Minister Mahadevappa sparks row, says Tipu Sultan laid KRS dam foundation
After laying the foundation stone for the Dr BR Ambedkar Bhavan in Srirangapatna, Mahadevappa said, 'Tipu Sultan laid the foundation stone, but no one dares to acknowledge this. There is clear evidence of this on the main gate of KRS dam.' He said, 'Those who don't understand history cannot create history. Tipu was a secular ruler. There's a mosque and a temple next to each other. Allahu Akbar is heard in the mosque, and temple bells ring at the same time. Tipu listened to both with calmness and acceptance.'
Praising contributions of the ruler, Mahadevappa said said he abolished the exploitative Devadasi system, resisted giving land to the rich, made Gubbi and Harihara commercial centres and introduced sericulture to India. 'Tipu was a great freedom fighter who fought the British. The palace of Mysuru kingdom was located in Srirangapatna,' he said.
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First Post
9 minutes ago
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History Today: When the Swadeshi movement was launched in Calcutta by boycotting British goods
On August 7, 1905, Indian leaders formally launched the Swadeshi Movement at Calcutta Town Hall, passing a boycott resolution against British goods and mobilising domestic industry. The Swadeshi Movement became a foundational campaign in India's independence struggle pioneering grassroots resistance read more The Swadeshi Movement was launched at the Town Hall in Calcutta (now Kolkata, West Bengal), India, on August 7, 1905. File Image As part of Firstpost's History Today series, we take a look at a few events of August 7 focusing on the formal inauguration of the Swadeshi Movement in Calcutta. We also take a brief look at Philippe Petit's iconic tightrope walk in New York, George Washington establishing the predecessor to the Purple Heart, and Côte d'Ivoire gaining independence from France. Launch of the Swadeshi Movement On August 7, 1905, the Swadeshi Movement was formally proclaimed at a massive meeting held at Calcutta Town Hall. At this historic gathering, delegates passed a landmark Boycott Resolution calling for the rejection of British goods — especially Manchester cloth and Liverpool salt — and the revival of domestic manufacture. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Swadeshi ('own-country') represented not just a boycott, but a clarion call for economic self-sufficiency (Atma‑shakti) — a concept later heralded by Mahatma Gandhi as the very 'soul of Swaraj'. In July 1905, the British announced the Partition of Bengal, citing administrative difficulty. In practice, it was aimed at splitting Bengali unity along communal lines — an explicit 'Divide and Rule' strategy. Nationalists, outraged, responded with petitions, press campaigns and protest meetings. But it soon became clear that symbolic opposition was insufficient. Leaders like Krishnakumar Mitra, through his journal Sanjivani, first proposed a boycott in July; that call gained traction and culminated in the August 7 Town Hall declaration. At the Town Hall meeting, Mitra's proposal was formalised: a mass ban on British goods together with pledges to support Indian industry. The resolution, backed by leading moderates — Surendranath Banerjee, Ananda Mohan Bose, and others — was momentous in shifting the movement from agitation to action. Immediately after the meeting, leaders travelled across Bengal forming samitis (volunteer associations) to publicise boycott pledges. In small towns and villages, community gatherings became platforms for mass resistance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Initially, Swadeshi was led by Moderates, who hoped economic pressure might persuade Britain to repeal the partition. Their tools: petitions, constitutional appeals, press campaigns via Hitabadi, Sanjibani, and Bengalee newspapers, and formal resolutions in local Congress branches. But as repression intensified — arrests, press bans, and bans on public gatherings — the Extremist wing (the 'Garam Dal') rose in influence. Patriotic leaders like Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh, and Madan Mohan Malaviya advocated passive resistance, university boycotts, and strong organisational discipline. The movement became more confrontational and expansive after the Calcutta Congress session of 1906 declared Swaraj (self-rule) as its formal goal. Examples of methods and mobilisation included: Picketing shops selling British cloth, public bonfires of imported textiles. Promotion of Khadi (homespun cotton) and Gramodyog (village industries) as patriotic duty. Rakhi Bandhan unity rituals (August 16, 1905) symbolising Hindu-Muslim solidarity undermining partition lines. Mass processions singing 'Vande Mataram', bathing in the Ganges, fasting — public expressions of defiance. Formation of the National Council of Education (1906), Bengal National College and Technical Institute under Satish Chandra Mukherjee and Aurobindo Ghosh to counter British curriculum reliance. Indian entrepreneurs started businesses like Bengal Chemicals, Banga Lakshmi Mills, Margo soap factory to provide Swadeshi alternatives to British products. Swadeshi resonated beyond economics — fostering literary, artistic, and spiritual nationalism. Rabindranath Tagore composed 'Amar Sonar Bangla' in response to partition. Poet Rajanikanta Sen wrote songs urging Bengalis to accept 'coarse cloth offered by your mother' as a symbol of national pride and sacrifice — lyrics that became galvanising. Universities, clubs like Dawn Society, and cultural forums became centres of nationalist education. