‘The Dreams of Tipu Sultan’- Illuminate a true Sultan

Abstract

The play Dreams of Tipu Sultan records three streams of event. First stream is the conversation between Mir Hussain Ali Khan Kirmani, the historian in the court of Tipu, and Colonel Colin Mackenzie, the oriental scholar. This is the only present time of the play. The rest of the two streams are all in the past. The second stream comprises of Mir Kirmani’s recollection of events during Tipu’s rule, till his death. This is akin to the stream of consciousness narration. The third stream of event is Tipu’s dreams which he recorded in a diary. Interestingly, action follows the dreams. Tipu’s dreams are accurate description of events that happen immediately after it.
The sultan is very ambitious. But his ambition is not without reason. With the British expanding their empire in India, he desperately needed some support. At that time, Lord Cornwallis was appointed by the British as the Governor General of India. Before getting posted here, he had suffered a defeat in America against a lesser powerful enemy. So, he must be more than eager to restore his reputation as a soldier. Tipu understands all this.
He had to fight at three fronts: his personal sentiments, the allied forces, and traitors within his kingdom. He could control his sentiments for the sake of his kingdom. He skillfully managed his forces to fight bravely against the collective might of the threesome enemy. But how to fight against enemy disguised as his close confidents? Tipu must have been broken and shattered. But a soldier as he is, he faces all this bravely.