The History Of Bangalore

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• The Sixth Battle of Bangalore: The Fall of the Pete, 1791 15.06.2026 15хв

  While history books fixate on the dramatic midnight breach of the Bangalore Fort, the entire Mysore campaign was actually decided two weeks earlier in the blood-soaked streets of the commercial city. On March 7, 1791, Lord Cornwallis launched a brutal, house-to-house assault on the Bangalore pete—a fortified manufacturing powerhouse of over a hundred thousand citizens. In this episode, Ramjee Chandran uncovers the terrifying reality of 18th-century urban combat, the tactical genius of the pete's defenses, and the tragic fall of Colonel Moorhouse, whose legendary death at the Yelahanka Gate was immortalized by British art but fundamentally misplaced by history. Key Details from the Script: The Forgotten Metropolis: Most historians skip straight to the fort's midnight breach, but the pete of 1791 was a massive, fortified industrial city in its own right. Inhabited by roughly 108,000 people, it featured its own water grid fed by the Dharmambudhi tank, vast granaries, and a taramandala—one of Tipu Sultan's advanced state armaments factories utilizing water- and wind-driven boring machines. Cornwallis's Two-Phase Gambit: Recognizing that the pete was the logistical heartbeat of the region, Cornwallis calculated that the fort could not be taken first. The British strategy required capturing the marketplace, grain supplies, and repair yards to feed and sustain his starving army before turning their heavy guns on the fortress walls. The Yelahanka Gate Wall of Fire: At dawn on March 7, British redcoats and Bengal sepoys hacked through jungle-like overgrowth to storm the pete. While the Doddapete barricade fell to a swift bayonet charge, the advance ground to a bloody halt at the northern Yelahanka Gate, where Mysore forces unleashed a devastating crossfire from flanking towers and residential rooftops. The Sacrifice of Colonel Moorhouse: Stranded under heavy fire, Colonel Moorhouse—the revered founder of the Madras Sappers—refused to retreat. He brought heavy 18- and 24-pounder siege cannons to point-blank range to deliver a simultaneous shattering salvo against the teak doors. Moorhouse was shot twice in the body, continued commanding, and was killed after two more balls shattered his head and chest. The Whiskers Charge: Moorhouse’s guns successfully punched a gap in the masonry just wide enough for one man. As Lieutenant Ayre squeezed through the opening first, the sidelined General Medows casually cheered him on like a spectator at a cricket match, famously shouting to the 36th Regiment Grenadiers: "Well done! Now, whiskers! Support the little gentleman!" before stepping in to take command. Brutal and Secret Urban Warfare: Once inside, the British cleared the narrow lanes, warehouses, and shops in two hours of fierce, undocumented hand-to-hand combat. Though British accounts largely omitted the grim details of the urban slaughter, the pete fell at the cost of 130 British lives, completely undermining Tipu's scorched-earth strategy by handing Cornwallis the markets and water lines he desperately needed. The Historical Error of Robert Home’s Painting: Robert Home’s masterpiece, "The Death of Colonel Moorhouse," created a centuries-long tradition claiming Moorhouse died at the eastern Ulsoor Gate. Modern historical mapping reveals this is entirely wrong; Moorhouse actually fell at the northern Yelahanka Gate, which stood where the modern Mysore Bank building stands today—miles away from the Ulsoor Gate Police Station. Tipu's Enraged Retaliation: Stunned by the rapid loss of his industrial hub, an enraged Tipu Sultan refused to concede the city. He immediately ordered a massive counterattack, dispatching an entire division from Basavanagudi under General Qamardeen Khan with strict mandates to recapture the pete at all costs. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The British March Upon Bangalore, 1791 08.06.2026 23хв

