This historical novel tells the story of Tipu Sultan---the man, the lover, the soldier, the prince, the king. It speaks of those who loved and betrayed him; of his interactions with charming ladies and brilliant men; of his greatness and of the craftiness of his contemporaries; of the wit and folly of his times; and of the struggle of men and ideas in the march of history. Based on extensive research, The Sword of Tipu Sultan is an original contribution to historical literature which gives insights into the character of its hero, and the period in which he lived. Tipu, maligned by historians as a cruel and bigoted ruler, emerges here as a humane, enlightened ruler who believed that God is not confined to any one religion and that all religions therefore deserve equal respect. He was opposed to colonialism, welcomed the American Declaration of Independence and applauded the spirit of the French Revolution. The author establishes him as the first among modern Indian nationalists who knew that India was weakened not by outside powers but the decadence and disunity within. A vivid portrayal of the drama of Tipu's times, The Sword of Tipu Sultan captures the amazing spirit of the man who, in the midst of disaster, lost neither his dignity nor his faith. He chose to court death when he could have saved himself, for he firmly believed that his sacrifice would serve as an example for the future generations of India. Special Edition: With 30 exclusive illustrations, handpicked by the author, from the T.V. Serial which are not part of the Printed book.

This book is part of a series of books aimed at disseminating the accurate history of India drawn from the primary sources. History writing, especially about the medieval Muslim rule has been fraught with political correctness, controversy, and in several cases, downright falsification. This has occurred mostly with official state patronage. As a result, any attempts to correct this course has been virulently opposed with the result that most urban-educated Indians have now internalized a politically correct version of Indian history. The history of Tipu Sultan too, stands as a glaring instance of this distorted historical narrative. Indeed, we have seen, read, and heard about a lot of people claiming to be freedom fighters and receiving pensions from the Government. Several of these worthies would not have been born before Independence yet they succeed in such blatant manipulations. There are instances of portraying certain rulers and chieftains as true heroes who fought against the British Empire. One such ruler happens to be Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan is widely known as the Tiger of Mysore. Indeed, the image of Tipu battling a tiger barehanded crosses the mind whenever his name is mentioned. But is this the truth? Was Tipu Sultan truly the warrior as he has been portrayed? What exactly is his record of fighting the British? Was he really a freedom fighter as is widely claimed? Sandeep Balakrishna in this well-researched book, explores both the myths and the truth surrounding Tipu Sultan. A must-read for those who wish to learn the true story of Tipu Sultan.

In The Present Work, An Attempt Has Been Made To Give An Accurate Picture Of Tipu Sultan By Disengaging His Personality From Masses Of Fictions And Distortions Which Have Gathered Round Him. As Practically The Whole Of Tipu'S Life Was Taken Up With Fighting, The Author Has Devoted Considerable Space To Campaigns And Battles. However, He Has Not Ignored Other Aspects Of His Career. He Has Paid Sufficient Attention To The Causes And Results Of Wars, While TipuS Relation With The English, The French, The Nizam, The Marathas And The Ottoman Sultan Have Been Fully Discussed. The Last Three Chapters Of The Book Have Been Devoted To A Description Of The SultanS Government And Army, His Reforms And Religious Policy, His Efforts At Industrialisation And State Socialism, His Character, His Failures And Achievements. This Pioneering Study Will Enable The Reader To Appraise The Career And Character Of This Extraordinary Man. Its Scholarly Value Is Enhanced By Professor HasanS Extensive Use Of English, French, Persian, And Urdu Sources.

It was the summer of AD 1399 that disaster struck a small principality of southern India. Mahisuru, which later went on to become Mysore, had lost its chieftain and was vulnerable to the machinations of a cunning upstart. At around the same time, two young aspirants left their ancestral home in Dwaraka, Gujarat and proceeded southwards in search of fame. Yaduraya, the elder of the two aspirants, was destiny s chosen man, to lead a valiant attack against the vile upstart, rescue the family in distress, wed the princess and assume the lordship of the place. This event marked the birth of the Wodeyar Dynasty.