Yaar Muhammad, Tippu's Sipah
Salar, was born in a Rajput family, in the 18th century to Shah Mohammad, a
celebrated Sufi saint. He joined the Mysorian Army and soon became one of
the favourite Military Officials of Tippu Sultan. Seeing his patriotic and
dauntless behaviour, Tippu Sultan made him his Commander-in-Chief. He fought
in the Battle of Seringapatam against the oppression of British Imperialism,
but after the death of the Tippu Sultan, and later the fall of Mysore, he
had to run away to avoid being captured by the British Army.
After the fall of Mysore, General Yaar Mohammad spent the rest of his life
in abscondment and humbleness. To the British, he was one of the most wanted
Mysorian officials. They tried to capture him, alive or dead, but couldn’t
succeed. All his relatives and family members were killed by tyrant British
forces, due to their relation with Tippu’s most trusted General, but only he
along with his father Shah Noor Mohammad and son Ilahi Baksh, succeeded in
their escape. They lived out the rest of their lives as fugitives. General
Yaar Mohammad died in the first half of 19th century. Today, his descendants
are living in some districts of Punjab and are leading quite non-military
and non-political lives. |