Unveiling the Life of Tipu Sultan through the Lens of History and Scholarship with Dr. Vikram Sampath

Foundation for Indian Historical and Cultural Research (FIHCR) & Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF) under its initiative Kitaab, a book launch initiative , brought together history enthusiasts, literature lovers, and scholars at Prestige Falcon Towers in Bangalore to celebrate Dr Vikram Sampath’s latest literary contribution, “Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore’s Interregnum (1760-1799)”. With distinguished Chief Guest Shri Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) of Bengaluru South and esteemed moderator Smt. Madhu Nataraj, choreographer and artpreneur, in conversation with Dr Sampath, the evening took attendees on a profound journey into the historical narrative surrounding the eighteenth-century Mysore ruler, Tipu Sultan.

Ms. Shubhi Mehta opened the stage delivering a gracious welcome to the evening. Ms. Poonam Bafna, Ehsaas Woman of Coimbatore – PKF introduced the collaborators and guests. Anindita Chatterjee, Executive Trustee of the Foundation and Poonam Bafna along with Anuradha Srinivasan of FIHCR felicitated the guests. Shri. Tejasvi Surya unveiled the book “Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore’s Interregnum (1760-1799)” joined by author Dr. Vikram Sampath, Smt. Madhu Nataraj, Ms Anindita Chatterjee – Executive Trustee PKF and Ms Poonam Bafna – Ehsaas woman of Coimbatore & Ms Revathi Raju – Ehsaas woman of Bangalore , Ms Anuradha Srinivasan, FIHCR, Mr Bhavish Aggarwal, the Founder & CEO of Ola Consumer, Ola Electric & OlaKrutrim, Ms Rajalakshmi Aggarwal, Mr Devesh Varma, CEO of Ola Foundation, on stage.

Kitaab falls under the aegis of Prabha Khaitan Foundation’s long-standing mission to champion Indian literature, promote diverse narratives, and foster intellectual engagement. Among our several initiatives, promoting literature is at the apex. PKF is always eager to celebrate the birth of a book and rightfully have named such celebration- Kitaab. Through this platform, authors can showcase their newest literary world before a discerning audience and media through tastefully created book launches. Kitaab series has become a hallmark of India’s literary landscape, encouraging authors and readers to explore important works and connect with ideas that resonate beyond the written page.

“Bringing historical narratives like Tipu Sultan to the forefront reflects our commitment to fostering a space where literature and history intertwine, encouraging open dialogue and a deeper appreciation of India’s rich heritage. We’re honored to support Dr Vikram Sampath’s work and to host such impactful conversations that resonate with readers across generations.”

 — Anindita Chatterjee, Executive Trustee of Prabha Khaitan Foundation

Smt. Madhu Nataraj, an eminent cultural icon, artist and moderator for the evening, welcomed the audience and set the tone for an insightful discussion. Shri Tejasvi Surya emphasized the importance of such historical works that bring to light both celebrated and lesser-known facets of the past. He praised Dr. Sampath’s dedication, noting how crucial it is to revisit historical narratives with a discerning eye, especially when they concern figures as controversial and polarizing as Tipu Sultan. Shri. Tejasvi Surya appreciated Dr. Sampath for his invaluable contribution to the historiography of India, acknowledging the broader significance of works that re-examine complex figures from Indian history. He remarked that literature like Tipu Sultan has the power to spark a national debate on how we portray characters of the past and how history needs to be represented in all truth and honesty.

This was followed by a riveting discussion between Dr. Sampath and Smt Madhu Nataraj. He elaborated on the rigorous research that went into the making of Tipu Sultan, describing it as an ambitious project driven by his interest, since childhood, in exploring the complexities and controversies surrounding this multifaceted ruler. The captivating discussion delved into Dr. Sampath’s writing journey, his inspiration, and the challenging process of researching and assembling historical records when it came a figure as polarizing as Tipu Sultan. When Ms. Nataraj prompted Dr. Sampath to share insights into the choices he made in shaping the narrative, balancing historical accuracy with engaging storytelling, he explained how he sifted through a vast array of archival materials, manuscripts, and letters to piece together a nuanced portrayal of Tipu Sultan, a figure both revered and controversial. The book, he said, laid bare the several atrocities that Tipu inflicted on numerous communities in Karnataka and Kerala, such as the Kodavas, the Canara Christians, Mandyam Iyengars and the Nairs. History, he said, cannot be airbrushed to make it palatable for contemporary politics and society. At the same time, the redeeming aspects of Tipu’s character, including his land reforms and improvisation to the existing rockets technology were dealt with. A substantial part of the book is dedicated to Haidar Ali, Tipu’s father, who Dr Sampath said is an important foil to be able to understand Tipu better.

Dr. Vikram Sampath’s quotes “A historian’s real shield is his or her faithful adherence to facts and facts alone. And so it is with this book too, as it has been in all my previous ones. I have always maintained a strict adherence to the archive and documents, as also to my conscience and craft, without prejudicing my writing either by contemporary viewpoints, the battlefield of politics of today or the straightjacket of ideology. When all of history is but an interim report, the onus is on successive generations to keep looking back and drawing from their experiences, inferences and research, retell the past. This book builds significantly on my earlier work on the history of Mysore where the interregnum was but a short section. Drawing from diverse sources from primary ones in archives across India and outside, literature in several languages and oral histories, I zoom into those four decades of tumult that the region faced under the father-son duo. In this book, Tipu emerges for me as a complex character and a historian’s enigma—one who defies easy compartmentalization. The good, the bad and the ugly in Tipu Sultan’s legacy emerge. Glossing over his cruelties and barbaric deeds, only to sound politically correct or labour under a sad misapprehension that whitewashing these crimes would somehow magically maintain social cohesion and national unity is being extremely treacherous and intellectually dishonest. At the same time, erasing some redeeming features of his character and life is also being disingenuous with history. The truths of history are sober and usually park themselves at the centre, amidst a large array of fuzzy grey that lies in-between the strict boxes of white and black.”

The evening concluded with an enthusiastic round of Q&A session with the author and the audience and Ms Revathi Raju delivered the closing remarks. Dr. Sampath’s Tipu Sultan stands out as a compelling addition to the historical genre, inviting readers to experience the fascinating journey of a ruler whose legacy continues to shape conversations on Indian history and identity.