Context: Recently, Tipu Sultan was in the news because of controversial remarks made by a few political leaders.

Image Source: The Indian Express 

Who was Tipu Sultan?

• Tipu Sultan was the son of Haider Ali, a professional soldier of humble origins who started out as a junior officer in the army of the Wodeyar king of Mysore, and rose rapidly to ultimately take power in 1761.
• Tipu was born in 1750 and, as a 17-year-old, participated in the first Anglo-Mysore War. 
• He subsequently fought against the Marathas, and in the Second Anglo-Mysore War of 1780-84. 
• Haider died while the war was on, and Tipu succeeded him in 1782. 
• The war ended with the Treaty of Mangalore, in which Tipu had the upper hand. 
• He engaged the British East India Company forces in four rounds of fighting during 1767-99.

Tipu Sultan’s Reforms:

• Tipu is credited for the introduction of iron-cased rockets in warfare. 
• These rockets were used to devastating effects against much larger British armies, driving them to panic and disarray. 
• The British used Tipu’s models for their own rockets, which would go on to play an important role in the Napoleonic Wars.
• Tipu Sultan also pioneered administrative and economic reforms. He introduced new coins, started a new land revenue system in Mysore, as well as introduced sericulture which continues to employ many Kannadigas to date. 
• Furthermore, it is claimed that upon hearing of the plight of lower caste women who were not allowed to wear blouses, Tipu personally supplied them with cloth.

News Source: Indian Express 

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