TUGHLAQ

                                    TUGHLAQ

-         Girish Karnad.

      Girish Karnad is one of the greatest living dramatist in India today. He is a versatile genius. Tughlaq- the last one being a masterpiece . it is a classic of its kind. Tughlaq is a historical play which deals with and time of Sultan Muhmmad Bin Tughlaq of 14^th century India. Karnad deviates from history when it is inevitable from the artistic view point. 

^{History requires truth to the events of the past, bur art requires imagination and concentration.}

                   The drama – Tughlaq we read as we like it. There  we find so many different approaches to read . like… psychoanalytical study, New- historicism, Politics – intrigue and lots of murders- blood sheds , and  so many other things. 

       Sultan – the protagonist of the dram is a strong man and crafty politician. The spiritual anguish of the Sultan is fully brought out. It has been shown that he is tethering on the brink of madness.  We find the medieval atmosphere of 14^th century of Indian in the play.  Through out the play, there is lots of intrigues and we may say that the whole play depends on Intrigues only.  Whole drama is about Treachery. Everything is ambiguous at first sight in the play.

^{1.               Tughlaq killed his father and brother}

^{2.                Revolt against Sultan’s family.}

^{3.               One cannot depend on one and not trusted each other}

^{4.               Sheikh sahib- ud- din was killed , Ratan singh received many benefits.}

      ^{As Historical Play :}

^{“ History is as dry as dust.”}

  ^{Girish Karnad says that…..}

^{“ It is playing the game of chess with the shadows of the dead.”}

<sup>When we discuss Tughlaq as history play , there is some elements and events which give support us to prove that it is a historical  play. like………

Some historical Facts :</sup>

   ^{-  Burning of Kanpur}

   ^{- Revolt in Bengal}

^{-  The uprising in Deccan and Malabar Ehasmshas’ declaration of independence Bahul-ud-din’s colleting the Army against Sultan.}

    ^{Karnad’s treatment of History.}

^{-                    Shifting of capital  : Delhi to Daulatabad}

^{-                    Introduction of copper currency}

^{-                    Disintegration of sultan’s personality.}

^{-                    Policy of Taxation}

^{-                    Natural Calamities :}

                        ^{Famine, Plague..}

^{Historian Barani writes that the Sultan was a habitual player with men and he acted only to shed the blood of innocent Muslims. Barani says to Tughlaq that……………..}

^{“ You won’t let your subject  pray, you torture them for the smallest offence.”}

^{Tughlaq was a powerful personality, but he disintegrated within a short span of twenty years and mood of disillusionment.  There we find parallelism between personality reign of Tughlaq and contemporary history .( Nehru era) Tughlaq ruled in 14th  century and Nehru in the 1950 -1960.}

    ^{Political Chaos :}

^{Conflict between Hindu – Muslim and don’t trust one another}

^Corruption

^{Tax issues}

^{Tughlaq is not able to sleep even at nights.( Sleepless nights.)}

“You are one of the most powerful kings on earth today and you and spread the kingdom of Heaven on earth .God has given you everything- power, learning, intelligence, talent.”-Sheikh imam – ud- din.

v  Futility of mixing Religion and politics :

 India was conquered by the Muslim by the power of the sword, and Islam was imposed even on unwilling Hindus.

-          Principles of Islam imposed to everyone.

-          Prayer the most important part of the play .

-          Both Hindu and Muslim have to run at same              time and same way.

“ Conflict of theology and Monarchy is valid even now.”

-Scene 11 , people wanted to food not Prayer.

                         Just , Secularism , equality and unity of the country like India are the concepts very much ahead of time but not in practical and not is it even today. It is the most dangerous to mix politics and religion together.

      At the end of the play , everything is ruin . Tughlaq sleeps and prayer is going on…. Is it called tragedy of Tughlaq or public? Does Sultan Tughlaq only responsible for whole ? Does he repent for what is done by him? Lots of questions are there , after reading the play – Tughlaq. Reader can’t easily forget what has happened with innocent people mostly with ….   Old, children, and females.. Descriptions of dead bodies are so terrible .  No one is happy there. Every where we find blood sheds and dead bodies….

v   New Historicism : 

 Whole play is arranged around the protagonist – Tughlaq . All events are describes with the perspective of Sultan and his advisers and his helper. But what about common people who suffer most than these all? In their intrigue and treachery , ordinary people become Sandwich  among them . If king has power and Monarchy do anything which they want to do , it doesn’t mean that they can take any decisions on behalf of people. Many innocent people are killed only because of Sulatan’s decision.  

                         Aziz and Azam the comic character lots their life and Sultan has no regret for their death. Is it politics?  Can king use anybody’s life as toy ? What about both characters Aziz and Azam  - both are innocent and then even they lost their life and became the part of Politics.

Reading play at first sight, reader think about only conflict between Hindu and Muslim but what about other issues which is not clearly discussed in the play. It is also there.   No doubt , Tughlaq is learned man, as idealist, as democrat , hatred and revolt of that people , his impulsive nature ,and so many things with good qualities but  then even he fails as Sultan and king why ??  it is also necessary to think with new approach – New historicisms because something is there and we don’t read it with lines.  

Double fadedness -  politicians  today. Gandhi was killed by a mad Hindu. And Pandit Nehru mostly followed the Sultan Tughlaq’s method. Tughlaq’s character describes what is happening today.

“There is no differences between 14^th century Indian and contemporary India. Was Tughlaq’s time in any way different from that of India Today? “

 Reality of India is that….

“ Politicians are no less mad than Tughlaq.”