The Captivity: Summary

In March 1784, Christians all over Tipu Sultan’s saltanat-i-khudadad (God-given-kingdom) were arrested and deported to Srirangapatna. There was no warning; the draconian operation was executed in great secrecy. It covered men, women, and children from Kanara, and the Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu speaking regions. Some escaped; the old, the sick, and the incapacitated were left behind. All priests were expelled, and churches brought down. Christianity was to have no existence in Tipu’s realm, now or ever, as Tipu’s unambiguous orders to his officials: “You shall seize all Padres, and Cullistauns (Christians) that are to be found within your district, and send them under a guard to the Huzzoor... In future, if any person of the cast of Cullistaun shall take up his abode in your district, you shall, according to the above directions, seize him, with his family and children, and send him and them to the Huzzoor.”.[1] 

Altogether, about 60,000 Christians, of which about 33,000 were from Kanara, were made captive. Christian properties were confiscated and sold.

The Captivity ended in May 1799 with Tipu’s death on the battlefield of Srirangapatna. Less than 50% of Kanara Christians survived, and most properties were not recovered.

[1] Greville, Charles. 1795. British India Analyzed, Part I. Clause 70 of Tipu’s Revenue Regulations. London, R Faulder. page 41