  In February 1791, Charles Cornwallis marched out of Fort St. George with a singular obsession: total redemption for his humiliating defeat at Yorktown. His target was Bangalore, the heavily fortified, stone-hewn "gatekeeper" of the Mysore plateau. But moving a massive army of twenty-one thousand troops, sixty-seven war elephants, and an unyielding battering train required an astronomical forty thousand bullocks—all racing against a strict four-month window before the monsoons turned the roads to impassable mud. In this episode, Ramjee Chandran details Cornwallis’s brilliant flanking manoeuver through the narrow Mugali Pass, a thick morning fog that brought two rival armies face-to-face, a bloody cavalry clash, and the tactical miscalculation by Tipu Sultan that brought the legendary Madras Sappers to the unbroken walls of Bangalore. Key Details from the Script: The Invisible Plaque: Hidden on the curved stone masonry of the Delhi Gate at Bangalore Fort, a tiny plaque marks the exact spot where the British broke through on March 21, 1791—an event that fundamentally birthed the cantonments and modern layout of the city today. The bustling modern road beneath it was once the fort's formidable defensive moat. The Ghost of Yorktown: Driven by the lingering shame of surrendering to George Washington a decade prior, Cornwallis refused to manage this war from a distant desk. He took personal, aggressive command from the front, determined to establish an advanced base at Bangalore to permanently break Tipu Sultan. The Logistics of an Empire: The scale of the British marching column was staggering. Accompanied by thousands of camp followers, it included a massive artillery train of eighteen-pounder siege guns—each weighing two and a half tons. Managing forty thousand bullocks that required constant fodder and water meant Cornwallis had to conquer Bangalore before the June monsoons arrived. The Mugali Pass Deception: Expecting the British to use the predictable southern entry points like the Gajalhatti Pass, Tipu Sultan concentrated his forces there. Cornwallis executed a brilliant feint, feigning south before pivoting sharply north to haul his heavy guns up the narrow Mugali Pass defile, bloodlessly placing his entire army onto the high ground of the Mysore plateau. The Vanishing Fog: As the British advanced rapidly, capturing Kolar and Hoskote, Tipu's guerrilla horsemen—the irregular "looties"—harassed their flanks under the cover of dense, blinding fog. On March 5, the mist suddenly lifted like a cinematic reveal, leaving both massive armies staring directly at one another across a narrow, unpassable marsh. A Bloody Prelude: The standoff shattered the next morning on March 6 when Tipu’s forces ambushed a British detachment. A fierce counter-charge by British cavalry was devastated by Mysorean rockets and musketry. Senior British commander Colonel Floyd was shot in the face and narrowly rescued by a corporal, leaving the British with over two hundred men dead and three hundred irreplaceable horses lost. Tipu’s Fatal Miscalculation: Believing the thick stone walls of Bangalore Fort could endure a prolonged siege that would exhaust British supplies, Tipu left the fortress under the command of his Killedar, Bahadur Khan, and 8,000 troops. Tipu retreated to Kengeri to orchestrate external ambushes. However, he failed to gauge the unique methodology of the Madras Sappers—combat engineers specialising in tunneling parallels and mapping geometric weak points. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The Diplomatic Duel at Pune 1790 01.06.2026 19хв

  Before Lord Cornwallis's army could ever march on the plateau, the outcome of the Third Anglo-Mysore War hung precariously on the decisions made inside a single room in Pune. In this episode, Ramjee Chandran takes us behind the scenes of a high-stakes diplomatic chess match. Two rival embassies—the British led by Charles Warre Malet, and Mysore led by Tipu Sultan’s top negotiators—competed fiercely for the ultimate prize: ten thousand elite Maratha cavalry riders. From nocturnal meetings with the "Maratha Machiavelli," Nana Phadnavis, to a public state humiliation and a sophisticated network of paid informants, discover how the British narrowly leveraged territorial greed against a prophetic warning to secure the Triple Alliance that sealed Bangalore's fate. Key Details from the Script: The Cavalry Mandate: Cornwallis’s approaching army was heavily encumbered by massive siege artillery required to smash the fortifications of Bangalore and Seringapatam. Moving at the slow crawl of bullock carts, they desperately needed the highly mobile Maratha cavalry to act as a defensive screen against Tipu Sultan’s fast-raiding light horsemen, known as "looties". The Nocturnal Shadow Race: The British Resident at Pune, Charles Warre Malet, spent sleepless months enduring an agonizingly prolonged negotiation process. The stakes reached a fever pitch as he literally passed Tipu’s seasoned emissaries in the streets, knowing they were holding secret midnight conferences with the Maratha administration. The Prophecy of Mysore: Tipu's seasoned diplomats, Qutub-ud-din Khan and Ali Raza Khan, arrived at court armed with fully paid-up historical debts and a shockingly accurate historical warning. They warned the Marathas that the British would never willingly stop absorbing territory, telling them: "If Mysore falls, the Marathas are next"—a prophecy that materialized exactly within thirty years. The Maratha Machiavelli: Sitting at the center of the storm was the calculating chief minister Nana Phadnavis. Acutely aware that both warring empires needed him more than he needed them, he masterfully used delays as a tactical weapon to gather intelligence, drive up the bidding war, and weigh his options. Bribery, Grievances, and Espionage: To shatter the deadlock, Malet operated aggressively within the fluid parameters of 18th-century Deccan politics. He planted active networks of informants to track internal court factions, distributed British funds to sympathetic ministers, and explicitly guaranteed that an alliance with the British was the only way to militarily recover the fertile Doab territories previously taken by Mysore. The Public Snub and Final Deal: The ultimate diplomatic crisis occurred on June 8, 1790, when the Peshwa deliberately insulted Malet by granting Tipu’s ambassadors a lavish, highly public state audience. Despite the deep personal humiliation, Malet persevered. By February 1791, the tangible promise of immediate land recovery triumphed over Tipu's risky long-term vision, cementing the ten thousand cavalry soldiers needed to safely march on Bangalore. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The Resurrection of Charles Cornwallis 26.05.2026 20хв

