Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Nov 7: Kannada and culture department of the state has sponsored a book which seems to be contradicting the views of the Congress government of Karnataka. This book reportedly says that Tipu forcibly took Christians of coastal district into captivity and made them accept Islam.

The book in question is 'Mangaluru Darshana', which is published by Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), that gives the extensive historical details of the coastal region. The book states that the Christians of the present Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district were purportedly chained and taken to Srirangapatna from Mangaluru.

According to the reference on page 199 of volume I of the book, many among the captured died on their way to Srirangapatna and those who were able to make the treacherous trip were compelled to accept Islam as their religion. These people were later called as 'Ahmadiyas'.

In addition, the book also portrays Tipu as the destroyer of 27 churches, including Milagres and Rosario. He also allegedly destroyed 23 to 40 churches in Mysuru. However, the book does not uphold the opinions of writers and historians stating that Tipu was indeed anti-Christian.

This three-volume book was released in 2016 by the then minister for urban development Vinay Kumar Sorake.

As per Nazeer, former MUDA commissioner and coordinator of the book, the references in the book do not reflect the views of the government. Those are the perspective expressed by various writers and historians.