Girish Karnads The Dreams of Tipu Sultan : A Critical Introduction Shri. R.B.Chaugule. M.A.M.Phil. Dept.

of English Kankavli College, Kankavli. Dist- Sindhudurg Pin- 416602

A recipient of the Jnanpith Award, an actor, a film producer, a very significant playwright of post-Independence Indian literature, Girish Karnad is one of the torch bearers to Indian dramatists. His unique command over his dramatic material has made him one of the outstanding playwrights of India. He is one of the most prolific writers in India writing in Kannada and translating his own works himself into English later on. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford (1960-1963) and a Bhabha fellow (1970-1972). He is the most celebrated personality among the Indian dramatists. Karnad is a man of versatile genius and he was born at Matheran near Mumbai in 1938. Karnad upholds the rich cultural heritage of India and uses myths, traditional stories and the characters from History in his plays. He takes efforts to fight the legacy of colonialism by advocating Indian values and cultural ethos of India. We can categorize his works in the following manner Myths Yayati (1960) Hayavadana (1975) Nagamandala (Play with a Cobra) (1990) The Fire and the Rain (1998) Bali: The Sacrifice (2004) Flowers (2005) Histories Tughlaq (1972) Tale- Danda (1993) The Dreams of Tipu Sultan (2004) Autobiographical Broken Images (2005)

All these plays are written on Indian background. His play Driven Snow (1977) is on non-Indian location. Besides creative writing he has translated a well known play Evam Indrajit by Badal Sircar. Karnad treats History as myths and instead of writing factual historical plays he reshapes the situation symbolically and comments on the contemporary issues. His Tale-Danda and Tughlaq are best examples in this case. The Dreams of Tipu Sultan is one of the historical plays written by Karnad. This play is written by Karnad in English at the beginning and later on it is translated into Kannada, the reverse process of regular practice.

Karnad chooses the historical figure of Tipu Sultan Tiger of Mysore as his subject for

the play. On the occasion of fiftieth anniversary of Indian Independence B.B.C. Radio broadcasted this play. He has written the play keeping in mind the requirements of a Radio play; still the play has got all other qualities which are essential for staging the play. The play was staged on 17th February 2000 by the Madras Players at the YMCA Amphitheatre, Chennai. Even the play in its Kannada version was staged on 15th, 16th and 17th May 2004 at Dariya Daulat, Srirangpattanam, where Tipus body was interred and later from 21st to 25th May at Rangayan Mysore on the 200th Death Anniversary of Tipu Sultan.

Tipu Sultan was killed on the battlefield on 4th May 1799 but the play begins in 1803. Four years have passed. Colonel Colin Mackenzie visits the house of Mir Hussain Ali Khan Kirmani who has been appointed as a historian by the English. Kirmani was in the service of Tipu Sultan and he has seen the life of Tipu very closely. Kirmani says that though four years have passed there is no healing.

True, the blood and the tears dried up a long time ago. But the wound remains fresh.1 It indicates that Kirmani loved Tipu truly. His far too obsessed with his death, not death, the way he was destroyed. Kirmani spent his life in serving Tipu and his father Haidar Ali and now he is serving the English the enemies of Tipu. This disturbs Kirmani. What does that make him, a traitor? Kirmani talks about the letter given to him by Tipu before going to tha battlefield.

The play The Dreams of Tipu Sultan is divided into two acts. There is constant flux in between dream and reality. Though technically Karnad has not divided the play into scenes there are various scenes in the play. The scenes shift from one place to other and from one time to the other. The time moves from present to the past and vice-versa. Karnads instructions in the Note to the play suggest that the dreams scenes are to be staged as realistically as possible without the use of mask, special lightings or costumes and the scenes must follow each other in rapid succession.

