The History Of Bangalore The Unlikely Hero of the War of American Independence: Hyder Ali, Part 3
In one of the most unexpected chapters of global history, the fate of Bengaluru was once inextricably linked to the birth of the United States. Ramjee Chandran reveals how Hyder Ali became a household name in Revolutionary-era America. Following his crushing defeat of the British at the Battle of Pollilur in 1780, Hyder was toasted by George Washington’s inner circle as a "liberator." From Philadelphia shipyards naming warships the Hyder Ally to the technological DNA of the Mysorean rocket ending up in the American National Anthem, this episode explores how a military-industrial city on the Deccan Plateau helped humble the British Empire on a global stage.
Key Details from the Script:
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The Global Enemy: In 1781, as the American Revolution reached its climax, the British were fighting a "World War." The same General Cornwallis who surrendered at Yorktown would later seek redemption by attacking Bengaluru.
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The Toast of Trenton: Following the victory at Yorktown, American leaders held a celebration where the fourth toast was dedicated to "Hyder Ali—may he continue to be a scourge to the British!".
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The Hyder Ally Sloop: In 1782, Pennsylvania merchants commissioned a formidable warship named the Hyder Ally. Under Captain Joshua Barney, it won one of the most celebrated naval duels of the war against the HMS General Monk.
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The Racehorse "Hyder Ally": The name became so synonymous with speed and power that one of the most famous racehorses in North Carolina was named after the Sultan, leading to a landmark legal case in American property law.
- The Rocket’s Red Glare: The episode traces the direct technological line from the iron-cased rockets made in Bengaluru’s Taramandalapete to the British "Congreve Rockets" used against Americans in 1812, immortalized in the Star-Spangled Banner.
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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