ASSIGNMENT
INDIAN WRITING IN ENGLISH
TOPIC: Themes in Tughlaq
BY
J. HAMIN LUDGER
I. M.A. English Literature [Aided]
THEMES IN TUGHLAQ
Girish Karnad’s second attempt,
Tughlaq is certainly a historical play which
deals in depth with the last five years of
chequered regin of Muhammad-Bin-
Tughlaq. The action of the play Tughlaq,
takes place first of all in Delhi in the year
1327, then on the road from Delhi to
Daultabad.
When we look towards Tughlaq, the
play describes political situation of sixties
and at the same time reflects the political
mood of disillusionment which followed
Nehru era of idealism.
Karnad projects the Humanism and
Idealism of Muhammad-Bin-Tughlaq
excellently in his play. In the opening
scene,Tughlaq who is portrayed as a man
totally estranged from the society, is not
understood in the proper perspective,
because his ideas were far above the reach
and comprehension of common people.
Similar to that of Nehru’s ideals.
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE:
There was a devoid of religious
tolerance in the age of Tughlaq. The Hindus
and the Muslims looked at askance. They
were unable to understand the broad
minded religious tolerance of Tughlaq. His
confidence building measures were not
appreciated. All his attempts bring about
an understanding between the two varying
communities brought distrust.
The changes brought about by Tughlaq
post a great threat to the time honored
convictions. Tughlaq is frustrated because
his idealistic dreams could never reach the
destination because they lacked the firm
support of the people. He is fully aware of
his mental predicament.
“But how can I explain tomorrow to
those who haven’t opened their eyes to the
light of today”
CRUELTY:
The cruelties of Sultan reach its height
when comes to know of his step-mother’s
killing of the Najib, he mercilessly orders
that she should be stoned to death. When
his step-mother taunts him for killing his
father, brother and sheikh; Tughlaq claims
that he has killed them for an ideal,
perhaps the ideal of building a Utopian
empire when he considers to his life’s
mission.
“I killed them-yes – but killed them for an ideal”.
The central plot is filled with violence
and blood-shed and the sub plot is
impregnated with impersonation, bribery
and treachery.
VIOLENCE:
For Tughlaq, violence is no longer
under his control, once he has tasted the
exhilarating power of killing, it has become
a compulsion for him to act violently.
Tughlaq planned to kill Sheikh-Immam-ud-
din and made Ain-ul-Mulk as a villain. He
safeguard himself without doubting others.
He too murdered Shihab-ud-din. So he
begins to believe that most powerful
argument laid not in words but in the
sword.
IMPERSONATING:
Aziz, a comic figure modeled on
Shakespeare’s Falstaff, on goes on
impersonating one person after another. At
first, Aziz impersonates Vishnu Prasad, the
Brahmin and takes advantage of the royal
law that all are equal before law and that
the people can file a suit against the Sultan
and gets five hundred silver dinars and job
in the civil service.
In despair, secondly the king tries to
bring peace and legitimacy to the kingdom
and invites Ghiyas-ud-din Abbasid, a
descendent of Baghdad Khalifas to visit and
sanctify his new capital. But Aziz, now a
highway robber kills Ghiyas-ud-din and
stand in front of the king disguised as
Ghiyas-ud-din.
“We are praying because a holy man
like Ghiyas-ud-din Abbasid has come to our
land and blessed us.”
BRIBERY:
When the people of Delhi move to the
new capital Daultabad, Aziz takes bribe
from them mercilessly and in his Brahmin
disguise exhorts money from the sick and
dying travelers. A poor woman’s child dies
because she doesn’t have money, since he is
an officer, he gives small concession to the
people. When the king attempts to revive
the imperial economy by introducing
copper currency, which has the same taken
value as that of silver dinars, Aziz becomes
counterfeiter.
GENERATION GAP:
The conflict with the opposites begins
with the very first scene. The old people is
in a thought Sultan Muhammad-bin-
Tughlaq is leading the country downward
because the Sultan is not working
according to the tenets of Islam. But the
young thought that the country is in safe
hands. The Sultan is near to the people. He
is not afraid to be humane.
Under the cloud of suspicion and doubt
between the Hindus and the Muslims,
Tughlaq wanted justice and brotherhood in
his country. He wishes to work in his
kingdom without any consideration of
might or weakness, religion or creed. He
has longed for equality, progress and peace
and more purposeful life.
The theme of the play is historical but
Karnad’s treatment of the theme is in no
way historical. The leitmotiv of the play is
prayer. The father of Tughlaq is murdered
at the prayer time. The Muslim courtiers
and chief along with Sheikh-Immam-ud-din
and Shihab-ud-din conspire to murder the
king at the time of prayer. The innumerable
murders that Tughlaq is involved don’t
bring him peace. They tear him from
within. He feels lonely and frustrated. In
such torn and wretched state he seeks the
shelter of God who can only save him from
misery and ghosts of the murdered. Only he
can help him to be a man. So he surrenders
himself to God.
Through this play, Karnad creates a
contemporary political turmoil. It
represents the hopes and disappointments
in the Indian politics during Nehru’s period.
The contemporaneity ascribed to a
historical situation makes the play and its
theme unique.
