The Victory of Hyder Ali: The First Anglo-Mysore War, Part 4

Abandoned by the Nizam and facing a British "pincer movement" on his capital, Hyder Ali was supposed to be a defeated man. Instead, Ramjee Chandran recounts one of the most brilliant military recoveries in Indian history. While the British successfully breached the fort of Bangalore in 1768, they couldn't hold the victory. Witness the tactical genius of Hyder’s "ghost march"—a 130-mile sprint to the gates of Madras that bypassed the entire British army and forced the Governor to his knees. This episode concludes the First Anglo-Mysore War with a scene of absolute diplomatic humiliation for the Company.

Key Details from the Script:

• The Attack on Bangalore (1768): Taking advantage of Hyder’s absence on the west coast, a British force under Colonel Wood captured the fort of Bangalore on July 11, 1768.

• The "Invisible" Army: Hyder Ali returned from the coast with such speed that British intelligence lost track of him. He didn't just return; he systematically retook every fort the British had captured in the Baramahal region.

• The Ghost March: In a masterstroke of mobility, Hyder left his heavy baggage behind and marched 130 miles in just three and a half days, appearing suddenly at St. Thomas Mount, just five miles from the British headquarters in Madras.

• The Panic of Madras: The "invincible" British army was hundreds of miles away, looking for a battle that wasn't there, while Hyder sat at their gates, threatening to burn the "Black Town" if they didn't negotiate immediately.

• The Treaty of Madras (1769): The British were forced to sign a mutual defense treaty, return all conquered territories, and acknowledge Hyder not as a "usurper," but as a sovereign ally.

• The Final Insult: To cement the humiliation, Hyder had a caricature displayed on the gates of Fort St. George showing the British Governor kneeling before him while gold coins spilled from the Governor's nose.

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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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