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5.2 The Military Reformations
Tipu Sultan reduced power of cavalry and added the number of infantry. The huge reserves were required to pay war reparations and maintain army. Thus Tipu increased land tax and customs and commercial tariffs. Tipu, who was well aware of the benefits of European techniques tried to make new industries, especially in the military field. He organized produce of ball and gun in Seringapatam with the help of French officers, but the production was not enough to meet the military’s needs (Bungardelvin, 1982, p. 46).
5.3 Economic Reformations
All Tipu’s efforts that he made for the country’s economic development through authoritarian methods was failed. These actions practically made unfavorable situation of the country’s economic more critical and increased public discontent, but he enriched country’s coffers after some years: actions in the field of creating governmental workshops and use of forced labor and peonage; The government took the control of commerce and merchants were forced to pay more than the real value of goods. Imports of goods from Malabar were given in government monopoly and commence with Great Britain possessions were banned in South India. He increased the amount of land under cultivation and again made a strong army (Bungardelvin, 1982, pp. 46-47).
6. Third-War of English-Mysore
Cornwallis Viceroy of India (1786-1793 AD) signed a military treaty with Pishva and Nizam against Mysore in 1790 AD. According to this treaty, after the victory over Mysore; the lands of Great Britain’s confederates which had been occupied by Hyder Ali and Tipu before, would extradited them and lands belonging to Mysore were equality divided among East India Company, Pune and Hyderabad division of Cornwallis also contacted were with dissatisfied elements of Kurga, Kochi and Malabar Coast region and promised them if they become the company’s vassal state, very little tribute would take them and they would enjoyed military aid of Great Britain (Bungardelvin, 1982, p. 45).
Whole confederate forces that were fighting against Mysore was close to 57 thousand people. Mangalore was occupied by the forces. Great Britain’s forces then surrounded Seringapatam (Kulke & Retermund, 1990, pp. 485-486). Tipu Sultan was forced to accept peace terms. Cornwallis was also very eager for peace since his troops were in such poor condition logistically and his army’s portage animals were plagued (Bungardelvin, 1982, p. 45).
The Seringapatam contract was signed in 1792 AD (Dulafooz, 1937, p. 258). Tipu was forced to pay 33 million rupees for compensation and it was decided that until all compensation not paid his two sons would remain in hostages of Great Britain. Thus all passages of Carnatic and Mumbai to Mysore were given to British. However Cornwallis did not intend to eliminate Mysore, but he was determined to keep it as an independent state against Martaha (Bungardelvin, 1982, p. 45).
7. Relations between Wellesley and Tipu Sultan
7.1 The Escalation of Disagreements between the British East India Company and Tipu Sultan
Richard Wellesley-Earl of Morington was the name of governor-general of East India Company who coincided with the anti-colonial activities of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan entered India and was charged with this responsibility. He had acquired the title of “Earl” from Irish Parliament, he was one of the most ambitious men in London and he was from a family who depended the lower society classes of Great Britain from a hand and he depended the Irish landowners’ cortex from another hand.
Wellesley who believed that Dublin Parliament has its own limitations, he was attracted to the Indian subcontinent, because he knew serving in the Indian subcontinent the combination of power and progress. He was chosen as a member of the “Board of Control and Supervision in the Indian subcontinent” on June 28, 1793 AD. Wellesley paid all his intelligence and focus on the affairs of the Indian subcontinent. Wellesley was befriended with Cornwallis and when Cornwallis was encouraged to return to the Indian subcontinent to prevent again dominance and threats from French, Wellesley accepted to be governor of Madras (Gardner, 2004, pp. 254-255).
Wars between France and Great Britain had been started again. The French with their revolution motive had declared war to all kings of the world in the years 1793-1802 AD. This that a man with such characteristics had accepted governor of Madras post, had shown the importance of the Indian subcontinent and the East India Company, in political and economic field, in terms of the British authorities. Wellesley met several of the managers and employees of the East India Company. Their words were critical more about the company’s performance in the Indian subcontinent. They claimed the East India Company should apply a more leading and active politics than before to advance its objectives in the Indian subcontinent. Their opinion about the French and their activities in the Indian subcontinent and this that Nizam of Heyderabad and Mysori Tipu, both use office use French consultants for their armies, showed a risk that would bring adverse incidents. General Bonaparte at the same time also went toward Egypt, but despite it; French activities in the Indian subcontinent was insignificant. But the main risk was Tipu, the old enemy of Great Britain that his rebellion and warmongering signs appeared again. Tipu had been influenced by the French Revolution; especially he knew it as the powerful enemy of East India Company. A small military force of French supported Tipu. Instead Martaha had no interest in working with Tipu to unite with him against the East India Company. All this had increased the complexity of the situation, moreover Afghans were always considered as a high risk in the north (Gardner, 2004, pp. 256-258).
Wellesley after reviewing the situation and knowing lots of problems wrote a letter to Great Britain: “It is expected that war with Tipu doesn’t have any consequence but destruction. Note that situation is bad more than what is hope to improve” (Gardner, 2004, p. 258).