The next scene is battlefield and takes us to the night of fourth of May 1799. The battle has come to an end and Tipu is killed. Mark Wilks and his soldiers are searching for the dead body of Tipu. Tipus servants are brought in to help identify his body. But they identify a dozen corpses as the Sultans. They make the English troops fool. Colonel Arthur Wellseley says that they have got to decide whether Tipu is dead or in hiding or has run away before they can take the next step. At last it is Nadeem Khan, Quiledar, the Manager of the fort helps the English soldiers to identify the body of Tipu Sultan. Wellseley mentions him as the Tiger of Mysore. The body of Tipu is not honored properly by the English soldiers. One of the soldiers takes a pen knife from Mackenzie and chops off one of Tipus mustaches.

Next scene is once again Kirmanis house and he is talking with Mackenzie. Kirmani says, So the Tiger of Mysore had at last been hunted down and the first solution he received from the

hunters was to have his whiskers chopped.2 Kirmani later narrates the injustice done to the Indians. Every house was looted. Every available woman raped. Soldiers throwing away precious jewellery because they could not carry any more.3 He also adds, Doors and windows in the city had already been torn down by the British soldiers. Most houses were roofless. And now, through the night, the rain lashed with a fury that made the soldiers rampage seem like childs play. It destroyed all my papers. Wiped awar every word written in ink. Within a night, all my recorded facts became memory.4

Karnad has narrated atrocities done to the Indians by the British during the battle. In a very inhuman manner the Indians were treated by the British soldiers. Kirmani mentions about the dairy written by Tipu. Before the touch of Munshi Habibullah the dairy was a sacred thing. Kirmani is of the opinion that the Munshi should have burnt it down. But as he was a fool he did not do that. Tipu is in the habit of writing his dreams in the dairy. There are some blank pages also, and these blank pages raise curiosity in the mind of Kirmani.

The following scene is but a dream of Tipu Sultan. When Tipu is returning from Farrukhe near Salamabad he sees this dream. In dream Poornaiya, the Finance Minister, is accompanying him. They see a big temple and they go inside to see it. There are strange figures in the temple. There are stone images and they are moving their eyes. Out of these images two women rise and say that they are seeking for their salvation. They want total isolation. Tipu gives orders to repair the temple and these seekers after God are not to be disturbed. This shows Tipus respect for worship and his secularism. Out side the temple they visit two old men. These are the envoys of the Emperor of China. One of the envoys tells Tipu that the Emperor of China has sent a white elephant and the horses as token of love of his friendship and affection for him. He also adds that this sort of present he has sent only to the great Alexander. Tipu, when arises, interpretes the dream as God Almighty and our prophet will make him another Alexander.

After the dream scene the scene of the play shifts to Diwan-i-khas. We see Tipu with Pornaiya and Mir Sadiq at his conference. He is discussing commerce and other factors regarding his state from Tipus dialogues we come to know that what is needed for the state from the outside and what is available in his state for the trade. He says, We need glass. We need guns. We need cannons. Shall we keep buying them from abroad? Even for that we need money. And shall we be content with the pittance we get by taxing our businessmen when we have ivory and sandalwood freely available? Can an individual trader deal in sandalwood? For centuries we begged and borrowed silk from the Chinese. And everyone predicted disaster when I got a few eggs from China. And now we have flourishing industry of our own. Shall we seat back like the stupid Nizam and the Marathas who continue as though the English never existed?...5

This indicates that Tipu is conscious about the existence, power and strength of

English in trade. As a father Tipu loves his sons and he makes his sons aware of what and how the things are going in the state. When the things are being discussed Tipu comes to know that one of his tigers is restless and he orders his servants to feed more to this Bahadurkhan as he is growing up. Tipu takes care even of his tigers in a proper manner. Tipu is sending his representatives to France. He wants to make aware the King of France that if the French dont wake up, the English will gobble up the whole of India. He wants to change the face of India with the help of French soldiers. He just doesnt want ten thousand soldiers but also craftsmen who could make guns, cannons and pistols. Tipu is too conscious about the increasing power of the British in India and in order to face the encroachment of the English in his state he wants all these armory of soldiers. He tells his men to bring a doctor, a surgeon, a smelter, a carpenter, a weaver, a blacksmith, a locksmith, a cutter---. He tells his men to bring a thermometer also. All these things indicate that Tipu wants to make his state a complete in it. He accepts the new discoveries and inventions and welcomes then to his state. He also intends to translate a book on medical science in Persian language.

