The Lion of Mysore Remembered

Today was the 4th of May, the day Sultan Fatteh Ali Khan 'Tipu' (1750-1799), the 'Lion of Mysore', better known to history as 'Tipu Sultan', died in the year 1799, while defending his fortress at Seringapatam against the colonial forces of the British Hon'ble East India Company (HEIC)-- in what is termed as the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.

The Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent, or South Asia, has indeed produced very few such men of bravery, high integrity, outstanding intelligence and unique leadership and foresight. He was and remains a true hero for all of us here.

Tipu Sultan's rule in Mysore was a truly enlightened one, where tolerance and humanity prevailed-- people of all creeds and races were welcome, a proper public welfare and social services programme was in place, education and economic and trade development were encouraged and the Sultan and his officials were not averse to meeting and learning from foreigners, especially Occidentals. At the same time, they were keen to meet all such people as equals and with dignity and openness and straight-dealing. They were neither outright  slaves and toadies nor rabid, delusional, irrational fanatics.

There are lessons that our government, 'leaders' and people here in Pakistan, can very well learn from Tipu's life, times and rule, at many levels.  Above all, in his words, that it is ''better to live one day like a lion, than a hundred like a jackal''.

When we compare Tipu's life and death with that of the recently deceased Osama Bin Laden, we can see how Tipu emerges as a true, gallant Muslim and a man of honour and a proud patriot; whereas OBL is revealed as the shallow, villainous little creep and hypocrite that he truly was.

One hopes that our youth shall be wise enough to be able to discern the vast differences between these two men who lived and died in this vast subcontinent of ours, and to follow in due course the higher path of the Lion and shun the low one of the Jackal.