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Who is credited as a pioneer of rocket technology in India, using iron-cased rockets against the British in the 18th century?
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Answer: Option C — Tipu Sultan
Detailed Solution
Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore (1782-1799), is credited as a pioneer of rocket technology in India, for his use of iron-cased rockets against the British in the Anglo-Mysore Wars.
About the Mysorean rockets:
- The rockets used by the Mysore army had cylinders (casings) made of iron, which could hold more gunpowder and withstand higher pressure than the bamboo or paper casings used elsewhere.
- This gave them a longer range (up to about 2 km) and greater power.
- They were attached to long bamboo poles or swords for stability.
- Hyder Ali, Tipu's father, had begun the use of such rockets, and Tipu developed them further and used them on a large scale.
- Tipu's army had a special rocket corps (cushoons) of about 5,000 men, according to some accounts.
- He wrote a military manual, the "Fathul Mujahidin", which described the use of rockets.
Use in battle:
- The rockets were used effectively against the British in the Second, Third and Fourth Anglo-Mysore Wars, especially at Pollilur (1780) and Srirangapatna (1792 and 1799).
- They caused panic among the British troops and horses.
Influence on Britain:
- After the fall of Srirangapatna in 1799, the British captured many of the rockets and sent some to England.
- William Congreve studied them and developed the "Congreve rocket" (1804), which was used by the British army in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 against the USA.
- The phrase "the rockets' red glare" in the US national anthem refers to Congreve rockets used by the British in 1814.
Recognition:
Former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam praised Tipu Sultan as an innovator of rocket technology.
A painting of Tipu's rockets is displayed at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in the USA, according to Kalam's writings.
In 2017, a large number of rocket casings were found buried in a well near Shivamogga (Karnataka).
About Tipu Sultan:
He was called the "Tiger of Mysore", and was killed defending Srirangapatna in 1799.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Hyder Ali began the use of rockets, but Tipu is regarded as the pioneer.
- ✗Ranjit Singh and Shivaji did not develop this technology.
Quick tip
Remember: Tipu Sultan = pioneer of rocket technology (iron-cased Mysorean rockets; Fathul Mujahidin); inspired the British Congreve rocket (1804).
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This question tests your understanding of Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the arrival of the Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danes and French in India, the growth of the East India Company, and the battles, wars and treaties through which British power expanded, including the Battles of Plassey and Buxar, the Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh wars, and policies such as subsidiary alliance and the doctrine of lapse. Typical questions ask which battle was fought in which year and between whom, which treaty ended which war, and which Governor-General introduced a policy. For example, the Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between Robert Clive and Siraj-ud-Daulah, and the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) gave the Company the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Practise the arrival of Europeans and expansion of British rule questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.