The History Of Bangalore Hyderabad, Bidanur, and the Northern Circars: Britain to Bangalore, Part 3
By 1761, Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of Mysore, but he inherited a state that was chronically underfunded and prone to military mutiny. Ramjee Chandran explores the two strategic masterstrokes that changed everything: the conquest of the massive treasury at Bidanur and the acquisition of a coastline on the Canara coast. This episode details how these "strategic foundations" allowed Hyder to build a permanent, salaried army and a navy, setting him on a direct collision course with the East India Company. We witness the diplomatic maneuvers of the Treaty of Hyderabad, which formally obligated the British to attack Bengaluru, and Hyder’s decisive choice to strike first.
Key Details from the Script:
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The Bidanur Windfall (1763): Hyder seized the capital of the Ikkeri Nayakas, securing a hoard of gold and jewels valued at twelve million pounds sterling. This "sovereign wealth fund" allowed him to pay all military arrears and clear the threat of mutiny.
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A Professional Standing Army: Using the Bidanur wealth, Hyder built a permanent, salaried force trained in European methods and loyal to the institution of the state rather than individual commanders.
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The Maritime Pivot: Hyder annexed vital ports like Mangalore and Honnavar, building a navy and a naval arsenal to challenge British maritime dominance and import weaponry directly from Europe.
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The Northern Circars Strategy: To connect their power centers in Bengal and Madras, the Company seized the Northern Circars from the Nizam of Hyderabad via a Mughal decree, outraging the Nizam and leading to the Treaty of Hyderabad (1766).
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The "Contractual" Collision: The Treaty of Hyderabad obligated the British to provide military aid to the Nizam, with the stated objective of reducing the fort of Bangalore.
- The First Anglo-Mysore War: Recognizing that time favored the Company's growing sepoy system, Hyder struck first in 1766, descending from the plateau to attack the Carnatic and force the war on his own terms.
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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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