Aziz, a cunning dhobi (washerman) who disguises himself as a Brahmin to exploit Tughlaq’s laws, acts as a foil to the Sultan. While Tughlaq fails through grand idealism, Aziz succeeds through pure, unprincipled pragmatism. Legacy
The central deep feature of the text is the disintegration of a noble vision. Muhammad bin Tughlaq is not a standard villain; he is an intellectual giant, a scholar, and a visionary who wants to create a Utopia.
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 text highlights the tension between Tughlaq’s secular ideals and the orthodox religious leaders who view his policies as heresy. tughlaq by girish karnad text
The Tughlaq dynasty, which ruled Delhi from 1320 to 1414, was a period of significant turmoil and transformation in Indian history. This era, marked by the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, a ruler known for his intellectual and progressive outlook, has been a subject of fascination for historians and playwrights alike. Girish Karnad, a renowned Indian playwright, wrote a play titled "Tughlaq" in 1964, which offers a critical analysis of the Tughlaq dynasty and its ruler. This article aims to provide an in-depth examination of the play and its themes, exploring the historical context and Karnad's interpretation of the Tughlaq era.
GHALIB: By the waters of the Kabul river, I dream of Hindustan.
| 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.” | Aziz, a cunning dhobi (washerman) who disguises himself
The play is structured in thirteen scenes, tracking the Sultan's reign from his initial idealistic fervor to his eventual isolation and madness. Key plot points include:
This allegorical power gives the text its enduring relevance. As the renowned writer U.R. Ananthamurthy noted in his introduction to the play, "Tughlaq" is "more than a political allegory. It has an irreducible, puzzling quality which comes from the ambiguities of Tughlaq’s character". This universality allows the play to resonate in any era of political crisis, making it as potent today as it was upon its debut.
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"We will introduce a new currency," he announced, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "A token currency, made of copper and bronze, that will be equivalent to gold and silver."
The play "Tughlaq" by Girish Karnad is widely available in English and has been translated into several languages. The text of the play can be found in various editions, including the Oxford University Press edition, which is widely regarded as a authoritative version.
As the play progresses, Tughlaq's policies become increasingly unpopular, and he faces opposition from the nobility and the people. His experiments with currency reform, taxation, and social welfare programs also fail, leading to widespread discontent and chaos.