Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore is among the list of the famous rulers who fought the Europeans with full gusto. Ranjit Singh, the Lion of Punjab was the only one who could not be defeated by the Europeans. Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan join the list of rulers who include chieftains like Veera Pandya Kattabomman. Hyder Ali became the suzerain of Mysore and it was during those times when the English were in the process of subjugating India. The Battle of Plassey ( 1757 ), the Battle of Buxar ( 1764 ) had already taken place and the English governed East India Company had already become a power to reckon with. Their only challenge was from the Marathas under Peshwa Madhav Rao ( 1761 - 1772 ) under whom the Maratha Empire had grown to occupy much of the country. The smart Peshwa had restored the honour of the Marathas who had suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Panipat ( 1761 ). It had to take quite a few battles until the Marathas signed the truce with the English in 1818. India in the eighteenth century was a witness to battles accompanied with the visits of fortune seekers from Europe and elsewhere. The canvas of India was thus changing fast and a huge palette of people were being thrust by the hands of destiny into this ancient land.
Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore is among the list of the famous rulers who fought the Europeans with full gusto. Ranjit Singh, the Lion of Punjab was the only one who could not be defeated by the Europeans. Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan join the list of rulers who include chieftains like Veera Pandya Kattabomman. Hyder Ali became the suzerain of Mysore and it was during those times when the English were in the process of subjugating India. The Battle of Plassey ( 1757 ), the Battle of Buxar ( 1764 ) had already taken place and the English governed East India Company had already become a power to reckon with. Their only challenge was from the Marathas under Peshwa Madhav Rao ( 1761 - 1772 ) under whom the Maratha Empire had grown to occupy much of the country. The smart Peshwa had restored the honour of the Marathas who had suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Panipat ( 1761 ). It had to take quite a few battles until the Marathas signed the truce with the English in 1818. India in the eighteenth century was a witness to battles accompanied with the visits of fortune seekers from Europe and elsewhere. The canvas of India was thus changing fast and a huge palette of people were being thrust by the hands of destiny into this ancient land.
A number of books, movies and tele serials have been produced on Tipu Sultan. There are people who praise him for his modern outlook and there are ones who chide him for his tyranny. Tipu has been a mixed bag but everyone acknowledges the fact that he was a brave warrior. The Kingdom of Mysore had been under the benign Wodeyar dynasty for centuries before the advent of Hyder Ali. The illiterate but smart Hyder managed to take over the kingdom. His military policies backed by extra ordinary prowess made him get into a conflict with the English whose stars were also on the rise. The story of Hyder and Tipu is nothing but the story of a long conflict between two aspiring enemies. Hyder and Tipu fought the four Mysore wars ( 1767 - 1769 , 1780 - 1784 , 1790 - 1792 and 1799 ) with the East India Company and the English emerged victorious.
Gayathri Prabhu has constructed the novel ' The Untitled ' based on the incidents that took place during the last year of the reign of Tipu. Art and intrigue set in the last summer of Tipu Sultan is sure to enthrall the readers. Its an entirely new approach to the story and it shows the multi faceted Tipu at close quarters. The book has been published by Fourth Estate, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers and the copyright is held by the author. It was first published in 2016. Gayathri Prabhu is also the author of the novels Birdswim Fishfly ( 2006 ) and Maya ( 2003 ). The Untitled was written over a decade and across three continents, and owes much to the city of Mysore, the National Archives of India in Delhi and the British Library in London. After many years of travelling and being elsewhere, Gayathri has returned to live not far from where she was born, in a town that allows her glimpses of the Arabian Sea on the one side and the Western Ghats on the other. She holds a Doctorate and teaches literary studies at the Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities. Gayathri visits Coimbatore in order to meet her in laws ( Raji and Govind ) who happen to be members of the fifty year old Coimbatore Book Club. Her forth coming novel is on Vikram and Vetal.
The brilliant author spoke to Simplicity about her work, " I have a relationship with Mysore. My education was at the Maharaja's College and this gave me the oppourunity to visit Srirangapatna often. Mysore has its own way of life and its own history. My way of understanding the place, my way of relating and connecting myself to Mysore has shaped me . Life had been nomadic because of my father's work which transferred us from one place to the other. The Maharaja's College is a historic institution and that was the starting point. I wanted to write a historic ' Mysore Novel '. As I was reading the stories connected with the four Anglo Mysore Wars which had taken place over three decades, it made me feel that there was no reason for Tipu to get defeated. It was hard to explain why he lost in spite of the fact that he held a strong position in every sense. History does not explain why he lost. I discovered these gaps in history during the course of my study and brought this novel out by creating fictional characters and some imaginary instances. These fictional characters inhabit in the gaps found in the historical narratives. I found art to be an interesting subject and wove it along with intrigue in order to present the story to the readers. Visitors to museums around the world would have seen the titles for various pieces of art. In certain cases it would carry the word ' Untitled '. I hope that this novel brings in a fresh perspective to the subject."
