Education Minister seeks report on demand to remove Tipu lesson

Karnataka Minister Suresh Kumar on Monday asked officials to look into demand of a BJP MLA that lesson on Tipu Sultan, controversial 18th-century ruler of erstwhile Mysore Kingdom be removed from history textbooks, and submit a report in three days. Primary and Secondary Education Minister has written a te to Managing Director of Karnataka Textbook Society, asking m to invite MLA, Appachu Ranjan and discuss matter. "As per request of MLA, call a meeting of history textbook drafting committee, regarding lesson on Tipu Sultan in history textbook. Invite (BJP) MLA Appachu Ranjan for meeting and discuss need for lesson.. to keep it or to remove it, and submit a report to me in three days," Kumar said in te.

Ranjan's request to remove Tipu Sultan's lesson

Ranjan h last week written to minister demanding that lesson on Tipu Sultan be removed. Speaking to reporters, Ranjan h alleged that Tipu h converted thousands of Christians and Kodavas, to Islam forcibly and that he h run his ministration in Persian langu, and was t a freedom fighter.

Quoting Ranjan, Kumar in te says, " MLA has said that state government in Middle school history textbook has lesson about Tipu Sultan. Without kwing completely about this history it has been inserted as a lesson, so contents of lesson are t true. He has been just glorified and projected."

"Tipu was anti-Kanna Persian ministrator. By teaching history lessons about such a personality to children, it will be like distorting history of state and country," minister, quoting from Ranjan's letter, said.

MLA has sought removal of lesson from textbook and insert lessons that instill feeling of "patriotism" to future generation.

Soon after coming to power, BJP government in Karnataka in July scrapped birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan, an annual event party h been opposing since2015 when it was launched during Congress rule.

BJP and right-wing organisations have been strongly opposing Tipu, calling erstwhile Mysore king a "religious bigot".

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Tipu Sultan controversial in Kodagu

Tipu was considered an implacable enemy of British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort at Srirangapatna against British forces. Tipu Sultan, however, is a controversial figure in Kodagu district as Kodavas (Coorgis), a martial race, believes thousands of ir men and women were seized and held captive during his occupation and subjected to torture, death and forcible conversion to Islam.

He was also accused of execution of Mandyam Iyengars at temple town of Melkote in Mandya district on day of Diwali as y supported n Maharaja of Mysuru. However, scale of such suppression is disputed by several historians, who see Tipu as a secular and modern ruler who took on might of British.

While BJP and some Hindu organisations see Tipu as a "religious bigot" and a "brutal killer", a few Kanna outfits call him "anti-Kanna", citing that he h promoted Persian at  cost of local langu. 

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