Tipu admires the good qualities of the British people. He advices Mir Sadiq that when he feels lazy or despondent he should think of the John Company. He knows that these peoples after fifty years of trade are threatening Indians due to their passion for trade. He is aware of his sons studies and tells them that if they want to be successful kings they should study. When Poornaiya informs Tipu about a treaty signed by the English and the French that they will not enter into the local affairs in India Tipu tells him that the English and the French are neighbours and they cant be friends forever. They are bound to start quarreling. Tipu knows as Lord Cornwallis is appointed as the Governor General of India the English do not want peace in India.

Once again there is a dream of Tipu shown by Karnad. Tipu sees a fair skinned and light eyed man (a woman disguised as a man) approaches him and praises Tipus handsomeness. Later Tipu comes to know that the person who has approached him and a appreciating him is a woman disguised as a man and Tipu asks her to quit.

Tipu interprets this dream as though the Marathas are dressed in male attire; they will in fact prove to be women. The next scene is the Maratha court in Pune and Nana Phadanvis, the Maratha statesman is talking with Charles Malet, representative of Lord Cornwallis. Malet has come to give assurance to the Maratha rulers that they are the good friends of theirs. But Nana Phadanvis is wise politician and he suspects the intensions of the English. He is worried about the policies implemented by the British regarding Scindia, the Maratha chiefs, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Nawabs of a Carnatic and Oudh, the Rajahs of Travancore and Cochin. When Nana mentions the name of Tipu, Malet says that the English are having a little trouble with him. Nana is disturbed with the Treaty of Perpetual Peace in between Tipu Sultan and the English. Nana says, ---Im sorry, but your friends are a bunch of nincopoops. Tipu is worth a hundred of Nizam, who is nothing but a whining little limpet. I must accuse you English of duplicity-6

Nana informs Malet that the Marathas also have signed a Treaty of Perpetual Peace with Tipu Sultan and the Marathas have more regard for their own word than the English seem to have for theirs. Nana adds that Vakil of Tipu Sultan is waiting outside and to talk with him is more preferable. Malets intension is different. As he comes to know that he is not being successful in convincing Nana he changes the subject and asks Nana to talk about the facts. He adds that as Tipu is giving trouble to Rajah of Travancore who is a friend of English. But Nana says that the Raja of Tiruvindakoor is mischievous little rat. Nana says that if the English fight with Tipu the Marathas wont mind. Malet uses his last weapon and says, Except for the vast Maratha territories which his father grabbed unjustly and which Tipu still retains. (pause) May we point out that when Tipu made his peace with the Marathas, he returned all his recent acquisitions but not his fathers? While the bravery of Marathas is known the world over, so, Sir, is Tipus. If the Marathas ever face Tipu alone, its likely to be a stalemate again7. Nana dislikes the strategy and responds that the Marathas are in need of the English. Malet says, the Marathas, the Nizam and the Honorable Company declare war independently of each other. Then will be no open collaboration. We attack from three different directions-separately.-- The Governor General hopes that the Maratha chief will use this opportunity to obtain reparation and recover the territories seized unjustly by Tipu Sultans father Haider Ali, and will join us in punishing a man who we believe is the enemy of all mankind.8

Malet has become successful I putting poison in the mind of Marathas. The English used the policy of Divide and Rule in India and became successful in ruling India. The next scene shifts to the inner chamber of Tipus palace. We see Tipu with his queen Ruqayya Banu. Offstage we get the sound of boys playing with mechanical tiger and we listen to the life like screams of a human doll. Tipu is talking with Ruqaiyya about politics and the English. Though he hates the English, Tipu has learnt many things from them. He says, ---I have two teachers in my life. My father, who taught me war, and the English, who taught me trade. They taught me that the era of camel is over, that is now the age of sailing ship.---9 Tipu informs to Ruqaiyya that he has refused the English to have their Resident at his court. Tipu is aware of the strength of the Indian soil and the follies of Indians. He says, This land is ours and its rich, overflowing with goods and world hungers for, and we let foreigners come in and rule us of our wealth. Today the Indian princes are all comatose, wrapped in their opium dreams. But some day theyll wake up and throw out the Europeans.---10 Tipu tells Ruqaiyya about his policies regarding Marathas. He says, ---Only Mahadaji Shinde understands the English. The Marathas of Pune are coy, flirtatious, and unreliable. But I need their help, so I have made peace with them. So long as they keep out of this conflict- and I have returned the territories I have conquered from them-Ive nothing to worry about.11 But at the same time Hasina comes and informs that the Vakils of tipu Sultan have been driven out of Pune. The English have succeeded in their manipulation. The Marathas too have declared war against Tipu.

