The Sword of Tipu Sultan by Bhagwan S Gidwani

Author:Bhagwan S Gidwani [Gidwani, Bhagwan S]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2014-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

(ii)

Men of learning were approached from time to time for suggestions and advice on the books to be acquired for Tipu Sultan’s libraries. Amongst them was Pierre Caron de Beaumarchais, the versatile Frenchman, the author of the famous Barber of Seville and of Figaro, and a fiery advocate of the cause of American liberty. He had even founded a firm—Hortalez and Company—for the supply of arms to the Americans. He was an ardent admirer of liberal thought and a contemporary of Voltaire with a deep attachment for him. It was he who had helped Marquis de Lafayette and other French volunteers to cross over the Atlantic to fight for the American cause.

It was towards the end of 1776 when Count Vergennes, the French Foreign Minister, referred to Beaumarchais the request he had received from Purnaiya, on behalf of Hyder Ali for suggestions for outstanding and learned books on French culture, literature, arts and philosophy.

‘You will note, Monsieur de Beaumarchais,’ said Count Vergennes, ‘that Prime Minister Purnaiya is seeking suggestions for books which are both outstanding and learned. This description would seem to exclude your own books.’

‘On the contrary, Count Vergennes,’ replied Beaumarchais, ‘the description excludes all books other than mine. Still, out of charity, I shall compile a list which includes other authors as well.’

Beaumarchais was amused at the request on behalf of Hyder Ali. ‘No doubt, an oriental despot and a tyrant—still if he thirsts for books, he could not be altogether worthless,’ thought Beaumarchais. No, he would do better than merely compiling a list. From his own collection, Beaumarchais generously took out a large number of books and some he purchased—all devoted to liberal thought and wedded to the political philosophy which accepted the right of revolution by people against a tyrannical sovereign. ‘Let the despot learn what the victims of his despotism think—and let him then quiver with fear if he shall not reform himself,’ was the amused thought of Beaumarchais as he began collecting books for Hyder Ali. Then he remembered that Prime Minister Purnaiya’s letter, read out to him by Count Vergennes, had also sought information on books which had been translated in the Persian or the Indian languages. Beaumarchais could not think of any but, always a man of inspiration, he turned to his friend Raza Mahdi, a Persian scholar who resided in Paris, read much but wrote little because ‘women of Paris, the wines of France and the charms of the world distract me, my dear Pierre’. He, however, undertook to translate the American Declaration of Independence in Persian.

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