Rani Lakshmi Ammani, the dowager Queen and her pretty assistant Suhasini are sure to take over the imagination of the readers. The story begins in the year 1798 when a young artist Richard Dawson seeks to make a career in India while the influence of the English East India was on the ascendant. He goes to their family contact Gilbert Forbes in Madras. The life of the wealthy and influential English families have been brought out in an interesting manner. Richard Dawson, the portraitist visits the tavern ' The Griffin ' in the Black Town. It is here that he meets a few interesting characters like Robert Havelock. Ultimately this drives the young aspiring artist to seek an oppourtunity in Srirangapatna by placing himself under the disposal of Tipu Sultan. Dawson is advised to take a huge retinue of people to the River Island ( Srirangapatna ) and he wonders why. Anyway he gets the half Portugese interpreter Francis to be his helper. Meanwhile, the very young but ' married ' Mukunda , the son of an astrologer is found learning art under a good master. He is related the Purnaiah, the trusted Diwan of Mysore. The aspiring artist and the portraitist meet under interesting circumstances. They begin to work together and also compete with each other in every sense, be it Suhasini or art.
The court of Tipu Sultan and his persona are described well. Tipu engages Dawson and this goes to the ears of Rani Lakshmi Ammani. She used Dawson and Mukunda in her plot against Tipu. The dowager wants to topple Tipu and make the boy Prince Krishnaraja Wodeyar the ruler of Mysore. She makes the lovely Suhasini intervene on her behalf and creates a conspiracy against Tipu by forging a relationship with Dawson and his team. The chapter ' Hunting with the Cheetahs ' is evocative. A Royal hunt by Tipu is beautifully brought out. The five hooded cheetahs and their handlers will mesmerize anyone and the manner in which the carnivores hunt their prey is brought out well. Suhasini has been described well - sculpted nose , the diamond stud on one side of it, the high cheekbones that dipped into soft dimples. We also get to see a Tipu in whose interest poojas were being conducted.
Page number 102 is quite interesting. Dawson is advised as follows with regard to his body language and words in order to ensure success during his first meeting with Tipu. " Bow low, as low as your breeches allow, apply genuine deference but with character, then swoop quickly, but not too quickly, keep your back straight, shoulders slightly hunched, let the gaze stay low but definitely attempt one memorable meeting of the eyes, no matter what is seen or heard, make sure that you neither flinch nor stare, speak up but not until he speaks to you first....hold on to your heart, hold on to your conscience, Tipu Sultan has decided to see you." The story describes the movement of troops , the villages and the their position at the time of the war in a memorable style. The English army seems to have moved at a rate of five miles per day. Dawson's role is interesting for Suhasini suggests that he offers himself as a spy to Tipu, in order to meet the English. The plot follows and there are frequent meetings. One part of the story is fictional but interesting and the other equally interesting part is real history. The end of Tipu heralds change. Rani Lakshmi Ammani moves over to Mysore and everyone connected with the story go back to their places. It takes about two hundred years to rediscover two old works of art from the Royal Palace. They are actually the portraits of Suhasini rendered by Mukunda and Dawson. Suhasini does not want them to be found in the hands of the English and therefore the Queen gets it back. Lakshmi Ammani does not want the portrait to be seen but it was too precious to be destroyed or given away.
It was found in a store room belonging to a gallery owned by the Royal family during the bicentennial celebrations of the war. A curator who authenticates the canvas as an original Dawson swears it to be a rare glimpse into the great portraitist's early career, priceless even though it is incomplete. The painting is promptly put on display.
UNTITLED , 1798 - 9 ?
Richard Dawson ( 1774 - 1845 ) Oil on Canvas.
The author goes on state that Srirangapatna does not house a memorial for the public and soldiers who lost their lives during the Fourth Mysore war ( 1799 ). The story of Tipu is found amidst the company of palace intrigue and art. Gayathri Prabhu has ensured that the plot and narration make the novel ' Unputdownable and Simply Fabulous '.