The War That Shook an Empire: The Second Anglo-Mysore War, Part 2

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.

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The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani.

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