The told & untold history of Mysuru Kingdom

Research and author: Ameen Ahmed The Second Continental Congress of USA representing thirteen British colonies in North America declared independence from Great Britain on 4th July 1776 (ref. 1). As Britain tried to subjugate the fledgling country, the latter looked up to Britain’s enemies to draw inspiration in its own struggle. Thus, the Americans took a keen interest in Britain’s conflict with Mysore Kingdom many thousand miles away. Americans readily found support from France which was keen to get back at Britain for their defeat in the Seven Years’ War of 1754-63 (ref. 2). Many other European powers allied with either English or French in what turned out to be a conflict that was fought across each others’ colonies spanning much of the globe. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison are among the most important figures that helped form USA and shape its destiny in infancy. These are its founding fathers....

Research and author: Ameen Ahmed  In 1770s, there were racehorses named in America after Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan, the father - son warriors from Mysore Kingdom in south India. Let us trace the journey of why and how this happened. The year was 1749 CE. A 27-year old youth Haidar Ali (anglicized: Hyder Ally ), born at Budikote village in present day Kolar district of India's Karnataka state put his military skills in action for the Mysore Army at Devanahalli fort. This is not very far from where the Bengaluru International Aiport (BIAL) is located today. The Mysore Army had besieged the fort for nine months to evict the local Poligor . Poligars (or Palegaras in Kannada language) were the local strong men, each controlling a few fortified settlements, prior to the British rule. Haidar helped his army emerge victorious. View of one of the entrances of Devanahalli fort in 2006, near Bangalore City. Haidar Ali earned fame during a battle at this fort in 1749. A year later...

Research and Author: Ameen Ahmed A British era cannon at Darya Daulat Bagh, Srirangapatna, southern Indian, the capital of Mysore Kingdom for many centuries until 1799. Pic: Author   An 18th century Atlantic slavery relic in Karnataka In September 2016, I was guiding a Canadian visitor through the palace and ruins of Srirangapatna. Among the many relics of British rule over India are the cannons one can see at many places like Srirangapatna, the erstwhile capital of Mysore Kingdom. At Darya Daulat Bagh, the summer palace of Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, a couple of cannons have a curious GR mark engraved on their first reinforce (the part of the cannon that follows the vent). 18th century British cannons had certain words and numbers engraved on them. Among other things these coded engravings reveal the foundry where the cannon was cast or the person who owned that foundry as well as weight of the cannon barrel, size of the cannon ball it fired and name of the king who reigned ov...