We Lost the Motherland

The morning after the fall of Srirangapatna was eerily silent. The thunder of cannons had ceased, the cries of battle were no more, and the once-glorious capital of Mysore lay in ruins. Smoke still curled from the wreckage, and the scent of gunpowder and death hung in the air. The British had triumphed, but their victory was stained with betrayal and bloodshed.

The palace, which had once echoed with the laughter of royalty and the footsteps of warriors, now stood desecrated. British soldiers moved through the halls, looting anything of value—gold, jewels, rare manuscripts, and the legendary artifacts of Tipu Sultan.

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Scene 1: The Looting of the Palace

Location: Tipu Sultan's Palace, Srirangapatna

General Baird walked through the wreckage of the palace, surveying the spoils of war. The grandeur of Mysore lay before him, now reduced to plunder for the British Crown.

A young British officer, Lieutenant James Campbell, approached him, carrying a magnificent sword wrapped in silk. The hilt was adorned with gold, encrusted with emeralds, and bore the unmistakable tiger motif of Tipu Sultan.

Lieutenant Campbell: (In awe) "Sir, this must be Tipu's legendary sword. The craftsmanship is unlike anything I have seen before."

Baird took the weapon, feeling its weight. He had fought against the man who wielded it just a day before, and now it would be sent back to England as a trophy.

General Baird: (Solemnly) "A worthy blade… for a worthy adversary."

As he examined the sword, more officers arrived with chests of gold, silk, and rare jewels.

British Officer: "The treasury has been emptied, sir. Every artifact, every coin… it's all ours."

Baird nodded. War had its rewards, but even he felt the weight of what had been lost. He turned to his officers.

General Baird: "Ensure that all treasures are cataloged. The East India Company will want every detail."

The looting continued. Tipu's throne, adorned with gold and tiger emblems, was dismantled piece by piece. Priceless manuscripts were either stolen or left to decay. Mysore's legacy was being erased before their very eyes.

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Scene 2: The Fate of Mir Sadiq

Location: British Encampment, Outside Srirangapatna

Mir Sadiq stood outside the British encampment, his eyes scanning the horizon. He had played his part in the fall of Tipu Sultan, believing that in return, the British would reward him with power. But now, his presence was met with cold indifference.

He approached Major John Malcolm, one of the senior British officers.

Mir Sadiq: (Smiling) "Major Malcolm, the battle is won, thanks to my efforts. Surely, my loyalty will be rewarded?"

Malcolm looked at him with thinly veiled contempt. The British had used him, and now he was nothing more than an inconvenience.

Major Malcolm: "Loyalty, you say? Tell me, Mir Sadiq, if you could betray your own Sultan, why should we trust you?"

Sadiq's face paled. He had expected gratitude, not scorn.

Mir Sadiq: (Desperate) "I helped deliver Mysore to you. You promised me a place in the new administration!"

Malcolm scoffed.

Major Malcolm: "We promised you nothing, traitor. Your usefulness has ended."

At that moment, two British guards grabbed Mir Sadiq by the arms. Panic set in as he realized his fate.

Mir Sadiq: (Struggling) "You cannot do this! I was your ally!"

Malcolm leaned in, his voice cold.

Major Malcolm: "You were a tool, nothing more. And now, you are a liability."

The guards dragged him away, leading him toward the city's ruins. As they moved through the streets, a crowd of Mysoreans gathered. They had seen what Sadiq had done—how he had betrayed Tipu Sultan, how he had left the city gates open to the British. Hatred burned in their eyes.

Then, without warning, stones flew through the air. One struck Sadiq's forehead, drawing blood. More followed. The people of Mysore, enraged by his treachery, closed in on him.

Angry Citizen: (Shouting) "This is the fate of all traitors!"

Within moments, the crowd descended upon him, tearing him apart. His cries were drowned out by the fury of a betrayed nation.

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Scene 3: The Burial of a King

Location: Tipu Sultan's Mausoleum, Srirangapatna

The looting continued, but one place remained untouched by the British—the mausoleum where Tipu Sultan was to be laid to rest. Even his enemies understood that some honors could not be denied.

A small group of Tipu's loyalists, those who had survived the siege, carried his body through the city. General Baird himself watched as the fallen king was taken to his final resting place.

Among the crowd, an elderly man wept openly.

Elderly Mysorean: "He fought to the end… like a tiger."

A young boy, no older than ten, clenched his fists.

Young Boy: "One day, we will make them pay."

As Tipu's body was lowered into the ground, silence fell over Srirangapatna. The British had won, but Mysore's spirit had not been broken.

The storm had passed, but its echoes would linger for generations.

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End of Chapter 19