  One line is all we need in history records that Charles Cornwallis invaded Bangalore in 1791. But behind that single line lies a sweeping story of defeat, humiliation, and a decades-long struggle for redemption. In this episode, Ramjee Chandran charts Cornwallis's journey from his agonizing, ghosted surrender to George Washington at Yorktown to his arrival in India as a powerful, dual-mandate ruler. When the initial British campaign of 1790 crumbles under the brilliant guerrilla tactics of Tipu Sultan, Cornwallis realizes he cannot run a war from a desk in Calcutta. Stepping into the field himself, he gathers a massive force, bypasses Tipu’s traps, and sets his sights squarely on his first major objective on the plateau: the fortified arsenal town of Bangalore. Key Details from the Script: The Stain of Yorktown: On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis skipped his own surrender ceremony to George Washington, claiming illness and sending a subordinate to hand over his sword—cementing his status as the face of a historic national disgrace. The Trenton Irony: A decade before Cornwallis marched into Mysore to fight Tipu, his father Hyder Ali was celebrated as a hero in revolutionary America; during victory toasts in New Jersey, toast number eleven was explicitly dedicated to Hyder Ali. The "Incorruptible" Nobleman: Despite losing the American colonies, Cornwallis used his aristocratic lineage to rebuild his career, famously earning a reputation for absolute integrity by repeatedly denying corrupt financial favors to the Prince of Wales. The 1790 Failure: The war's opening phase under General William Medows was an utter disaster for the British. Tipu used the monsoon terrain and fast-moving light cavalry ("looties") to run circles around the British, leaving over a thousand colonial soldiers sick before a major battle was even fought. The Masterstroke Strategy: Realizing his generals were thoroughly outmatched, Cornwallis arrived in Madras in December 1790 to take personal command. He consolidated 21,000 troops and planned a surprise flanking maneuver through the rugged Mugali Pass to bypass Tipu’s scorched-earth defenses. Bangalore First: Cornwallis understood the geography perfectly; to open the road to Tipu's capital at Seringapatam, he first had to conquer the critical fortified hinge and arsenal town of Bangalore. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• Tipu and the Travancore Trigger: 1789 18.05.2026 20хв

  The five-year peace between Mysore and the East India Company was never a truce; it was simply a race to rearm. Ramjee Chandran breaks down the high-stakes geopolitical chess match that shattered the Treaty of Mangalore. Enter Lord Charles Cornwallis, a general eager to erase the shame of his surrender to George Washington at Yorktown. When the small state of Travancore strategically provokes Tipu Sultan by purchasing two Dutch forts, the "Tiger of Mysore" is forced to defend his vital lifeline to the sea. Discover how a dispute over a thorn-filled ditch and a frantic farcical hiding game by the Raja of Cochin unleashed the formidable Triple Alliance—setting the stage for the Third Anglo-Mysore War and the eventual landlocking of Tipu's empire. Key Details from the Script: The Looming Shadow of Bangalore: During the five years of uneasy peace following 1784, Tipu heavily fortified Bangalore—transforming it into an essential garrison town, arsenal, and the ultimate strategic hinge between the Carnatic plains and the Mysorean interior. Cornwallis’s Mandate: Arriving in 1786, Lord Cornwallis found a disorganized Madras Presidency. Haunted by his defeat in the American War of Independence, he was impatient to neutralize Tipu but required a legitimate casus belli (justification for war) to void the existing treaty. The Provocation: In 1789, the British-aligned Kingdom of Travancore purchased two Dutch forts (Cranganore and Ayacottah) that sat in territory subordinate to Mysore. This commercial deal effectively placed a British-protected enclave right on Tipu’s western flank, threatening his only access to global maritime trade and French assistance. The Anxious Farce: Sensing the impending storm, the Raja of Cochin (a Mysore vassal) tried to avoid choosing sides. When Tipu summoned him, the Raja feigned illness and locked himself in a room to escape Tipu's visiting minister. The Invasion: On December 29, 1789, diplomatic patience expired. Tipu breached the defensive lines of Travancore. By April 1790, he launched a full-scale invasion, dismantling their fortifications and sending 200 captured cannons back to Bangalore. The Triple Alliance: Cornwallis seized his trigger. Through the relentless backroom diplomacy of British Resident Charles Warre Malet in Pune, the British successfully bought, flattered, and maneuvered the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad into a massive, multi-front coalition against a structurally isolated Mysore. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The Darkest Chapter of Tipu Sultan: The Malabar Atrocities 11.05.2026 19хв

