Tipu Sultan is no more ‘Tiger of Mysore’; Karnataka govt to drop Tipu’s title from textbooks; attempt to saffronize education, slams Congress

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government is planning to drop Tipu Sultan’s ‘Tiger of Mysore’ title from textbooks. The state’s Education Minister B C Nagesh said that there were no plans to remove Tipu Sultan from textbooks. Only the ruler’s title is being dropped, he added.

“We intend to educate children on real history. If any proof is available for the title of Tiger of Mysore given to Tipu Sultan, it will be retained. The glorification part will be removed”, Nagesh said.

The education minister’s statement came days after a review committee led by writer Rohith Chakrathirtha recommended alterations to textbooks related to Tipu Sultan. ‘Lessons on Tipu Sultan will not be dropped. The content with documentary and historical proof will be prescribed’, he said.

Various Hindu organizations accuse Tipu Sultan of proselytization and killing of Hindus. The committee had suggested to retain the chapters on Tipu Sultan, but remove those parts that glorify him, said the officials. The Rohith Chakrathirtha-led committee was tasked with revising the Class six to ten social science textbooks.

However, the Congress alleged that Rohith Chakrathirtha is a right-wing thinker and his appointment was an attempt to saffronize education. The BJP had ended the birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan, when it came to power in 2019. The celebrations had been introduced by the Congress government in 2015.