The History Of Bangalore

Ramjee Chandran

"The History of Bangalore" explores Bangalore's evolution from its early beginnings in the 4th century AD, from the dynasties of the Kadambas and the Gangas, through the eras of princely rule, the rise of the British Raj, and ultimately, the dawn of Indian independence in 1947. Join us as we uncover the power struggles, alliances, and battles that shaped this dynamic city. Expect a captivating blend of scholarly research and engaging storytelling. We'll delve into the reigns of powerful kings, the rise and fall of empires, and the events that forged Bangalore into the prominent city it is today. Whether you're a history buff or simply curious about Bangalore's roots, this podcast is for you. 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 You can 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 photographs: Asha Thadani

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  1. The Death of Hyder Ali

    EPISODE 105

    The Death of Hyder Ali

    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.

    17 min
  2. The End of the Second Anglo-Mysore War

    SEASON 3, EPISODE 106 TRAILER

    The End of the Second Anglo-Mysore War

    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.

    23 min
  3. The Loneliness of Tipu Sultan: No Friends, Only Followers

    EPISODE 107

    The Loneliness of Tipu Sultan: No Friends, Only Followers

    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.

    20 min
  4. When Tipu Sultan was Flogged in Public: Lessons from a Father

    EPISODE 108

    When Tipu Sultan was Flogged in Public: Lessons from a Father

    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.

    21 min
  5. The Darkest Chapter of Tipu Sultan: The Malabar Atrocities

    EPISODE 109

    The Darkest Chapter of Tipu Sultan: The Malabar Atrocities

    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.

    20 min
See All Season 3 (5)

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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

"The History of Bangalore" explores Bangalore's evolution from its early beginnings in the 4th century AD, from the dynasties of the Kadambas and the Gangas, through the eras of princely rule, the rise of the British Raj, and ultimately, the dawn of Indian independence in 1947. Join us as we uncover the power struggles, alliances, and battles that shaped this dynamic city. Expect a captivating blend of scholarly research and engaging storytelling. We'll delve into the reigns of powerful kings, the rise and fall of empires, and the events that forged Bangalore into the prominent city it is today. Whether you're a history buff or simply curious about Bangalore's roots, this podcast is for you. 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 You can 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 photographs: Asha Thadani

Information

  • Creator
    Ramjee Chandran
  • Episodes
    111
  • Seasons
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 The History of Bangalore (P). All rights reserved.

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