Case Study #1 – The Alleged “Harem” of Kalopant’s Daughter (1790s)
One of the most persistent and salacious accusations against Tipu Sultan is that he forcibly took women from conquered territories into his harem. A specific version of this story claims that after the fall of a fort (likely Nargund, c. 1790), the daughter of Kalopant – a Maratha chief – was “reserved for the Sultan’s seraglio” or that Burhan‑ud‑din, Tipu’s commander, sent for her to select her for Tipu’s harem.
Fact Check: This story is a pure fabrication.
According to the same Maratha records that critics often cite, there is no reference to any such incident. The story appears only in a single news‑letter, which the historian notes “cannot be regarded as authentic, because the information contained in such letters was generally based on hearsay and bazar gossip.”
What actually happened? After a prolonged siege, the garrison – about 1,650 men – surrendered on July 29 on terms of security of life and property. Burhan‑ud‑din released them in batches on Tipu’s orders. By the end of September, all had been freed except Kalopant and Venkat Rao, who were sent in chains to the fort of Kabbaldurga along with their families. The reason was purely political: they had “given the Sultan considerable trouble,” and Tipu did not want to let them go unpunished. No women were taken, no harem was involved.
The historian explicitly calls the harem story a “pure fabrication” unsupported by any reliable evidence. It is a textbook example of colonial-era propaganda that continues to circulate uncritically.
Source: Khan, M. H. (1951). History of Tipu Sultan. Calcutta: The Bibliophile Ltd. (p. 100)
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