The play spans the latter half of Tughlaq’s reign, focusing on his most infamous administrative blunders: the shifting of the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and the introduction of a token copper currency. On the surface, these moves appear to be the whims of a madman. However, Karnad’s genius lies in his refusal to portray Tughlaq as a lunatic. Instead, he presents him as a visionary intellectual—an idealist who dreams of a unified, secular India (or Hindustan) where religion does not dictate governance.
Ghiyasuddin looked at his friend with sorrow. "You have been blinded by your own vision, Muhammad. You have lost sight of the reality on the ground."
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Simultaneously, a subplot unfolds involving , a shrewd and opportunistic Muslim man who disguises himself as a Hindu to exploit the Sultan’s justice system. Aziz and his partner Aazam personify the play’s political cunning, manipulating the Sultan's own proclamations of impartial justice and secularism for personal gain. tughlaq by girish karnad text
The character of the Shadow, who appears throughout the play, represents the voice of reason and conscience. The Shadow is a symbolic figure, who speaks the truth to Tughlaq, but is ultimately ignored.
For those seeking the script:
Karnad himself stated: "Tughlaq seemed to me a figure created by the sheer accident of history... He is the only medieval king who fits the contemporary scene." The play spans the latter half of Tughlaq’s
Tughlaq's other notable policies included the introduction of a new currency, the "Tughlaq Rupee," which was a token currency that could be exchanged for a certain amount of silver or gold. However, this experiment ended in disaster when the token currency was rejected by merchants and traders, leading to widespread inflation and economic instability.
When searching for the one is not merely looking for a PDF or a physical copy of a play. One is seeking entry into a complex labyrinth of political idealism, historical irony, and existential despair. Written in 1964 by the iconic Indian playwright Girish Karnad, Tughlaq is widely regarded as one of the finest Indian plays of the 20th century.
Girish Karnad's play "Tughlaq" is a seminal work of Indian theatre that continues to captivate audiences with its thought-provoking narrative and nuanced exploration of power, politics, and human nature. Written in 1964, the play is a fictionalized account of the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Delhi Sultan who ruled India from 1325 to 1351. In this article, we will delve into the text of "Tughlaq" and examine its themes, characters, and historical context to understand why it remains a masterpiece of Indian literature. Instead, he presents him as a visionary intellectual—an
| Feature | Details | | --- | --- | | | Kannada | | Year of Writing | 1964 | | English Translation | The play was translated into English by the playwright himself and theatre director Alyque Padamsee. This version was first enacted in English in Mumbai in 1970. | | Standard Edition | Published by Oxford University Press, New Delhi. Key editions include a 1972 edition (xxvii, 116 p.) and a 2012 edition with a new introduction. The 2012 edition has a new cover image, introduction, and afterword. The ISBN for this edition is 9780198077138. | | Bibliographic Entry | “Karnad, Girish. Tughlaq : a Play in Thirteen Scenes . New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1972.” |
Represents Tughlaq’s view of politics as a strategic game where people are mere pawns.
is a cynical, pragmatic politician and strategist. He encourages Tughlaq to use ruthless, calculated statecraft to maintain power.
The play begins with Tughlaq's accession to the throne and his ambitious plans to expand the Delhi Sultanate. However, his methods are unorthodox and brutal, leading to discontent among his nobles and subjects. The play explores Tughlaq's relationships with his friends, family, and advisors, revealing his growing paranoia and megalomania.