Once again the scene shifts to Kirmanis house and we see Mackenzie and Kirmani are talking about the war between Tipu and the English. Mackenzie says, In 1790, Lord Cornwallis invaded Mysore. The Nizam and Marathas launch the parallel attacks. A sea saw war stretched over two years, with no end in sight12 Kirmani adds, But on the return journey, the English forces ran into the Marathas with their abundant supplies. The two joined forces and attacked Seringapatam, and Tipu was forced to sue for peace. The English became successful in their plan. The act one comes to an end here. The incident which took place on 23rd February 1792 are shown at the beginning of second act. The square in front of the big mosque in Seringapatam, packed with senior citizens, generals and courtiers. Poornaiya addresses the nobleman and he informs that senior hakim has come to attend the Queen. After some time Tipu joins the meeting and addresses the noblemen and makes them aware of the situation. --- The enemies hold our city in a pythons embrace---We have three enemies-The English, the Marathas and the Nizam---.13 He and Poornaiya tell them about the condition laid down by the English.

1) All English prisoners taken by his majesty as well as his father, Haider Ali, to be released unconditionally. 2) Cession of half of our domain adjacent to the territories of the English, the Marathas and the Nizam. 3) An indemnity of six crores. 4) The hostages to be handed over to the English to be kept with them until the terms of treaty are duly fulfilled. Two of Tipus sons. When the mob listens to the conditions they are disturbed. Some talk of the war, because the conditions are outrageous. But Tipu accepts the conditions of the English as he does not want the destruction of his city. He is very angry with the English but he is helpless.

This is the new language that has come into our land: English. This is the culture of that language: English. Boys of seven and eight as hostages of war.14 At the same time Tipu is sure that the English will not harm his children for there is no financial profit in it. But he is worried about the danger that they would teach his children their language, English. The language in which it is possible to think of children as hostage. So Tipu agrees the conditions and wishes to conclude the treaty in a hurry before his children have learnt to think in those terms. The decision is told by Tipu to the crowd and the crowd departs. When Mir Sadiq, Poornaiya, Nadeem Khan, Ghulam Ali Khan and Qamaruddin get up to take leave Tipu gestures to them to sit down and tells them that the Queen Ruqayya Banu is no more. He tells them that he is lucky because she died without knowing he had bartered her sons for his kingdom. Tipu loves his sons very much but he is helpless. He tells Ghulam Ali Khan to accompany his sons, I dont want my babies to feel their family abandoned them totally- although thats what it amounts to finally15

He expects that the British should treat his sons properly. He wants to cover up his own sense of shame by sending the sons out as heroes.

The next scene takes place in the inner chamber of the palace. In the scene we see that Ghulam Ali Khan convincing the sons of Tipu Sultan to go to the troops of the English as their guests. Muizuddin and Abdul Khaliq. The sons of Tipu are convinced by Ghulam Ali Khan. It is a test Ghulam Ali and he becomes successful in it.

The next scene is at Diwan-i-Aam and Tipu is with Kirmani, Poornaiya and Mir Sadiq. Tipu is eager to know what happened when his sons were taken to the English camp. Kirmani narrates the procession of Tipus sons and how it was led by camel harakaras and standard bearers- followed by a hundred lancers with spears invalid with silver-entered the English camp and how they were taken these on caparisoned elephants. He also tells Tipu that princes were received with a twenty-one gull salutes and Lord Cornwalllis took each prince by hand and sat them down on the right and left of their chair. When Kirmani narrates all these things Tipu is psychologically disturbed and says, Oh God! God! Why didnt I die before I heard these words? Ruqaiyya Banu , why didnt you take me with you? How did I come to this?16 In order to show his gratitude towards the English for receiving his sons by giving them warm welcome Tipu asks to fire a salute to the English and send the English a crore and half as the first installment of the payment.

