he anniversary of Tipu's death is still commemorated each
year at Seringapatam. The day begins with prayers and the
ceremonial washing of the three tombs within the mausoleum.
In recent years, the celebrations have also included visits
from Government Ministers and speeches from those whose
role as administrators, curators or researchers has also
contributed to the growth of interest in Tipu.
On 27th August, the day appointed for the 1984
Urs ,
a particularly splendid celebration was organised. The traditionnal
Sandal procession , from the Masjid
e'Ala to Gumbaz, was led by NCC officers and cadets
from Mysore, and the Sandal and Fatiha ceremonies were performed
at the Sultan's tomb. A 21-gun salute was fired in Tipu's
honour and the Chief Guest was Sri Ramakrishna Hegde, the
first Chief Minister of modern Karnataka to address such
a gathering. A huge shamiana had been erected between the
mausoleum and the gateway, and
here hundreds sat and listened to speeches before dispersing
to watch sword dancers, illuminations and the evening firework
display.
The 1984 Urs was also significant because it included the
announcement of a substantial grant, allocated by the Government
to the Tipu Sultan Research Institute and Museum. The Museum
was established in 1983, 'to preserve all published works
on Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan, and to support research in
the field.' The announcement - Adrice re. possible trouble
in India! enabled the Chairman of the Institute, to begin
the task of procuring photographs, microfilms and video
films of all objects, books, manuscripts and sites associated
with Tipu. This research has already been made available
in a variety of ways: in the excellent illustrated display
at Tipu's Palace in Bangalore;
in lectures and seminars, in India and North America; and
in the publication in millennium year of a comprehensive
survey and reassessment of surviving Tipu material 'Sunset
at Seringapatam'.
In 1999, it was not in India but in Scotland that the bi-centennary
of Tipu's death was marked with an international exhibition,
a handsomely illustrated publication and a summer of lectures,
symposia and special visits. The
exhibition,
'The Tiger and the Thistle: Tipu Sultan and the Scots in
India 1760-1800,' was held at the National Gallery of Scotland
from 29th July - 10th October 1999. With generous sponsorship
and support, the exhibition attracted a cheerful combination
of Asian, Scots and English visitors, as well as visitors
to the Edinburgh International Festival. The National Galleries
of Scotland , with our sponsors, was particularly pleased
to welcome members of the Indian
communities who had travelled from as far away as Newcastle
and Manchester - a round trip of 400 miles - to see the
exhibition.
Because of the complexity and fragile condition of many
of the exhibits, the exhibition was shown only in Edinburgh,
in the shadow of our own 'droog' or fortified rock, crowned
by Edinburgh Castle. Meanwhile
in India, Tipu's second city, Bangalore, has become 'Silicon
City,' one of the capitals for India's flourishing computer
technology. These advances now help to bridge geographical
distance and two hundred years of history by making information
available 'on-line.' Thus The National
Galleries of Scotland can share 'The Tiger and the Thistle,'
not only with the Scots and India, but with everyone keen
to learn more about the closely interwoven history of our
two great nations.
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