The company’s army that was formed by criminals, deserters of military service, seamen and others who for various reasons had left Great Britain, they were not so his assurance (Gardner, 2004, p. 259).
Wellesley was the last governor-general who could transfer governor position to vice Royalty and rule India as the first Viceroy with the power like the power of the Mughal Empire. Wellesley followed Cornwallis’s policy in the field of not recruiting Indians for employment in the public service and even prevented Hindi Europeans to presence in social events. The occupation of Mysore had engaged all thoughts of Wellesley eventually he concluded that there is no other way except war to solve this problem, as long as he can be united with the Nizam of Hyderabad. In a letter he wrote to London: “I hope the board of directors of the company be prepared to sacrifice part of their today’s income for future and permanent incomes and thereby more strengthen and stable their income resource”. This letter shook London, because the parliament and the company both believed that the Wellesley would follow the non-intervention policy in Indian affairs that it was a wise policy in their opinion and now unexpectedly they were seeing that they had unconsciously sent another Clive to this mission. The company’s Board of Directors concluded that it is too late and can’t longer be effective on the affairs process in India soon. After that intense verbal confrontations were formed between Wellesley and the company’s center in London, so that Wellesley called company’s Center “disgusting ambush” which had been named “East India House” (Gardner, 2004, p. 261).
However, the board of directors issued him with if it is going to be involved in war, it is better to the Southwest Indian subcontinent lands that overlooking the sea, means “Goa” and “Travancore” lands to be occupied by the company. Wellesley meets with Tipu and found that he was not willing to cooperate, he also expected this from Tipu, Tipu didn’t accept to dismiss French consultants from his army and claimed that he will use each European consultant who wishes. From a hand when the news of Egypt occupation by Napoleon was announced in the Indian subcontinent, it increased Tipu’s audacity, also it threatened whole interests of Great Britain and East India Company, but Wellesley considering such a situation, was following his plan (Gardner, 2004, pp. 261-262).
8. The Fourth and Final War of Great Britain-Mysore: Mysore Shiite Government Collapse
The occurrence of fourth Great Britain-Mysore war was seemed imminent in February 1799 AD (Gardner, 2004, p. 262).
Correspondence between Wellesley and Tipu continued for months with no result, a Wellesley addressed to Tipu contained complex topics in the field of meeting his requests and attracting his satisfaction. The answer of Tipu was short and polite until a commission from Mysore was sent to the island of Mauritius. After a while of waiting, Wellesley ordered his troops moving towards Mysore and this was beginning of the fourth War of Great Britain-Mysore in 1798-1799 AD (Gardner, 2004, p. 256; Powell-Price, 1995, p. 485).
Tipu’s condition was critical, and he knew this; because his infantry forces couldn’t cope with trained and disciplined forces of the company. Tipu in “Malavalli” raced to face the company’s armies. After intense fighting between troops of the two sides, the company’s army could succeed in this battle that became known as the Battle Malavalli (Gardner, 2004, pp. 265-267).
Tipu sent a message to «George Harr» (company’s commander) base on that he wants to send an ambassador with a commission. General Harris stipulated the acceptance of the commission to Tipu’s sons to be sent accompanied it as hostages. The blockade lasted several days; the fort was occupied by the British. Tipu few hours after the body of Tipu was found beside one of the city gates. Apparently one of the last cannonballs were accidentally killed him. Tipu Sultan despite his heroism, died on the Fourth of April 1799 AD (Speer, 2008). When Wellesley placed beside the body of Tipu, said today India is mine (Nahvi, 1900, p. 77). In the history of India, Tipu Sultan’s called a martyr for the country’s independence (Abbas Zadeh, 2002, p. 92). General Harris held a grand funeral for Tipu. Tipu was buried next to the tomb of his father with full military honors (Gardner, 2004, p. 272).
Mysore army was completely disarmed and dispersed. Tipu’s four children were sent to Carnatic and a distant descendant of Mysore’s Raje was seated on the throne. Mysore was completely set under the supervision of Wellesley, a treaty was signed between the British East India Company and the Sultan of Mysore; Mysore was sponsored by the company to an annual payment of £ 280,000. French had lost their last influence and its power base and only Martaha and Afghans who were sometimes rebelled in the north, were two major powers that impeded in the way to despotism East India Company on all inherited lands of the Mongol empire (Gardner, 2004, p. 273). Colonialists who did not dare to annex Mysore to their colony after occupation of it, turned it into a vassal state and thus they hidden their dominance under the formal covers (Bungardelvin, 1982, p. 49).
It seems that the British could dominate to India because that a series of favorable and unexpected events turned to them. they were hardly failed from Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, Martaha, Sikhs and Gurkhes in some cases but more accurately and more profoundly deal shows that with the circumstances that then existed in India, what happened was inevitable and unavoidable. Of course, there have been good luck and favorable accidents but competence and merit are needed to use these factors (Nehru, 1982, pp. 457-459).
