Tipu’s Reason for Deporting the Kanara Christians

The most obvious person who could provide an answer as to why the Captivity was ordered would be the one who ordered it: Tipu Sultan. Here is his statement recorded in the Sultan-ut-Towarikh (King of Histories), his court history[1] (Wilks 1817: 528)[2].

"Among the memorable events of this wonderful year, was the making Mussulmans of the Nazarene Christians. Now, Christian, in the language of the Franks, is applied to designate a new convert to the religion of Jesus—in the language of the Franks Chris is a name of the Lord Jesus; but to proceed with our subject. The Portuguese Nazarenes[3], who for a long period have possessed factories on the sea coasts, obtained, about three hundred years ago, an establishment of this nature, on pretense of trade, on the coast of Soonda[4], at a place situated midway in the course of a large river and estuary; and in process of time, watching their opportunity, obtained from the raja, a country, yielding a revenue of three or four lacs of rupees. They then proceeded to prohibit the Mohammedan worship within these limits and to expel its votaries: to the Brahmins and other Hindoos, they proclaimed a period of three days, within which time they were at liberty to depart, and in failure to be enrolled in the new religion.[5] Some, alarmed at the proposition, abandoned their property and possessions; and others deeming the whole to be an empty threat, ventured to remain; and on the appointed day, the Nazarenes enrolled them in their foolish religion. In process of time, and by means of rare presents and flattery, and pecuniary offerings, they prevailed on the senseless rajas of Nuggur, Courial, (Mangalore), and Soonda, to tolerate their further proceedings, and began to gradually erect shrines and chapels, (Keleesha- eclesia), and in each of these idol temples, established one or two padres, that is to say monks, who, deluding the weak and pliant populace, by a fluency of tongue, alternately soothing and severe; and by liberal and munificent gifts, led the way to their abolished religion; and in this manner made a multitude of Christians, and continued to that day the same practices.[6] 

When His Majesty, the Shadow of God, was informed of these circumstances, the rage of Islam began to boil in his breast: he first gave orders, that a special enumeration and description should be made and transmitted, of the houses of the Christians in each district: detachments, under trusty officers, were then distributed in the proper places, with sealed orders, to be opened and executed, on one and the same day, after the first devotions of the morning: and in conformity to these instructions, sixty thousand persons, great and small of both sexes, were seized, and carried to the resplendent presence: whence being placed under proper guardians, and provided with everything needful, they were dispatched to the royal capital, and being formed into battalions of five hundred each, under the command of officers well instructed in the faith, they were honoured with the distinction of Islam: they were finally distributed to the principal garrisons with orders for the daily provision of food, apparel, and other requisites—and, as a distinctive appellation for this race, they were henceforth called Ahmedy."[7] 

[1] Court histories played an important part in establishing the legitimacy of rulers and dynasties. Tipu appointed Sushtari, a Persian employed in his court, to begin the task in 1784. It was discontinued soon after.

[2] Kirkpatrick gives a slightly different version. In it, Tipu claims that he came to know of the activity of padres along the coast after getting possession of Mangalore. It also says that the lashkar-i-ahmadi was posted to four towns which Kirkpatrick could not decipher. (Kirkpatrick 1811: 57-59, observations, Letter XLII).

[3] Tipu uses the term Nazarene or Nasrani for the English, Portuguese, and Christians identified with them. It does not appear to have been used for the French, also Christian, who were his allies. It appears to have had a perjorative connotation in his vocabulary.

[4] The island of Tiswadi which Albuquerque captured in 1510, was part of Bijapur, not Sunda.

[5] The expulsion of certain influential Brahmans from Goa is recorded during Viceroy Braganza’s time, circa 1560.

[6] The growth of Kanara’s Christian population was mainly due to immigrants from Goa, and to local conversions.

[7] Wilks writes that Ahmed and Mahommed come from the same root, and signify the praise of Goa. Chelas from the western coast received the name of Ahmedy, and those from Coromandel Assud Ullah, Lions of the Lord.