This August, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) in Kuala Lumpur unveils More Than A Day As A Tiger: The Legacy Of Haider Ali And Tipu Sultan Of Mysore — a major exhibition honouring two of 18th-century South Asia’s most formidable figures.
Running from Aug 6 to Jan 15, 2026, at IAMM’s Special Gallery 2, the show features exhibits drawn entirely from IAMM's extensive collection.
More Than A Day As A Tiger casts the spotlight on Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, legendary rulers of Mysore whose defiance against British colonial power continues to echo through time.
Through a display of nearly 100 artefacts and rare historical records, the exhibition will highlight their lasting legacy, remarkable military leadership, and cultural influence during a transformative era marked by resistance, resilience, and reform.
“Even though the reigns of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan lasted for less than 40 years, they made an indelible mark on the history of Britain and the Indian Subcontinent," outlines the exhibition notes.
Tipu Sultan, famously dubbed the "Tiger of Mysore" by the British, became a powerful symbol of resistance when he fell defending his capital, Srirangapatna, in 1799. His death marked the collapse of Mysore and the triumph of the British East India Company, which looted his palace, weapons, court paintings and treasures.
A priceless tiger-head finial, believed to be part of Tipu Sultan's legendary gold throne, is one of the exhibition's main highlights, alongside a flintlock blunderbuss (acquired by IAMM in 2005), which is lavishly decorated with bubri (tiger stripe) motifs and gold inlay.
The historic weapon, manufactured at one of Tipu Sultan's armouries located in Patan (Srirangapatna), India by a local gunsmith around 1797, also bears a Persian inscription – a poem that extols its formidable power.
IAMM's Tipu Sultan collection also includes an array of other weapons, including sporting guns, pistols and cannons.
The exhibition also explores the symbolic use of the tiger across Tipu Sultan’s military and personal belongings – from bubri-patterned swords and hilts to embroidered archery gear and quilted helmets.
“These artefacts will appear alongside archival documents, paintings, engravings, coins and much more. This collection testifies to the bravery of Tipu Sultan, who was famously associated with the quote, ‘It is better to live like a tiger for a day, than to live like a jackal for 100 years,’” highlights the curatorial text.
For history enthusiasts and curious minds, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into a chapter that connects the Islamic world with South-East Asia’s colonial past.
More Than A Day As A Tiger marks IAMM’s second major exhibition of the year, following the recently concluded Oceans That Speak: Islam And The Emergence Of The Malay World, which examined the historical and cultural impact of maritime trade on the spread of Islam and the shaping of the Malay world.
A series of public programmes and activities will accompany IAMM's upcoming exhibition, offering visitors deeper insight into the legacy of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan.
