There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action.
Nothing better than the above words of German polymath Goethe, aptly describes the hoopla created over the birth centenary celebrations of Tipu Sultan, the 18th century ruler of Southern India’s Mysore region, and subsequent riots. Tipu is held in high esteem both as an astute administrator and an early opponent of British imperialism.
Most importantly, Tipu, popularly known as the “Tiger of Mysore,” is recognized as a pioneer of rocket technology. He was among the greatest exponents of artillery in India and colonial administrator Lord Wellesly, having confronted the Mysore Sultan in battlefield, was highly appreciative of the mobility of Tipu’s weaponry. Indeed, modern day rockets of all hue can be traced back to Tipu’s “Flying Plagues” — as one British soldier aptly described the sword-mounted iron tubes of gunpowder that were heavily used during late 1700s Anglo-Mysore wars.
According to Prof. R. Narasimha, a renowned aerospace scientist who also researched on Tipu’s rocket science, all the rockets employed in present- day conflicts can be traced to those used during the wars in Mysore. “There is one single line of technology development that links those rockets to what the US, Russia and India are doing today,” says Narasimha, while adding, it was Tipu who realized the full potential of rockets as weapons — both in his mind and on the field — and used them to create havoc in East India Company’s (EIC) supply line. An artillery officer of the Indian Army also confirmed to this author that the “Indian armed forces gunners have always held Tipu Sultan in high esteem.”
After all, he raised Qushoons — India’s maiden artillery brigade, which was 6,000 strong in the 18th century itself and even improvised Mysorean rockets, first used as weapons of war by his father Hyder Ali, to make them more destructive and lethal. Tipu’s novel, improved version of rockets caused as much fear and confusion as damage in the British infantry ranks because it was tactically used to destroy EIC’s ammunition dumps, thus forcing the British to suffer their worst-ever military defeats on Indian soil. Tipu’s advanced technological infrastructure paved the way for the crafting of iron tubes for rocket manufacturing. These tubes were stuffed with gunpowder and fastened to swords or bamboo poles, which incidentally helped create the predecessor of modern rockets with a range of approximately 2 kilometers, the best in contemporary era.
The cylindrical iron casing, experts say, allowed for greater compression of the propellant or gunpowder while the swords or bamboo poles provided enhanced stability. And motor casing of these 50 millimeters diameter rockets, with a length of 250 millimeters and 2 kilograms weight, were made of steel with multi-nozzle holes. Besides, Tipu-rockets had long, sword-bladed, guidance sticks to keep them stable in flight. And for multiple launching, Tipu invented flexible launcher capable of launching 5 to 7 rockets at a time to dent enemy lines. Narasimha discovered that Tipu had four equivalents of modern-day technology parks for rocket research and development at Srirangapatna, Bangalore, Chitradurga and Bidanur.
No wonder why Indian defense ministry was finally compelled to take a decision of preserving “Rocket Court” — the principal laboratory where Tipu designed, manufactured and tested his mini-missiles. India’s first archaeological rocket museum is proposed to be housed at the birthplace of the country’s and perhaps entire world’s rocket technology so that viewers can have a glimpse of the type of technological advancement that Tipu introduced so early, using indigenous methods. In fact, a high-powered committee on Indian Space Research had credited the recent advancements in the country’s rocket science to Mysore rocketry prevalent during Tipu’s rule.
Former Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a well-known rocket scientist himself, acknowledged Tipu’s role as an innovator of the world’s first war rocket. Kalam wanted Indian scientists to scrutinize the basics of Tipu’s technology and advancement in weaponry and even dispatched missile scientist, Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai, from India’s premiere defense manufacturing organization DRDO to study the legacy behind Tipu’s Rocket Court during his presidential tenure. Prof. U.R. Rao, ex-chairman of Indian Space Research Organization too appreciates Tipu’s pioneering contribution to missile technology development, given the fact that the first iron-cased and metal-cylinder rocket artillery in the world was produced in Mysore. Not many know that the Congreve rocket, developed and used by the British in Napoleonic wars and confrontation with America during 1812-14, was inspired by Tipu’s indigenous technology.
Moreover, Tipu was a multi-faceted personality. He wrote a military manual, titled Fathul Mujahideen, on the use of his formidable weapons, gave a thriving sericulture industry to modern-day Karnataka, constructed several roads and bridges and launched a damming project on Cauvery River. Above all, Tipu was an apostle of Hindu-Muslim unity, a genuine believer of civil liberty and a patriot, who sacrificed his children to end colonial rule. Tipu’s revolt against British imperialism and subsequent martyrdom was a precursor to the famous 1857 mutiny. British Historian William Dalrymple acknowledged Lord Wellesly and minister overseeing EIC, Henry Dundas’ role in vilifying Tipu, by falsely portraying him as a fanatical Muslim despot. Even senior Hindutva ideologue Shamdas Gidwani’s son vouched for Tipu’s secular credential in an authentic book on Mysore Sultan’s rule. It is, therefore, a pity that Tipu’s legacy has come under fire from right-wing Hindutva forces, having little contribution in pre-independent anti-colonial struggle. Perhaps, a Hindu lineage would have won many accolades for Tipu in a Hindutva-fied India.