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beyond Bengal, the movement reached other provinces: Maharashtra : Tilak used Ganapati and Shivaji festivals to mobilise masses. Punjab : led by Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh. Madras : under VO Chidambaram Pillai. Delhi: via Syed Haider Raza. The British government responded with force as the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1908, and press censorship (Newspaper Act) suppressed dissent. As well as violent crackdown on students, arrests of leaders, and bans on singing Vande Mataram under police and Seditious Meetings Act regulations. Swadeshi shifted Indian National Congress rhetoric from consent-based moderation to demand-led assertion of self-rule. By 1908, the movement had subsided amid Congress factionalism (Surat Split of 1907), but it laid groundwork for mass movements under Gandhi's later leadership. The movement's core principle — economic self-sufficiency — lives on in modern initiatives such as Khadi festivals, village co-operatives, and the recent Make in India campaign launched on August 7, 2015 — the anniversary of the Swadeshi launch. Gandhi incorporated Swadeshi into his Satyagraha campaigns; the spinning wheel became symbolic of Indian independence. Today, August 7 is observed in India as National Handloom Day, celebrating the indigenous textile heritage and honouring the pioneering spirit of the original Swadeshi activists. Philippe Petit walks between Twin Towers On August 7, 1974, French high-wire artist Philippe Petit executed one of history's most audacious performances. Without authorisation or safety equipment, he walked on a tightrope stretched between the roofs of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center, roughly 1,350 feet above Manhattan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For 45 minutes, Petit crossed eight times, danced, knelt, and lay on the wire — captivating a crowd below and cementing the event in performance lore. Petit planned the stunt over six years — building models, scouting towers, smuggling equipment — and evaded authorities until after completion. While arrested, he was released after agreeing to perform for children in Central Park. His 1974 walk inspired films like Man on Wire and remains celebrated as 'the artistic crime of the century'. George Washington establishes Badge of Military Merit (Purple Heart) On August 7, 1782, General George Washington, commanding the Continental Army at Newburgh, New York, established the Badge of Military Merit, an honour worn over the left breast — a purple, heart‑shaped cloth edged in silver. It recognised 'instances of unusual gallantry…extraordinary fidelity…essential service' by enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers — a radical departure from tradition where only officers received battlefield recognition. Only three soldiers received the honor during the US Revolution. The award was largely forgotten until revived in 1932 as the modern Purple Heart, now the US military's oldest decoration, awarded to those wounded or killed in service Côte d'Ivoire Gains independence On August 7, 1960, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) officially declared independence from France, ending nearly 67 years of colonial rule. Under leader Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who had earlier served in the French Parliament, the country transitioned from a French Overseas Territory (from 1958) to full sovereign republic within two years — achieved with minimal conflict relative to its neighbours. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Celebrated annually as national independence day, Côte d'Ivoire observes military parades, flag ceremonies in Yamoussoukro, and cultural festivals across its major city Abidjan. Since independence, the country has become a major cocoa exporter and maintained relative political stability under Houphouët-Boigny's long presidency (1960-1993). With inputs from agencies
Hans India
40 minutes ago
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 7th Aug 2025
K'taka CM must shun pro-Muslim bias This refers to the editorial 'One-upmanship of the bizarre kind in Karnataka'. It has become a trend of sorts in Karnataka, especially by the ruling Congress government to perpetually keep alive the legacy of Tipu Sultan, including by irrationally crediting Tipu as the builder of Kannambadi Dam. Tipu Jayanthi came into controversy, promoted by the Congress government that was vehemently opposed by the level-headed citizens of Karnataka for Tipu's anti-Hindu ways that the government attempted to catapult him to the status of 'India's freedom fighter' having fought the British. It is important that the Siddaramiah government desists from the overt Muslim appeasement to the consternation of Hindus in the state. This excessive pro-Muslim pampering mentality on part of the Congress will cost it dearly in its greed for power. K R Parvathy, Mysuru Flood management is the need of the hour Every year during the monsoon season, several states in India face disasters like floods. Recently, a devastating flood in Uttarakhand caused widespread destruction. In these