INDIAN WRITING IN ENGLISH
TOPIC: Themes in Tughlaq
BY
J. HAMIN LUDGER
I. M.A. English Literature [Aided]
THEMES IN TUGHLAQ
Girish Karnad’s second attempt,
Tughlaq is certainly a historical play which
deals in depth with the last five years of
chequered regin of Muhammad-Bin-
Tughlaq. The action of the play Tughlaq,
takes place first of all in Delhi in the year
1327, then on the road from Delhi to
Daultabad.
When we look towards Tughlaq, the
play describes political situation of sixties
and at the same time reflects the political
mood of disillusionment which followed
Nehru era of idealism.
Karnad projects the Humanism and
Idealism of Muhammad-Bin-Tughlaq
excellently in his play. In the opening
scene,Tughlaq who is portrayed as a man
totally estranged from the society, is not
understood in the proper perspective,
because his ideas were far above the reach
and comprehension of common people.
Similar to that of Nehru’s ideals.
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE:
There was a devoid of religious
tolerance in the age of Tughlaq. The Hindus
and the Muslims looked at askance. They
were unable to understand the broad
minded religious tolerance of Tughlaq. His
confidence building measures were not
appreciated. All his attempts bring about
an understanding between the two varying
communities brought distrust.
The changes brought about by Tughlaq
post a great threat to the time honored
convictions. Tughlaq is frustrated because
his idealistic dreams could never reach the
destination because they lacked the firm
support of the people. He is fully aware of
his mental predicament.
“But how can I explain tomorrow to
those who haven’t opened their eyes to the
light of today”
CRUELTY:
The cruelties of Sultan reach its height
when comes to know of his step-mother’s
killing of the Najib, he mercilessly orders
that she should be stoned to death. When
his step-mother taunts him for killing his
father, brother and sheikh; Tughlaq claims
that he has killed them for an ideal,
perhaps the ideal of building a Utopian
empire when he considers to his life’s
mission.
“I killed them-yes – but killed them for an ideal”.
The central plot is filled with violence
and blood-shed and the sub plot is
impregnated with impersonation, bribery
and treachery.
VIOLENCE:
For Tughlaq, violence is no longer
under his control, once he has tasted the
exhilarating power of killing, it has become
a compulsion for him to act violently.
Tughlaq planned to kill Sheikh-Immam-ud-
din and made Ain-ul-Mulk as a villain. He
safeguard himself without doubting others.
He too murdered Shihab-ud-din. So he
begins to believe that most powerful
argument laid not in words but in the
sword.
IMPERSONATING:
Aziz, a comic figure modeled on
Shakespeare’s Falstaff, on goes on
impersonating one person after another. At
first, Aziz impersonates Vishnu Prasad, the
Brahmin and takes advantage of the royal
law that all are equal before law and that
the people can file a suit against the Sultan
and gets five hundred silver dinars and job
in the civil service.
In despair, secondly the king tries to
bring peace and legitimacy to the kingdom
and invites Ghiyas-ud-din Abbasid, a
descendent of Baghdad Khalifas to visit and
sanctify his new capital. But Aziz, now a
highway robber kills Ghiyas-ud-din and
stand in front of the king disguised as
Ghiyas-ud-din.
“We are praying because a holy man
like Ghiyas-ud-din Abbasid has come to our
land and blessed us.”
BRIBERY:
When the people of Delhi move to the
new capital Daultabad, Aziz takes bribe
from them mercilessly and in his Brahmin
disguise exhorts money from the sick and
dying travelers. A poor woman’s child dies
because she doesn’t have money, since he is
an officer, he gives small concession to the
people. When the king attempts to revive
the imperial economy by introducing
copper currency, which has the same taken
value as that of silver dinars, Aziz becomes
counterfeiter.
GENERATION GAP:
The conflict with the opposites begins
with the very first scene. The old people is
in a thought Sultan Muhammad-bin-
Tughlaq is leading the country downward
because the Sultan is not working
according to the tenets of Islam. But the
young thought that the country is in safe
hands. The Sultan is near to the people. He
is not afraid to be humane.
Under the cloud of suspicion and doubt
between the Hindus and the Muslims,
Tughlaq wanted justice and brotherhood in
his country. He wishes to work in his
kingdom without any consideration of
might or weakness, religion or creed. He
has longed for equality, progress and peace
and more purposeful life.
The theme of the play is historical but
Karnad’s treatment of the theme is in no
way historical. The leitmotiv of the play is
prayer. The father of Tughlaq is murdered
at the prayer time. The Muslim courtiers
and chief along with Sheikh-Immam-ud-din
and Shihab-ud-din conspire to murder the
king at the time of prayer. The innumerable
murders that Tughlaq is involved don’t
bring him peace. They tear him from
within. He feels lonely and frustrated. In
such torn and wretched state he seeks the
shelter of God who can only save him from
misery and ghosts of the murdered. Only he
can help him to be a man. So he surrenders
himself to God.
Through this play, Karnad creates a
contemporary political turmoil. It
represents the hopes and disappointments
in the Indian politics during Nehru’s period.
The contemporaneity ascribed to a
historical situation makes the play and its
theme unique.
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