Tughlaq By Girish Karnad - Text

Throughout the play, Karnad uses a non-linear narrative structure, jumping back and forth in time to show the consequences of Tughlaq's actions. We see the suffering of the common people, who are affected by Tughlaq's policies, and the growing discontent among his advisors and nobles.

A deep psychological study runs through the text. Tughlaq is a profoundly lonely figure.

One night, as the moon hung low in the sky, Tughlaq summoned his friend to his chambers. "Ghiyas, my friend," he said, his voice trembling, "I fear I have made a terrible mistake. The token currency, the move to Daulatabad... it was all a dream, a fantasy. What have I done to my people?" tughlaq by girish karnad text

The play is set during the turbulent reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, a ruler known as "the wisest fool" in Indian history. Tughlaq was a man of extraordinary vision—he dreamt of a secular, unified India where Hindus and Muslims lived in harmony and where justice was administered without bias.

Karnad’s use of language—originally in Kannada and later translated into English by the author himself—is lean, evocative, and intellectually stimulating. It remains a staple for anyone interested in post-colonial literature, Indian history, or the psychology of power. Throughout the play, Karnad uses a non-linear narrative

A conspiracy to assassinate Tughlaq during prayer time is hatched by a group of nobles and Amirs, led by Shihab-ud-din. Tughlaq is tipped off about the plot by his network of spies. During the prayer session, Tughlaq’s soldiers ambush and slaughter the conspirators. Tughlaq personally stabs Shihab-ud-din to death in a frenzy of rage.

In the end, it is not the Sultan's policies that are the problem, but the Sultan himself. For in his relentless pursuit of power and his conviction of his own divinity, he has lost sight of the very people he was meant to serve. Tughlaq is a profoundly lonely figure

However, the audience quickly learns that the "Brahmin" is actually Aziz, a shrewd Muslim dhobi (washerman) who disguised himself to exploit the Sultan's idealistic laws. This immediately establishes a recurring theme: Tughlaq's noble policies are easily manipulated by corrupt opportunists.

Karnad repeatedly uses the imagery of chess ( shatranj ). Tughlaq sees himself as a grandmaster moving pawns (his subjects, his courtiers, even his beloved friend Ain-ul-Mulk). The paper will analyze two key scenes: