Tughlaq By Girish Karnad Text May 2026

Introduction

Brief write-up — Tughlaq by Girish Karnad

Conclusion: A Play for Our Times

• Argument: Tughlaq’s “justice” is performative. He forgives his stepmother and then orders the murder of the old sheikh. He plays chess not as a game but as a simulation of war. His famous soliloquies reveal a man in love with his own intellectual complexity. The paper will argue that Tughlaq fails not because he is evil, but because he cannot translate abstract love for “the people” into concrete respect for individual human beings.

Step 1: First Reading – The Plot

1. The Dialectics of Tughlaq: Idealist vs. Tyrant

The central tension of the play lies in Tughlaq’s split personality. In Act I, he announces, “This is not a kingdom of slaves but of free men.” He abolishes taxes, respects Hindu sentiments (the story of Aziz and the temple), and claims to be above religious bigotry. However, Karnad meticulously shows how this idealism is a mask for authoritarian narcissism.

Girish Karnad's play "Tughlaq" is a historical drama written in 1964. The play is based on the life of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, a Delhi Sultan of the Tughlaq dynasty who ruled India from 1325 to 1351. The play explores the complexities of Tughlaq's personality and his tumultuous reign, weaving together history, politics, and psychology. tughlaq by girish karnad text

As the play progresses, we see Tughlaq's increasingly erratic behavior, including his decision to introduce a token currency, which leads to widespread inflation and economic chaos. We also see his relationships with his advisors, particularly the intelligent and witty Aziz, who tries to caution Tughlaq against his impulsive decisions. Introduction Brief write-up — Tughlaq by Girish Karnad

The central deep feature of the text is the disintegration of a noble vision. Muhammad bin Tughlaq is not a standard villain; he is an intellectual giant, a scholar, and a visionary who wants to create a Utopia. Argument: Tughlaq’s “justice” is performative