Mir Sadiq

An 18th-century Indian courtier whose controversial betrayal during the Anglo-Mysore Wars altered South Asian colonial history.

Mir Sadiq (died 1799), a key minister in Tipu Sultan's Mysore court, played a paradoxical role in India's resistance against British colonialism. While often vilified as a traitor for allegedly colluding with the British during the Battle of Seringapatam (1799), his actions underscore the complex interplay of loyalty and survival in feudal politics.

Historical records suggest Mir Sadiq negotiated secretly with the British East India Company to avoid further bloodshed after years of war. His decision arguably accelerated the fall of Mysore but also exposed the vulnerabilities of Indian kingdoms against European imperial tactics. Critics argue his betrayal was motivated by personal grievances, as Tipu Sultan had confiscated his properties.

However, regional ballads and Kannada chronicles offer nuanced perspectives. Some portray him as a pragmatist who sought to preserve Mysore's cultural institutions amid inevitable defeat. His legacy remains contentious: in Karnataka, his name is synonymous with treachery, yet historians debate whether his actions inadvertently catalyzed future anti-colonial movements like the 1857 Rebellion.