  How does a man transition from a "flogged prince" to a revolutionary sovereign? Ramjee Chandran explores the formative trauma and brilliant administrative mind of Tipu Sultan. Following the death of Hyder Ali, Tipu inherited a state designed for perpetual war and set about the impossible task of making it thrive in peace. From the public humiliation that defined his sense of discipline to the creation of a "modern" bureaucracy that even the British would eventually copy, this episode reveals Tipu as a "scientist-king" operating in a feudal world—a ruler who demanded absolute obedience because he had felt the lash of it himself. Key Details from the Script: The Public Flogging: In 1771, a teenage Tipu was publicly whipped on Hyder Ali’s orders for disobeying military commands during a battle. The act was calculated "theatre" to prove that military discipline superseded blood loyalty. Fiscal Revolution: Tipu systematically dismantled the palegar system—hereditary chieftains who had acted as semi-independent despots—and replaced them with a salaried, accountable bureaucracy. The Peasant's Win: By removing middleman corruption, Tipu nearly doubled state revenues while actually reducing the tax burden on individual peasants. The British Debt: British officials like Thomas Munro were so impressed by Tipu’s revenue system that they used it as the foundation for the colonial Ryotwari settlement across South India. The Scientist-King: Unlike his illiterate father, Tipu was an intellectual who spoke four languages, owned a 2,000-volume library, and entertained (or terrified) British officers with demonstrations of electricity and physics. Ending the Fiction: In 1786, Tipu abandoned the charade of Wadiyar rule, formally declaring himself sovereign and eventually winding up the institution of the Maharaja altogether by 1796. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• When Tipu Sultan was Flogged in Public: Lessons from a Father 04.05.2026 21хв

  How does a man transition from a "flogged prince" to a revolutionary sovereign? Ramjee Chandran explores the formative trauma and brilliant administrative mind of Tipu Sultan. Following the death of Hyder Ali, Tipu inherited a state designed for perpetual war and set about the impossible task of making it thrive in peace. From the public humiliation that defined his sense of discipline to the creation of a "modern" bureaucracy that even the British would eventually copy, this episode reveals Tipu as a "scientist-king" operating in a feudal world—a ruler who demanded absolute obedience because he had felt the lash of it himself. Key Details from the Script: The Public Flogging: In 1771, a teenage Tipu was publicly whipped on Hyder Ali’s orders for disobeying military commands during a battle. The act was calculated "theatre" to prove that military discipline superseded blood loyalty. Fiscal Revolution: Tipu systematically dismantled the palegar system—hereditary chieftains who had acted as semi-independent despots—and replaced them with a salaried, accountable bureaucracy. The Peasant's Win: By removing middleman corruption, Tipu nearly doubled state revenues while actually reducing the tax burden on individual peasants. The British Debt: British officials like Thomas Munro were so impressed by Tipu’s revenue system that they used it as the foundation for the colonial Ryotwari settlement across South India. The Scientist-King: Unlike his illiterate father, Tipu was an intellectual who spoke four languages, owned a 2,000-volume library, and entertained (or terrified) British officers with demonstrations of electricity and physics. Ending the Fiction: In 1786, Tipu abandoned the charade of Wadiyar rule, formally declaring himself sovereign and eventually winding up the institution of the Maharaja altogether by 1796. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The Loneliness of Tipu Sultan: No Friends, Only Followers 28.04.2026 20хв

  In this deeply personal episode, Ramjee Chandran looks past the battlefield to the man on the throne. Tipu Sultan was perhaps the most forward-thinking ruler of his age—a man of strong contrasts—yet he remained fundamentally alone. Discover Tipu's desperate, decade-long diplomatic quest to find allies in Versailles, Istanbul, and Cairo. From the "citoyen" who looked to Revolutionary France to the tragic intercepted letter from Napoleon Bonaparte, this episode explores the structural isolation that defined Tipu’s reign and the bitter truth that while he had many followers, he had no true friends to warn him when the walls began to crumble. Key Details from the Script: The Diplomatic Desert: Unlike his father, who managed a "Grand Alliance," Tipu found himself isolated as the Marathas and the Nizam shifted toward the British. Global Ambition: Tipu sent grand embassies to the Ottoman Sultan in Istanbul and King Louis XVI in Versailles, seeking military alliances and trade links that never fully materialized. The Napoleon Connection: Napoleon Bonaparte actually wrote a letter to Tipu from Cairo in 1799, promising to liberate him from the British. However, the British intercepted it, and Tipu died never knowing how close his "alliance" had come. Technological Modernizer: The script highlights Tipu’s "state trading corporation" with offices in Oman and Kutch, his 2,000-volume library, and his use of windmills to bore cannon barrels. The "Jacobin" Sultan: Tipu’s fascination with the French Revolution led to the "Jacobin Club of Mysore," where he was reportedly addressed as "Citizen Tipu," though the alliance was more symbolic than strategic. The Bitter End: Tipu’s loneliness was his undoing. As Ramjee notes, "when the walls fell, the followers surrendered or fled. The friends—had there been any—might have warned him." We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The End of the Second Anglo-Mysore War 19.04.2026 22хв

