Tipu controversy: Move to make film dropped
March 20, 2023 17:09
Amid the raging controversy regarding
Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, the Vokkaliga chieftains who according to a
section of people allegedly killed erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan, a
prominent seer of the community on Monday urged for putting an end to
the issue, citing lack of historical evidence in this regard.
Some
leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have also been backing the claims that the
Gowdas killed Tipu.
Nirmalanandanatha
Mahaswamiji, the chief pontiff of Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana
Math, which is highly regarded by the dominant Vokkaligas, has called
for gathering of information, edicts and historical records about the
duo, before arriving at any decision.
On Monday, he
also summoned Horticulture Minister Munirathna, a
producer-turned-politician, whose studio has planned to make a movie by
registering a title 'Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda', and directed him not to
go ahead with the project.
The minister paid heed to the pontiff's
direction. A section of people in the old Mysuru belt
claims Tipu Sultan did not die fighting the British, but was killed by
the two Vokkaliga chieftains, which has been contested by some
historians.
"At a time when there is no clarity on
the historical background, it is not right to make a cinema on the two
personalities who represent a community. I have also told him
(Munirathna) as to why it is not right.
"After realising things, he said
he has no intention to hurt anyone and assured he would not make any
effort in this direction, not just for now but never in the future," the
Swamiji told reporters in Mandya.
He said, as Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from the
Vokkaliga community including national general secretary C T Ravi, and
Ministers Ashwath Narayan and Gopalaiah have been made aware of the
historical background and facts, he expects them to keep quiet on the
issue.
"They will be quiet."
"That which is written based on
imagination becomes 'kadambari' (novel), that which is written based on
shasana (edicts) and historical background will become strength for the
future generation; as nothing of that sort has been found till now on
the issue, no statements should be made that will create confusion among
people and the contemporary world, will bring down the strength of
personalities, and will cause disrepute the community," the seer added.
If any historical evidence or edicts are found regarding Uri
Gowda and Nanje Gowda, they should be handed over to the
Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math, the seer said, adding 'there are
scholars, there is carbon dating technology, there are great critics,
the matters gathered will be placed before them to arrive at a
decision'.
"The current confusion is causing hurt to the
feelings of a community, and I urge it should be stopped immediately," he said.
While, the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular leaders have
maintained that Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda did not even exist, and might
just be fictional characters, the BJP, which is trying to make inroads
into the Vokkaliga dominated 'Old Mysuru' region ahead of polls, seems
to be using the duo as their latest mascots.
The BJP is
also using them to target Tipu Sultan, and accuse the Congress and the JD-S
of indulging in appeasement politics by celebrating the Muslim ruler.
After meeting the seer, Munirathna said he has assured the
Swamiji he will drop the plan to make a movie on the chieftains.
"I have said I will not hurt anybody's feelings, after seer's advice I
will drop the plan to do this movie, and will neither do this move or
speak about it here on," he said.
Clarifying he was not working
on the movie as he was part of the BJP, Munirathna said he is a
producer and has been making movies for the past 25 years, and will find
a new story.
Stating he was speaking only as a producer, and
would wait for what the party leaders would say on the issue, he said,
".....cinema cannot be made entirely based on actual true events;
certain adaptations will have to be made."
The names of Uri
Gowda and Nanje Gowda came to the limelight after the release of a play
Tippuvina Nija Kanasugalu (The True Dreams of Tipu) last year by
Rangayana director Addanda Cariappa, though there has been a debate on
the issue in the past.
The Congress and the JD-S leaders including
Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and H D Kumaraswamy have charged the BJP
with 'misleading' the people, especially the Vokkaligas, by using
fictional characters and saying they killed Tipu Sultan.
BJP
leaders like Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, C T Ravi, and
Ashwath Narayan among others have maintained that there is historical
evidence about Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, that their names are mentioned
in plays and ballads, and they fought Tipu to safeguard the family of
Mysuru Maharajas and to protect the state. -- PTI