After a meeting Tipu moves to remove his bed he says that which his sons are in foreign hands, he shall sleep on the bare stone floor. Next scene is dream of Tipu once again. In his dream his father Haider Ali has come to meet him. His father tells Tipu that he is maimed and he has no limbs, they are cut and handed over to the enemy. This dream is also symbolic. Tipu has returned the territories which his father has won from the Marathas. He says that Tipu spends too much time with his account books. Tipu tells his father that English are stronger than his time. Haider wants to know why Tipu let Cornwallis escape. Tipu says, ---Father, often, suddenly, see myself in them-I see these white skins swarming all over the land and I wonder what makes so relentless? Desperate? Most of them are no older than Fat Haider. What drives these young lads so much distant lands threw fever, destiny, and alcohol-.17 Tipu likes the mentality of the English soldiers. He says that there is never any treachery against own kind, no back-stabbing. They believe in the destiny of their race. The English fight for something called England. It is just a dream, for which they are willing to kill and die. Tipu assures his father that he will do something to restores his limbs.

The next scene opens in the Maratha camp. Hari Pant Phadake and Tipu discuss over the political issue. Tipu asks why the Marathas helped the English in attacking him. Hari Pants answer is the Nizam stood by the English and the Marathas were outvoted. According to Tipu the Marathas are the real victors and they shoul not have allowed the English to dictate the terms.

Tipu advocates his friendship with the French because they are not dictators like the English. When Hari Pant advocates Cornwallis and expresses his satisfaction for the share, the Marathas have received. Tipu says, ---The share that youve been given is what my father have won from you Marathas forty years ago. What you have got is only a restitution of your earlier possessions. And in return you have given the English new territories: Salem, Dindigul, the Malbar Coast with its coconuts and a pepper and its magnificent ports. You are back where you were while the English now have the entire cost line of India. And remember they are a sea faring powerAnd instead of keeping the English out, youve permitted the shark in to your water and are trying to swim along with it.18 Tipu gives the example of Raja of Tiruvindankoor to Hari Pant and says that he has been thrown on the dung heap. He makes Hari Pant aware of the policy of Use and Throw observed by the English. Tipu expresses his brief to Hari Pant regarding his sons as they have been kept by the English as the prisoners of wars though they are edged seven and eight. Tipu knows why Cornwallis has saved him because without him in South India the Marathas would become too powerful. He warns Haripant that perhaps it will be the turn of Hari pants children next time. Once again the scene shifts to Kirmani and Mackenzie. Kirmani tells that Tipus sons were restored to him. Mackenzie tells that Lord Cornwallis was succeeded by Sir John Shore and there was peace for seven years and then came Richard Wellesley, the Second Earl of Mornington. The incidents which took place in 1798 in Calcutta are shown in the next scene. We see on the stage Richard Wellesley, his younger brother Arthur Wellesley and Colonel William Kirk Patrick. Mornington is of the view that they have to liquidate Tipu. He is of he opinion that when Tipu sought help from Nepolian at that time only serious action would have been taken by them. This was a sort of flirtation against the British and it should not be tolerated. Mornington says, Tipu is building a trading empire on the European model and succeeding imminently. We have driven the French and Dutch out of India, contained the Portuguese. Is there any reason why we should tolerate an upstart native? The longer the peace, the stronger will Tipu becomes.19

Kirk and Arthur Wellesley are surprised with the opinion of Mornington. He wants to spread a rumour that Tipu has asked the French Governor of Mauritius Malarctic a dispatch of Ten thousand French and Twenty thousand African troops. He also knows that as Tipu had peaceful relations with the English for the Seven years he will not expect them to declare war. Mornington asks Kirk to tell the Nizam and the Marathas that the English expect their presence, though it scarcely matters. He knows that Baird is keen to lead the assault against Tipu, as he has been a prisoner of Tipu and is eager to avenge himself. Mornington wishes his entire army to throw against Tipu He tells his brother Arthur Wellesley that he should take the command of Seringapatam after the battle. The next scene is at Diwan-i-Aam. We see Tipu with Mir Sadiq, Poornaiya, Kamaruddin and Nadeem Khan. Tipu informs these people about the new demands of the English. And now the have asked for four of my sons as hostages. And half of my Kingdom again-half of the half they left me last time.20 Tipu knows why the English behave with him in this manner.