circumstances, a comprehensive and forward-looking flood management system is extremely necessary for the country, where the frequency and intensity of floods have been increasing by the year. On one hand, unregulated urban development, obstruction in the natural flow of rivers, and blocked drainage systems make floods more destructive. On the other hand, the lack of early warning systems and protective infrastructure puts people's lives at serious risk. Hence, flood management must include preparedness before the disaster, relief efforts during and after the flood, and long-term rehabilitation measures. To achieve this, it is essential for institutions like IMD, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), ISRO's satellite services, and modern survey technologies to provide quick and accurate forecasts. Additionally, it is crucial to deep-clean riverbeds and remove encroachments around riverbanks. Public awareness is also important. The time has come for us to approach floods with a scientific mindset. Dr Jitesh Mori, Kutch Onus on GHMC and HYDRAA engineers Nature's fury has been causing massive damages and claiming many lives for decades together. Same goes with heavy rains, which wreak havoc and bring normal life to a standstill. Our experienced engineering professionals in GHMC and HYDRAA must use the latest technology to clear all underground drainage lines and manholes that are blocked or leaking, using detectors and sensors. Like done by blood banks and organ donation camps, the engineers must create many open water storage tanks and canals to collect rainwater, which can subsequently flow into rivers. Surficial repairs will be a waste of money. We need permanent solutions. Officials from HYDRAA and the GHMC should rely on the latest infrastructure and make life easy and safe for the citizens of the twin cities. G Murali Mohan Rao, Secunderabad-11 Proper planning can check manmade disasters The visuals of flash floods causing a near-total destruction of a village, Dharali, and loss of scores of human lives in Uttarakhand are heart-breaking. The rescue operations by various governmental agencies are laudable. Now it's time to dwell deep into the root causes of such disasters, which are happening regularly in the Himalayan region. The eco-sensitive zone must be kept away from so-called development with unplanned constructions. The quantity of destruction may be due to sprouting of unplanned constructions. There should be proper planning to mitigate manmade disasters both in frequency and severity. Dr DVG Sankara Rao, Vizianagaram-535003
News18
an hour ago
- News18
No Tipu Sultan, Anglo-Mysore Wars In Class 8 NCERT Book; Govt Explains Why
Trinamool MP Ritabrata Banerjee asked if the new NCERT Class 8 book omits Tipu Sultan, Haidar Ali, or the Anglo-Mysore wars in its colonial-era chapter, and why. The omission of Tipu Sultan, Haidar Ali, and the Anglo-Mysore wars from the new NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook has drawn attention in Parliament, with the Centre stating that states have the flexibility to include more content on regional personalities and events in their curricula. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said, 'Education being a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and the majority of schools being under the jurisdiction of the State Governments, the respective State Government may adopt or adapt NCERT textbooks or develop their own textbooks based on the National Curriculum Framework. The states have flexibility to provide more coverage about regional personalities and events in their textbooks." The question was raised by Trinamool Congress MP Ritabrata Banerjee, who asked whether the new Class 8 textbook omits mention of Tipu Sultan, Haidar Ali, or the Anglo-Mysore wars of the 1700s in the chapter on India's colonial era and the reasons behind such exclusions. NCERT Textbook Reworked Under NEP 2020 In his written reply, Chaudhary explained that the revised Class 8 Social Science textbook (Part 1) has been developed in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023. 'The new textbook comprises four themes: India and the World: Land and the People; Tapestry of the Past; Governance and Democracy; Economic Life Around Us," he said. 'Personalities featured in these themes have been included contextually and in accordance with curricular objectives. The textbook introduces new pedagogical approaches, emphasizes refined classroom practices, and presents a focused syllabus. These textbooks encourage students to explore more through experiential learning, undertake fieldwork, and focus on evidence-based understanding. The approach adopted for the Middle Stage (Grades 6 to 8) is to provide only a broad survey of Indian civilization from prehistoric times all the way to Independence," Chaudhary added. The updated book, released last month, contains a section on early resistance movements against British colonialism leading up to the 1857 revolt. It mentions the Sannyasi-Fakir rebellion, the Kol Uprising, the Santhal rebellion, and various peasant uprisings of the 1800s. However, the new edition makes no reference to the four Anglo-Mysore wars or the resistance mounted by Tipu Sultan and Haidar Ali against the East India Company — events that were part of the earlier textbook's section on the expansion of British rule in India. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