  The Second Anglo-Mysore War did not end only with a British loss, but with a scene that the East India Company would spend decades trying to erase from history. Ramjee Chandran explores the final months of the conflict, where Tipu Sultan—now the sovereign of Mysore—forced the British to their knees on the coast of Mangalore. Discover the internal power struggle between the Madras and Bengal Presidencies, the "unqualified surrender" of British prestige, and the dying warning Hyder Ali left for his son: that the British were an enemy that could not be negotiated with, only endured. This episode marks the peak of Tipu's power and the beginning of his absolute isolation. Key Details from the Script: Tipu’s Baptism: Taking command in 1782, Tipu inherited a war that was already two years old. He didn't just maintain his father's momentum; he intensified it, focusing on the strategically vital Malabar Coast. The Siege of Mangalore: For nine months, Tipu pinned down a British garrison. When they finally surrendered due to starvation and disease, Tipu dictated the terms from a position of absolute strength. The "Commissioners of Peace": Lord Macartney, Governor of Madras, sent three commissioners to Tipu’s camp. In a massive blow to British ego, Tipu made them wait for days and treated them as petitioners rather than equals. The Treaty of Mangalore (1784): This was the last time an Indian power dictated terms to the British. It required the mutual restitution of all conquests and the release of all prisoners, essentially resetting the clock but leaving the British humiliated. Warren Hastings’ Fury: The Governor-General in Bengal was so outraged by the "humiliating" terms signed by Madras that he tried to repudiate the treaty, calling it a "hollow and injurious peace." Hyder’s Dying Words: Tipu entered this peace with his father’s final clarity: "I cannot dry up the sea." He knew the British would return to reclaim their lost credibility. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests. © 2026 Ramjee Chandran. All right reserved.
• The Death of Hyder Ali 16.04.2026 16хв

  Season 3 begins with a heartbeat that has stopped, but a war that refuses to pause. Ramjee Chandran reveals the high-stakes drama following the death of Hyder Ali in December 1782. While his body lay cold, his inner circle—led by the brilliant minister Purniah—staged an elaborate deception to keep the army from fragmenting. Follow the 400-mile desperate ride of Tipu Sultan as he races to claim his inheritance before the British, or his own rivals, can seize the moment. This is the story of how a kingdom held its breath for days, and how the "Military Capital" of Bangalore prepared for its most enigmatic ruler. Key Details from the Script: The Final Illness: Hyder Ali succumbed to a "cancerous ulcer" or carbuncle on his back on December 7, 1782, near Chittoor. The Great Deception: To prevent a mutiny or a British advance, Hyder’s death was kept a state secret. His body was embalmed and placed in a sealed palanquin, while servants continued to deliver "meals" and "medicines" to his tent. Purniah’s Gamble: The Brahmin minister Purniah was the architect of the stability, managing the army’s payroll and movements for days to ensure a smooth transition of power. The Race for the Throne: Tipu Sultan was 400 miles away on the Malabar Coast when he received the secret summons. He performed an incredible feat of endurance, riding night and day to reach the main camp. The Transition: When Tipu finally arrived, the secret was broken. He was hailed as the new ruler not just by right of birth, but by the sheer force of his presence and the loyalty his father had cultivated in the troops. Legacy of a Lion: The episode reflects on Hyder’s transformation of Bangalore from a provincial town into a stone-fortified, industrialized military pivot celebrated as far away as Philadelphia and the nascent United States. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The Coveted City - A Recap 1537 - 1780: Season 2 Finale 30.03.2026 17хв

  In the grand Season 2 finale, Ramjee Chandran takes a step back from the smoke of the Carnatic wars to look at the 243-year journey of Bangalore itself. From a quiet granite plateau granted to a minor chieftain named Kempe Gowda in 1537, to the formidable "military capital" of 1780, discover why this city became the ultimate prize in Southern India. This episode bridges the gap between the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire and the rise of the Mysorean military machine, setting the stage for the dramatic death of Hyder Ali and the high-stakes inheritance of Tipu Sultan. Key Details from the Script: The Long Arc: Season 2 spans 243 years, tracing the evolution of Bangalore from an empty plateau to the hub of a 90,000-man army. Geographic Defiance: Bangalore lacked a major river or natural harbor, yet it became essential because of its "strategic intentionality"—it was a city built by design, not by accident. The Military Machine: By 1780, the city hosted a massive arsenal at Taramandalapete, French hussars, and a sophisticated rocket corps that nearly broke the British East India Company. A Contested Prize: Every power in southern India—the Marathas, the Mughals, the British, and the Mysoreans—eventually decided they could not afford to leave Bangalore in anyone else's hands. The Secret of the Palanquin: The episode teases the start of Season 3: Hyder Ali is dead, but his ministers are keeping it a secret, transporting his body in a closed palanquin as if he were merely resting. Tipu's Inheritance: The season ends with Tipu Sultan inheriting a war and a set of enemies that will give him "no quarter and no time." We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The War That Shook an Empire: The Second Anglo-Mysore War, Part 2 29.03.2026 15хв

