Now actor Girish Karnad receives flak for Tipu controversy

Karnad had suggested renaming Kempegowda International Airport with that of Tipu Sultan's

Theatre personality Girish Karnad is caught in a crossfire of politics in Karnataka, after he suggested renaming the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru with that of Tipu Sultan, the Mysore ruler, who was born in Devanahalli, the village where the airport is located.

While Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah clarified that the airport will not be renamed, Kannada activists and people from the Vokkaliga community have taken umbrage to the suggestion made by Karnad.

Karnad, who has written plays on Tipu Sultan and called him as a freedom fighter, later apologised for his remark, which came during the birth celebrations of Tipu Sultan, organised by the Karnataka government. Tipu Sultan, known as the tiger of Mysore, has been regarded both as a benevolent ruler as well as a tyrant.

The celebrations itself sparked protests in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Madikeri and Mangaluru. In Madikeri, the town in coffee-growing Kodagu, two people including an activist of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad died on Tuesday during protests.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and theatre personality and writer Girish Karnad have called Tipu Sultan as a secular ruler, who fought the British while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has called him a tyrant who persecuted the Hindus during his rule.

Here is a lowdown on the controversy that disturbing peace in Karnataka during Deepavali, the festival of lights.

Birth anniversary

The Congress-led Karnataka government decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, on November 10. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hails from Mysuru, the region where Tipu Sultan ruled. The opposition BJP had opposed the government's move and called for anti-Tipu protests on the day, which also was the first of the three day Deepavali celebrations.

While protesters led a peaceful march in Bengaluru was peaceful, in Madikeri, capital of district Kodagu, protests turned violent that led to death of two people, including a Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist. The state maintains that the VHP activist died after falling in a gorge while escaping from the police during the protests.

"We had decided to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanti and had invited the BJP leaders to take part in the celebrations. Instead, they organised a parallel event to protest against this," said G Parameshwara, state home minister.

Why protests?

The opposition BJP and Hindu organisations have made allegations that Tipu Sultan was tyrant who replaced Kannada with Persian as a language in the Mysore state. Tipu also invaded Kodagu and the Malabar region in Kerala, and forcibly converted thousands of people to Islam during his rule.

At the same time, temples in Mysuru, Srirangapatna, Melkote and Sringeri were protected under his regime and showered with gifts. In Srirangapatna, his capital city and Bengaluru, there are temples adjoining the palace. He also invented rockets, which he used against the British.

"We had asked the government to not to hold the Tipu event now. Yet, it went ahead with this during the Deepavali festival," said former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka. "It does not want social harmony".

Government's argument

Siddaramaiah defended the celebrations saying Tipu Sultan was a freedom fighter and he was a secular ruler. "Tipu Sultan fought with the British in three wars and he sacrificed his life. We should look at him as a freedom fighter. The BJP looks at every event through communal eyes".

Tipu's defeat and subsequent death in the fourth Anglo-Mysore war in 1799, led the British to expand its rule over the Mysore Kingdom.