I knew the English wouldnt like my extending hand to the French, so what? Shall I spend the rest of my life looking with Anxiety at the English for smiles of approval or frowns of displeasure? Today I am the only one in India who wont bow and scrape before them. So they want to crush me. Im told Engalnd is buzzing with stories of what a monster I am and how I need to be chastised.21 Tipu wants to create confusions in the mind of English by accepting the terms. But other says that instead of accepting the conditions of the English they will fight the English to the bitter end and to the last drop of their blood.

But the tragedy is there that we find later on that all these persons have turned into treacherous. Kirmani tells that the English surrounded the Fort of Seringapatam on fourth May 1799. The very night Tipu sees his last dream. In his last dream he sees that everybody is reporting him the good things happening in the case of his state. Poornaiya reports that the nine planets have been placated and offering made to the guardians of the eight directions. Even the cannons are accurate and have an extraordinary range. Mir Sadiq reads a letter sent by the Nizam who has seen his folly in backing the English. Even the Marathas have decided to throw in their lot with Tipu. Qamuruddin reports about the withdrawing of the English. Tipu orders to call entire zenana out to celebrate the victory. This is the last dream of Tipu Sultan. All these things take place in his dream. The reality is different. In the last scene of the play we see again Kirmani and Mackenzie talking about the defeat of Tipu Sultan. Kirmani tells Mackenzie how Tipu was defeated. On that very afternoon Tipu Sultan is killed on the battle field. Mir Sadiq conducts treachery and is lynched by his own troops. Nadeem Khan takes his troops away from the battle field. Poornaiya slips with alacrity into the post of Prime Minister under the new regime. Qamaruddin is by his side. The battle of Seringapatam is lossed before it has begun. Mackenzie tells about how the tigers are killed the very next day and the mechanical tiger is taken away to England. Tipu Sultans sons are moved out of Seringapatam and end in Calcutta.

Karnad has written a Post Script for this play, in that he mentions the tragedy of the descendants of Tipu Sultan. The play takes us to the time of Tipu Sultan and narrates the tragedy of a wise King. The play ends with It was not Tipus dreams but his predictions that came true.22 The treachery and deceit of his own nobles which led to the fall of the Seringapatam Fort and Tipus subsequent death certainly add the element of tragedy that surrounds the legend of Tipu Sultan23 It is the tragedy of an Indian Hero though he was conscious about the encroachment of the colonists. The tragedy takes place not due to the English people only but the treachery committed by the Indians is responsible for the fall of Tipu Sultan.

References

1. Karnad, Girish (2005) Collected plays. Oxford University Press, Delhi. p.181 2. Ibid. p.188 3. Ibid. p.190 4. Ibid. p.191 5. Ibid. p.196 6. Ibid. p.205 7. Ibid. pp.206,207 8. Ibid. p.207 9. Ibid. p.209 10. Ibid. p.210 11. Ibid. p.210 12. Ibid. p.211 13. Ibid. p.213 14. Ibid. pp.216,217 15. Ibid. p.218 16. Ibid. pp.222,223 17. Ibid. p.225 18. Ibid. p.228 19. Ibid. pp.230,231 20. Ibid. p.234 21. Ibid. p.234 22. Ibid. p.239 23. Grace, Sudhir. (2006) On the Wings of his Dreams: Re-Viewing the Legend and History of Tipu Sultan in Tutun Mukherjee: Girish Karnads Plays: Performance and Critical Perspectives. Pencraft International, Delhi 2006. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.englishcyberliterature.net June2010