  At sixty years old, Hyder Ali was no longer just a soldier; he was a force of nature. In this episode, Ramjee Chandran tracks the devastating opening of the Second Anglo-Mysore War. From the massive descent of 90,000 men from the Bangalore plateau to the absolute shattering of British prestige at the Battle of Pollilur, Mysore reached the zenith of its military power. But as the "scorched earth" of the Carnatic glowed with the fires of war, a deadlier enemy was emerging from within. Discover the tactical brilliance of the Mysore rocket corps and the high-stakes secret that Hyder’s inner circle desperately tried to hide as the season builds to its dramatic conclusion. Key Details from the Script: A Massive Force: Hyder led 28,000 cavalry and 62,000 infantry down from the Mysore plateau—the largest and most disciplined army the region had ever seen. The Battle of Pollilur (Sept 1780): In what is cited as the most severe defeat ever suffered by the British in India, Hyder and Tipu intercepted and annihilated Colonel Baillie’s detachment. The Rocket Factor: The Mysore rocket corps played a decisive role at Pollilur, causing a British ammunition tumbril to explode, which triggered the final collapse of their square formation. Global Echoes: The news of the British defeat at Pollilur was so significant it was celebrated as far away as the United States, where the "Rebels" saw Hyder Ali as a fellow traveler in the fight against British imperialism. Scorched Earth: Hyder employed a brutal "circle of desolation" strategy around Madras, destroying all forage and supplies to ensure the British remained "marooned" within their own fortifications. The Terminal Secret: Amidst the campaigning, Hyder developed a "cancerous ulcer" (likely a carbuncle). His inner circle kept his failing health a total secret to prevent mutiny or the collapse of the "Grand Alliance." We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The Maratha Invasion and the Build Up: The Second Anglo-Mysore War, Part 1 28.03.2026 17хв

  The Treaty of Madras was supposed to be Hyder Ali’s greatest diplomatic victory, turning his enemy into his guarantor. But as Ramjee Chandran reveals, the ink was barely dry before the British East India Company proved their promises were worthless. When a massive Maratha invasion led by Peshwa Madhav Rao pushed Hyder to the brink—forcing him to take refuge behind the walls of Seringapatam—the British watched from the sidelines, ignoring their treaty obligations. This episode tracks Hyder’s cold realization that the British could never be allies, leading him to forge a "Triple Alliance" of his own and assemble an army of 100,000 men on the Bangalore plateau. Key Details from the Script: The Test of the Treaty (1770): Only a year after the Treaty of Madras, the Marathas launched a full-scale invasion of Mysore. Hyder invoked the mutual defense clause, but the British in Madras sent nothing but excuses. The Chinkuruli Defeat: Hyder suffered a rare and devastating tactical defeat at the hands of the Marathas, losing his entire artillery and being forced to flee to Seringapatam with only a small guard. The "Lame Excuse": The British claimed they couldn't help because they had no orders from London and feared the Marathas would attack Madras next. This betrayal became the "foundational grievance" for the next war. The Pivot to the French: Realizing the British were unreliable, Hyder turned to the French at Mahe for modern weaponry and technical advisors, further infuriating the Company. The Grand Alliance (1779): In a brilliant diplomatic reversal, Hyder persuaded his former enemies—the Nizam and the Marathas—to join him in a "Triple Alliance" to expel the British from India. The Machine at Bangalore: By July 1780, Hyder had turned Bangalore into a "military capital," assembling 100,000 men and a massive rocket corps before descending into the Carnatic to begin the Second Anglo-Mysore War. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The Victory of Hyder Ali: The First Anglo-Mysore War, Part 4 27.03.2026 16хв

  Abandoned by the Nizam and facing a British "pincer movement" on his capital, Hyder Ali was supposed to be a defeated man. Instead, Ramjee Chandran recounts one of the most brilliant military recoveries in Indian history. While the British successfully breached the fort of Bangalore in 1768, they couldn't hold the victory. Witness the tactical genius of Hyder’s "ghost march"—a 130-mile sprint to the gates of Madras that bypassed the entire British army and forced the Governor to his knees. This episode concludes the First Anglo-Mysore War with a scene of absolute diplomatic humiliation for the Company. Key Details from the Script: The Attack on Bangalore (1768): Taking advantage of Hyder’s absence on the west coast, a British force under Colonel Wood captured the fort of Bangalore on July 11, 1768. The "Invisible" Army: Hyder Ali returned from the coast with such speed that British intelligence lost track of him. He didn't just return; he systematically retook every fort the British had captured in the Baramahal region. The Ghost March: In a masterstroke of mobility, Hyder left his heavy baggage behind and marched 130 miles in just three and a half days, appearing suddenly at St. Thomas Mount, just five miles from the British headquarters in Madras. The Panic of Madras: The "invincible" British army was hundreds of miles away, looking for a battle that wasn't there, while Hyder sat at their gates, threatening to burn the "Black Town" if they didn't negotiate immediately. The Treaty of Madras (1769): The British were forced to sign a mutual defense treaty, return all conquered territories, and acknowledge Hyder not as a "usurper," but as a sovereign ally. The Final Insult: To cement the humiliation, Hyder had a caricature displayed on the gates of Fort St. George showing the British Governor kneeling before him while gold coins spilled from the Governor's nose. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• Terror at Tiruvannamalai: The First Anglo-Mysore War, Part 3 27.03.2026 13хв