The victory over Mysore made possible the complete subjugation of the Indian subcontinent by Great Britain. Mysore until the fall of 1799 Ad was considered as the center of resistance. But finaly, the victory of capitalism over feudalism Mysore was inevitable and unfortunate. Of course Mysore’s people resistance over the years forced the colonizers of Great Britain always to keep ready a large military force (Bungardelvin, 1982, pp. 48-49).
9. Uprising Impacts of Tipu Sultan on Independence of the Indian Subcontinent
In the sight of Indian political leaders, beginning liberation activities of the Indian subcontinent against the British was on 1857 AD. In that year the people and especially classes who had lost inherited wealth and power were widely shown their dissatisfaction from existing situation. Some of Hindi regiments refused to obey their British commanders and surrendered the “Shah Alam”. Bloody events were happened that led to repress of revolution and complete and official transference and establishment of government from East India Company to Great Britain government. India annexed to the empire of Great Britain in 1858 AD (Bazargan, 2008, p. 87). It seems that the roots of this revolution should be considered and examined in the early years of the company formation in India that sometimes faced with scattered oppositions, especially by Muslims. Although the uprising of Tipu Sultan was failed, but it had appropriate effects and result. With this rise Muslims and Hindus found that if they were unified together it was possible to defeat Great Britain and the Company’s forces this matter is found from the correspondence of company’s forces with the British government that Tipu always regarded as a dangerous enemy. But unfortunately dissatisfied forces and groups from the company including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs each separately resisted and protested; under no circumstances they were not willing to compromise together against the common enemy so that they colluded against each other with the colonial power. Great Britain and the head of that was the company that was trying to create division between different elements of a nation and they were utilizing in the best way. With these campaigns; the actual performance of the company was cleared over the people and it was ended to the detriment of Great Britain in later centuries, because these struggles and uprisings were the background of a larger and more successful revolution in the future. At the same time it should also be noted that failure of this uprising was caused frustration and motiveless of Indian nation; Because this failure of the made Indian nation aware from the fact that the company and its British agents are much more powerful than them and against integration and advanced equipment of Great Britain, no local and public forces nor trivial and old war equipment are efficient. In fact totality of these factors and thoughts were that caused to delay Indian freedom revolutionary for years and after years of ups and downs and tolerate the domination of Great Britain finally could achieve independence in 1947 AD.
10. Conclusion
From the last years of the sixteenth century onwards, some ventures from Great Britain and other European countries moved to explore new territories and access to natural resources and raw materials left behind seas and lands and if there was a land of their will they were settled and colonized the land. Great Britain’s merchants and ventures were arrived the Indian subcontinent and chose to stay there. At the beginning of the seventeenth century a group of businessmen from London gained a permission from Queen Elizabeth to establish a company in the subcontinent and turned towards India. Before the British, the Portuguese and the Dutch area were stepped in this area and for this reason the conflict was created between them and British and finally Great Britain became the totalitarian of colonization in the subcontinent but it was not long that French harassed for great Britain and the company by establishment of a company in the subcontinent and harassed and the subcontinent became the battlefield of the two colonial power. It was during this campaign that the people of India realized the losses the company in their land. India’s political situation was deteriorating due to lack of a strong king and local governments were acting alone to defend their homeland and there was no unity among them. One of the local rulers of Mysore Tipu Sultan who before him his father tied to maintain the Indian subcontinent from the influence, none of them were quite successful. Tipu Sultan only could keep Mysore independent for a short time and eventually was killed in this way. Tipu Sultan takes advantage of dark relations between Great Britain and France and he hired French consultants in his army. The result of this research to the writer briefly was that he found Tipu Sultan’s relations was dark because he consider them strangers who wanted to loot his land and he was not willing to compromise with the company under no condition. British East India Company and its commanders always considered Tipu Sultan as the serious danger in the way to achieve their goal and also Tipu Sultan was a fanatic Muslim and this causes to make dangerous mistakes such as mass genocide of Hindus and stimulated their anger to himself, so that if he made friendly relations with Hindus and made union between Hindus and Moslem in the way that was happened in next centuries, it was possible that to become successful
and achieve his goal that was the salvation of India. These kinds of factors and other factors such as unfaithfulness and betrayal of some commanders of Tipu and unawareness of people cause to Tipu didn’t achieve his goal and the company took steps more quickly toward achieving its colonial purposes.
Acknowledgements
Achievement of this research for the writer was that Tipu Sultan’s uprising should be considered as one of the driving engines for defense thought formation from the Indian subcontinent, preventing the increase of influence of the Great Britain and also salvation of this land from colonialism although the uprising failed, but clarified a lot of issues. It was clarified with this uprising that Muslims and in general the people of the Indian without union can’t remove the dominance of Great Britain and the lack of unity caused that people unwanted help Great Britain to achieve its goal. From another aspect this uprising caused to many people think and try to continue the way of Tipu Sultan although an intellectual movement was not possible in that time but it seems that with this uprising and such resistance in different area of India, the intellectual and reformist thoughts were occurred and help the subcontinent to become independent and free and unified by appearance of reformist, intellectuals and also liberal political figures in the future centuries.
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