Thread by @PSainath_org

1/6. ‘Tipu Sultan was the only prince who died fighting the British… With (his death) Indian Independence was extinguished for a century and a half.’ Not quotes from Karnataka’s new government but from a BJP founder-member. Story link at end of thread.
#Karnataka #TipuSultan

2/6. BJP founder-member and foremost RSS journalist K.R. Malkani wrote decades ago: ‘The more I read about Tipu, the more I am impressed with his rich personality.’ His heartfelt praise of Tipu appears in his book ‘India First’ (Ocean Books 2002).
#Karnataka #TipuSultan

3/6. K. R. Malkani was Vice President of BJP from 1991-94. And editor of the RSS weekly Organiser for 35 years, while also editor of its Hindi counterpart Panchjanya. No other RSS man ever climbed such heights. L.K. Advani wrote the foreword to his book.
#Karnataka #TipuSultan

4/6. Malkani’s praise of Tipu followed his inquiry into the Sanjay Khan-starrer serial ‘The Sword of Tipu Sultan’ (Doordarshan 1990) at the request of party leaders. He delved strongly into the subject, reading all the historical accounts he could on Tipu.
#Karnataka #TipuSultan

5/6. The BJP, its routed government in Karnataka, and the RSS, obviously remained silent on Malkani’s embarrassing findings and still do. They went ahead two decades later, to whip up a hysterical frenzy, throwing Tipu out of the textbooks.
#Karnataka #TipuSultan

6/6. Malkani’s final words: ‘Tipu could certainly have bowed to the British and survived as a prince ... But Tipu preferred death to dishonour.’
#Karnataka #TipuSultan
Link: deccanherald.com/opinion/main-a…