  One hundred episodes in, and the stakes have never been higher. Ramjee Chandran details the harrowing aftermath of the Battle of Chengam and the subsequent clash at Tiruvannamalai. This is a story of psychological warfare and environmental endurance, where the torrential rains of the monsoon became as much an enemy as the opposing army. Witness the dramatic collapse of the Mysore-Hyderabad alliance, the scene of "absolute carnage" on the road of retreat, and the diplomatic betrayal that left Hyder Ali standing alone against the British East India Company.Key Details from the Script: The Character of the War: Following the indecisive engagement at Chengam, the war shifted from pitched battles to a test of endurance and psychological nerve. The Battle of Tiruvannamalai (Sept 1767): Colonel Smith’s British force, though outnumbered and starving, managed to trap the combined forces of Hyder Ali and the Nizam against the hills during a period of relentless monsoon rain. The Monsoon Factor: The rain turned the battlefield into a swamp, neutralizing Hyder’s superior cavalry and making the movement of heavy artillery nearly impossible for both sides. The Nizam’s Panic: The Nizam of Hyderabad, terrified by the British discipline and the mounting losses, fled the field on his elephant, triggering a total collapse of his flank and a chaotic retreat. The Scene of Carnage: The retreat was a disaster; observers described a road littered with dead livestock, abandoned treasure chests, and "the most costly furniture of a royal household" scattered in the mud. The Treaty of Masulipatnam (1768): Months after the defeat, the Nizam formally betrayed Hyder Ali, signing a treaty that branded the Mysore ruler a "usurper" and re-aligned Hyderabad with the British. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠⁠⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠⁠⁠hob@explocity.com⁠⁠⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• An Introduction to Tipu Sultan, The First Anglo-Mysore War, Part 2 26.03.2026 17хв

  While Hyder Ali and the British East India Company began their titanic struggle, a young man moved through the early campaigns in the shadows, watching and learning. Ramjee Chandran introduces Tipu Sultan, the figure who would become the central protagonist of the Mysore story. This episode explores Tipu's upbringing, his early military baptism at the gates of the Bangalore pete, and his surprising fascination with global technology. Discover the "modernizing technocrat" who saw the world through the lens of mechanisms and science, preparing for a war that would eventually define the fate of South India. Key Details from the Script: The Emerging Figure: Tipu Sultan is introduced as a figure present but not yet prominent during the early campaigns of the First Anglo-Mysore War, observing the collision of Mysorean mobility and British discipline. A Baptism of Fire: One of Tipu's first independent military actions involved a daring raid on the Bangalore pete, where he outwitted a superior British coalition that was left without a "plan B." The "Technocrat" Ruler: Unlike many feudal lords of his time, Tipu was obsessed with how things worked. He viewed his state through the lens of technology and R&D. The Taramanala Factory: Tipu utilized the Taramanala factory in the Bengaluru pete not just for production, but as a research and development lab for advanced weaponry. Scientific Curiosity: When the British later seized Srirangapatna, they found Tipu's personal collection of European telescopes, barometers, thermometers, and mathematical instruments. The Modern Advantage: Tipu believed that understanding the "mechanisms behind the visible surface of the world" could give Mysore an edge over adversaries who relied solely on numbers and money. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠⁠hob@explocity.com⁠⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The Fourth Battle of Bangalore: The First Anglo-Mysore War, Part 1 25.03.2026 13хв

  The inevitable collision has arrived. Ramjee Chandran details the opening gambit of the First Anglo-Mysore War, where the strategic preparations of the previous years are finally tested on the battlefield. As a British-Nizam coalition marches with the explicit goal of reducing the Fort of Bangalore, Hyder Ali chooses not to wait behind his walls. Instead, he descends from the plateau to force a confrontation at Chengam. This episode explores the harsh reality of 18th-century warfare: a world where victory isn't just about musketry and maneuvers, but about the brutal, grinding logic of logistics and endurance.Key Details from the Script: The Target - Bangalore: The 1766 Treaty of Hyderabad between the British and the Nizam included a specific operational plan to reduce the fort of Bangalore. The Strategy of Movement: Rather than waiting for a siege, Hyder Ali moved first, descending into the low coastal plains of the Carnatic to cut British supply lines and choose the terms of the engagement. The Battle of Chengam (September 3, 1767): A British force of 6,000, led by Colonel Joseph Smith, faced a massive combined army of nearly 70,000 under Hyder Ali and the Nizam. Tactical vs. Strategic Results: While the British held their formation against overwhelming numbers, they were forced into a harrowing 27-hour retreat to Tiruvannamalai due to a critical lack of food and supplies. The Lesson of Chengam: The battle proved that while British discipline made them hard to break in a frontal fight, Hyder’s superior cavalry and "scorched earth" tactics made conventional British movement and supply extremely dangerous. A War of Endurance: The conflict shifted from a search for a single decisive battle to a war of logistics and the ability to keep an army fed and functional in the field. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠hob@explocity.com⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• Challenging the Empire’s Domain: The Mysore Navy 23.03.2026 21хв

