Play ‘Tughlaq’ by Girish Karnad

Tughlaq is an enigmatic play about a misunderstood ruler in history. It captures the reign of a man who got too much power and couldn’t understand how to wield such authority on unwilling subjects. The play was initially written in Kannada and was translated in English by Karnad. The play is timeless. Its many linguistic translations and interpretations are proof enough of its brilliance.

The play is about a king who could not understand his subjects and how his subjects were not ready for the King’s dream of a perfect kingdom. “Mad Mohammad” or “Sanki Sultan”, the names that were pinned on him seemed appropriate as he shifted his kingdom from Delhi to Daulatabad – a move which brought his kingdom to its knees. The further disillusionment that Tughlaq went through led him to isolate himself from his people as intolerance reached its peak. He is surrounded by people who slander him, plot against him and murder one another ruthlessly.

It is considered as a political play as it represents the reign of a king and his various moves to unify the Hindus and Muslims. It was enacted on 22nd November 2019 by Rangmanch NU, the drama society of NU and directed by Dr. Anshima P. Srivastava. The play was widely appreciated by the crowd as it made a strong emotional impact, leaving the audience pondering for hours afterward.