The History Of Bangalore The Coveted City - A Recap 1537 - 1780: Season 2 Finale
In the grand Season 2 finale, Ramjee Chandran takes a step back from the smoke of the Carnatic wars to look at the 243-year journey of Bangalore itself. From a quiet granite plateau granted to a minor chieftain named Kempe Gowda in 1537, to the formidable "military capital" of 1780, discover why this city became the ultimate prize in Southern India. This episode bridges the gap between the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire and the rise of the Mysorean military machine, setting the stage for the dramatic death of Hyder Ali and the high-stakes inheritance of Tipu Sultan.
Key Details from the Script:
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The Long Arc: Season 2 spans 243 years, tracing the evolution of Bangalore from an empty plateau to the hub of a 90,000-man army.
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Geographic Defiance: Bangalore lacked a major river or natural harbor, yet it became essential because of its "strategic intentionality"—it was a city built by design, not by accident.
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The Military Machine: By 1780, the city hosted a massive arsenal at Taramandalapete, French hussars, and a sophisticated rocket corps that nearly broke the British East India Company.
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A Contested Prize: Every power in southern India—the Marathas, the Mughals, the British, and the Mysoreans—eventually decided they could not afford to leave Bangalore in anyone else's hands.
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The Secret of the Palanquin: The episode teases the start of Season 3: Hyder Ali is dead, but his ministers are keeping it a secret, transporting his body in a closed palanquin as if he were merely resting.
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Tipu's Inheritance: The season ends with Tipu Sultan inheriting a war and a set of enemies that will give him "no quarter and no time."
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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