"The Kannada work Haidar-Namah written in 1784 as his memoir by an anonymous Hindu admirer praises Haidar to the skies and terms him as a man who was the epitome of perfection in all qualities (sakala gunabhirama). But he mentions that were some defects in him that were intricately a part of his nature, like poison mixed with milk. ‘One such is noteworthy,’ he states, ‘namely, the capture by force of beautiful damsels wherever they might be found. A second one was that he was treacherous, broke promises, and teased and punished men summarily without due enquiry. Had he only been free from these defects, there is no doubt that he would have been considered the noblest of men in this world (satpurusha). But, alas, just as a thousand paintings are marred by a blot of ink, the regime of Haidar could not last long.’"
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Haidar-Namah, in Vikram Sampath - Tipu - The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum (2024)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hyder_Ali
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Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali, Haidarālī (c. 1720 – 7 December 1782) was the Sultan and de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born as Sayyid wal Sharif Hyder Ali Khan, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers. Rising to the post of Dalavayi (commander-in-chief) to Krishnaraja Wodeyar II, he came to dominate the titular monarch and the Mysore government. He became the de facto ruler of Mysore as Sarvadhikari (Chief Minister) by 1761. He offered str
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