Tughlaq By Girish Karnad Text

Girish Karnad’s second play, Tughlaq , written shortly after India’s first decade of independence, is rarely read as a mere historical chronicle. Instead, it functions as a “history play” in the Brechtian sense—alienating the audience to provoke critical thought about contemporary politics. The historical Muhammad bin Tughlaq is known for his visionary but disastrous policies: shifting the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, introducing token currency, and alienating the orthodox clergy. Karnad amplifies these contradictions to create a protagonist who is simultaneously a poet, a devout Muslim, a murderer, and a lonely idealist. This paper will explore how Karnad uses Tughlaq’s tragedy to expose the gap between noble intentions and disastrous consequences.

The character of Ghiyasuddin, Tughlaq's friend and advisor, serves as a foil to Tughlaq. Ghiyasuddin represents a more pragmatic and cautious approach to politics, which is ultimately rejected by Tughlaq. The tension between these two characters drives the plot of the play and highlights the contradictions of Tughlaq's personality. tughlaq by girish karnad text

However, Karnad wrote the play in the decade following the Nehruvian era. To contemporary readers and audiences, Tughlaq’s lofty ideals and subsequent descent into chaos mirrored the disillusionment many felt in the 1960s. The "Tughlaq text" serves as a bridge between the historical 14th century and the political anxieties of the 20th. Plot Summary and Structure Girish Karnad’s second play, Tughlaq , written shortly

The play is often mis-published as "Tughlaq: A Play in Thirteen Scenes" without Karnad’s final 1972 revisions. Ensure your copy includes the prologue and the correct scene order. To contemporary readers and audiences