  In this episode, Ramjee Chandran explores how Hyder Ali sought to neutralize the British East India Company’s greatest strength: its maritime dominance. Facing a superior military power, Mysore didn't just react; it studied the problem and built a coherent, systematic response. By securing the Canara coast and establishing a formidable navy, Hyder Ali and later Tipu Sultan aimed to deny the British their maritime monopoly. From the shipyards of Mangalore to the strategic alliance with France, discover how Mysore became the only 18th-century Indian state capable of meeting the British on their own terms—at sea. Key Details from the Script: The Strategy of Neutralization: Hyder Ali identified maritime hegemony as the basis of British power and sought to neutralize it through two main answers: a strong navy and a strategic relationship with France. The Mysore Navy: While often overlooked in history, the Mysore Navy was a "coherent, systematic, serious response" to British expansion, involving a fleet built for strategic purposes rather than just coastal defense. The Hukmnamah of 1796: This document by Tipu Sultan later formalized the naval strategies and structures that Hyder Ali had begun on the Canara coast. The Global Chessboard: The Mysore strategy was designed to convert the opponent's strength into a liability by challenging the British maritime monopoly that their entire power in India depended upon. The Gathering Storm: By the end of this period, the fleet was built, arsenals were stocked, and the British coalition was forming—with two battalions and six cannon specifically committed to the objective of reducing the fort of Bangalore. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• Hyderabad, Bidanur, and the Northern Circars: Britain to Bangalore, Part 3 22.03.2026 20хв

  By 1761, Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of Mysore, but he inherited a state that was chronically underfunded and prone to military mutiny. Ramjee Chandran explores the two strategic masterstrokes that changed everything: the conquest of the massive treasury at Bidanur and the acquisition of a coastline on the Canara coast. This episode details how these "strategic foundations" allowed Hyder to build a permanent, salaried army and a navy, setting him on a direct collision course with the East India Company. We witness the diplomatic maneuvers of the Treaty of Hyderabad, which formally obligated the British to attack Bengaluru, and Hyder’s decisive choice to strike first. Key Details from the Script: The Bidanur Windfall (1763): Hyder seized the capital of the Ikkeri Nayakas, securing a hoard of gold and jewels valued at twelve million pounds sterling. This "sovereign wealth fund" allowed him to pay all military arrears and clear the threat of mutiny. A Professional Standing Army: Using the Bidanur wealth, Hyder built a permanent, salaried force trained in European methods and loyal to the institution of the state rather than individual commanders. The Maritime Pivot: Hyder annexed vital ports like Mangalore and Honnavar, building a navy and a naval arsenal to challenge British maritime dominance and import weaponry directly from Europe. The Northern Circars Strategy: To connect their power centers in Bengal and Madras, the Company seized the Northern Circars from the Nizam of Hyderabad via a Mughal decree, outraging the Nizam and leading to the Treaty of Hyderabad (1766). The "Contractual" Collision: The Treaty of Hyderabad obligated the British to provide military aid to the Nizam, with the stated objective of reducing the fort of Bangalore. The First Anglo-Mysore War: Recognizing that time favored the Company's growing sepoy system, Hyder struck first in 1766, descending from the plateau to attack the Carnatic and force the war on his own terms. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.
• The “Honourable” Company: Britain to Bangalore, Part 2 22.03.2026 16хв

  In this pivotal interlude, Ramjee Chandran explores the transformation of the East India Company from a group of London merchants into a "sovereign merchant" with a global footprint. This episode tracks the shift from commerce to conquest, sparked by the hollowed-out Mughal authority after 1739. From the "transaction" of Plassey to the decisive Battle of Buxar, we witness the moment the Company acquired the Diwani—the right to collect Indian taxes to fund its own wars. This is the story of how the wealth extracted from a starving Bengal provided the military machine that would eventually march toward the gates of Bengaluru.Key Details from the Script: The Shift in Constraints: For most of the 17th century, the Company was constrained by functional Indian states; it only became a territorial threat after Mughal authority collapsed following Nadir Shah's 1739 sack of Delhi . Plassey as a Transaction: The 1757 victory was less a battle than a financial conspiracy orchestrated by the banker Jagat Seth, who bribed General Mir Jafar to stand aside . The Turning Point at Buxar: The 1764 victory over a coalition of indigenous powers led to the Treaty of Allahabad (1765), where the Company was appointed Diwan of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa . Self-Sustaining War: Acquisition of the Diwani allowed the Company to pay for its own wars using Indian revenue rather than British bullion, creating a cycle where Bengal's wealth funded military campaigns in the South . The Human Cost: The Company’s systematic extraction led to the 1770 Bengal Famine, where up to half the population perished; despite this, the Company increased revenue collections by ten percent . The Target - Mysore: By 1772, the Company realized that coastal ports were not enough to secure trade; their attention turned inland toward the one state on the southern plateau that was not a puppet: Mysore under Hyder Ali. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hob@explocity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.