Karnataka - Mysore   

Auto major keen to restore heritage of Srirangapatna

Special Correspondent

Mercedes-Benz expresses interest in conservation efforts in Tipu Sultan's capital

IN A SHAMBLES: The Srirangapatna Fort which is in ruins.

MYSORE: A modern international icon with a powerful brand image is keen on restoring the heritage surrounding a medieval Indian celebrity.

If this materialises, then the heritage of Srirangapatna, renowned for its tryst with foreign powers under Tipu Sultan in his fight against the British, will receive a thrust from the automobile major Mercedes-Benz.

It is still early days, but the legendary car manufacturer in the luxury segment with an enviable heritage of its own, has expressed interest in restoration of the heritage sites in Srirangapatna.

Similarly, experts from England and France are keen to revive the heritage of Srirangapatna as both the countries have a historic association with the island. For, the Tiger of Mysore Tipu Sultan had joined hands with the French in his protracted battle against the British where the latter won a remarkable victory culminating in the death of the Tiger.

And the French on their part had helped him with missile technology that made this dusty temple-town on the banks of the Cauvery perhaps the precursor to modern India's Sriharikota as Tipu test-fired his missiles and launched the rockets straight into the enemy camp to send them scurrying for cover; a slice of heritage that is now fast getting obscured by the passage of time and collective apathy of society.

But Heritage Commissioner K.R. Ramakrishna is confident to retrieve Tipu's legacy. He told presspersons here on Monday that Mercedes-Benz had evinced interest in conservation. A group of international experts from Britain were in Srirangapatna recently and conservation was high on their agenda.

While the ancient town is caught in a time wrap and breathes history, it has grown over the years and hence may not be possible for the authorities to conserve the entire region.

"We do not wish to antagonise the local community and it is impossible to take up heritage conservation by seeking their relocation. Hence, we have plans to identify pockets in Srirangapatna that could be restored and many such clusters will constitute the heritage area of the island town," according to Mr. Ramakrishna.

An obscure courtyard that is plastered with cow dung and serves as an open-air urinal for the locals, has now been identified as a monument worthy of protection and the State Archaeological Department has taken over this courtyard for protection.

This in the ramparts of the fort and is now identified as the rocket and missile launching centre of Tipu Sultan. "The local community has evinced interest in its conservation and the Srirangapatna Municipality has agreed to get the encroachments cleared so that a slice of history could be retrieved and conserved for posterity," Mr. Ramakrishna said.

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