Navrathri / Dasara and Mysore has got a intimate connection. The Navrathri / Dasara is celebrated in an extravagant way in the Mysore palace . Every year during this festival tourist throng from various parts of the world to witness this spectacular event of procession of elephants and dolls. The full details of Mysore Dasara can be read here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysore_Dasara
With a connection to Mysore here is a play Tippuvina Kanasugalu (English: The Dreams of Tipu Sultan) in Kannada written by the Indian playwright Girish Karnad. The play follows the historical moments and the last days of the ruler of Mysore, Tipu sultan, through the eyes of an Indian court historian and a Buddhist scholar.
Tipu sultan used to maintain a record of his dreams which was concealed by his close associate. This play examines the inner life of Tipu sultan who is called the "Tiger of Mysore"
The play begins as a discussion between the historian, Mir Hussain Ali Khan Kiramani and oriental scholar Colin Mackenzie on the end of the reign of Tipu Sultan - an Indian King who refused to bow down to the British. He was all in one - a statesman, an innovator, a leader, a warrior and a political visionary.
Beginning with the revelation of Tipu sultan's slain body the play reverts to the flashback mode relating to the various events that led to the defeat of the ruler. The plat focuses on the conspiracy hatched by the British, the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad to attack Tipu sultan from all sides so that he will have no chance of victory.
During that time, Tipu was getting closer to the French and was trying to enlist their help to fight his enemies. Tipu decides to send Osman Khan on a delegation to France and asks him to bring ten thousand French soldiers from King Louis, the XVI.
Tipu's two sons were made prisoners of war and he was asked to cede half his kingdom. Eventually, before Tipu's defeat, he dreamt of the English withdrawing from India which was his last dream and that afternoon he was killed in the battle.
This play is not only a record of the historical events but also a representation of Tipu's innovative and progressive ideas. He is a man who readily accepts new, scientific and innovative ideas for the welfare of his people.
He is a good trader and believes that depending on other countries for goods is equal to slavery. So he orders his men to bring new machines, inventions, silk worm eggs and even professionals from France.
Karnad has beautifully portrayed Tipu as an ambitious and modernistic ruler. The play is an excellent attempt at reconstructing historical events that led to the fall of Tipu sultan.
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post that tells more about our history. good one.
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