July 30, 2019, Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government decision of cancelling Tipu Jayanti celebrations taken today has been welcomed by many scholars and activists. From the time the Congress Government decided to celebrate Tipu as part of their appeasement politics, there has been a widespread opposition to it. However the Congress Government led by the then CM Siddaramaiah were hell bent on celebrating it. There are few who passed away in protesting against the then Government’s move. The only question that surfaced has been asking the dire need of calling for a celebration of a tyrant, bigot and an extremely intolerant king Tipu Sultan.
Eminent Scholar and Historian Sri Chidananda Murthy was contacted by VSK and he whole heartedly welcomed the move the Government had taken. Chidananda Murthy has extensively written about how Tipu enforced Persian as an official language in the place where he ruled by ignoring Kannada the local language.
Writer and Columnist Sri Sandeep Balakrishna who has also authored a book, Tipu Sultan – The Tyrant of Mysore said “Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s decision to halt Tipu Sultan Jayanti is a much welcome move. It sends a clear message that the politics of appeasement will also be met with certain defeat. Celebrating the birthday of tyrants and mass murderers of Hindus was uncalled for. Thanks once again.”
Activist Addanda Caryappa who is based out of Kodagu expressed to VSK that he was relieved after years of protest has finally paid off. Sri Addanda Caryappa has written many articles on the atrocities Tipu committed and reminded us of the ruler of Kodagu, Hanje Nayaka whose children were abducted by Tipu Sultan and had forced Nayaka to convert to Islam and surrender. Hanje Nayaka never budged and said he respected the land he ruled and would do best to his subjects rather than saving his children. Caryappa feels the story of Tipu Sultan was unnecessarily over hyped by those in the drama/theatre field for a long time and half baked stories were paid interest and no attention towards the intolerant ruler who mercilessly converted and killed Hindus.
Another social activist Sri Robert Rosario congratulated CM B S Yediyurappa and all the MLAs including KG Bopaiah who supported it. Rosario felt great about the government whose first decision was to cancel this unneeded celebration was indeed bold. He further added that Nettara kere, (translates to blood pool which was where Tipu killed thousands) in Bantwal stood as a sacrifice of people and the same should be developed as it was an important site in the annals of Tipu’s tyrannic history.
RSS has also welcomed the move of canceling the Tipu Jayanti. Read here
