Tipu Sultan a martyr or an offender? (My talk in Tamil Janam TV)

Was Tipu Sultan a martyr or a sinner?

In connection with Tipu Jayanti in November, I gave an interview to Tamil Janam TV on Tipu's atrocities.

I talked about many facets of Tipu, such as his rigor in  religious conversion, temple destruction, and the horrific killing of the Mandayam Iyengars. The places raided by Tipu and his father Hyder Ali had left a trail of destruction and also conversion. I pointed out evidences of temples ransacked by them and how people had to flee their home towns to escape their fury. Popular example is that of the former Chief Minister of TN, Mr. MG Ramachandran (MGR) whose ancestors fled from Pollachi to Palakkad to escape the wrath of Hyder Ali. 

I also pointed out the genetic research that shows Muslims of India, particularly in places like Tamilnadu and Kerala were converts. This is established by common ancestry between them and the Hindus in the neighborhood. Genetics show cultural change from Hinduism to Islam and no foreign component in the Muslims. 

To watch the interview click the video:

Was Lord Macaulay responsible for education for all? (Tamil Janam TV)

The recently released movie 'Vettaiyan' starring with super hero-s like Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan created a stir by the opening verse on Lord Macauley that he was responsible for bringing education for all which was denied until then. I was asked about the veracity of this observation and my replies were telecast by Janam TV (Tamil) channel. 

I bring out the facts about the existence of a national universal education throughout India for ages which was uprooted by Macaulay. It resulted in closure of traditional schools and impoverished the masses. This also gave rise to child labour for the first time in India. How that happened can be learnt from my interview here: