An Analysis of Girish Karnad's Tughlaq
RAGHAVENDRA H.M.
Assistant professor of English.
Government First Grade College, Tumkur-572102, INDIA
raghhm@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Tughlaq is based on the historical character of Muhammad-bin- Tughlaq who ruled India during 14th century who was named mad king by his subjects as well as historians. Girish Karnad has shown him as a man of opposites and a man of ideals. He dreams of the welfare of his people and works for it. He tries to bring Hindus - Muslims unity in the country. But corrupt politicians around him and his own officials fail him. He becomes lonely and is tortured within. To prove his impartiality, he awards death penalty to his mother. At last he loses sleep and moves towards insanity.
KEYWORDS: Tughlaq, Idealism, Equality, Politics, Corruption, Insanity, Assassination
The play Tughlaq brought name and fame to Girish Karnad. It was first written in Kannanda and was later translated into English. Tughlaq is based on the historical character of Muhammad-bin- Tughlaq who ruled India during 14th century who was named mad king by his subjects as well as historians. Girish Karnad has shown him as a man of opposites and a man of ideals.
In the first scene of the play, it is depicted that the aged men of Delhi are upset because they think sultan is not ruling the country according to tenets of Islam and has exempted Hindus from the Jiziya tax. Whereas the young feel India is in safe hands and sultan is not violating Islam as the Muslim are forced to pray (Namaz) five times a day and he is working for progress and peace in the country. To the readers of the paly, the king appears to be an idealist.
Sadly, his idealism is misused by thieves like Aziz. Aziz, a Muslim dhobi disguises himself as a Brahmin named Vishnu Prasad and files a case against the Sultan because his land is confiscated by the officials. The Brahmin gets his land back and he is paid 500 dinars. Tughlaq wants to prove that he is impartial and treat both Muslims and Hindus alike. Tughlaq is an idealist and wants Hindu-Muslim unity and equality.
In the same scene, the sultan announces the transfer of the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad. The reason being Delhi near the border and there is always a fear of invaders. Another reason is, unlike Delhi, Daulatabad is a city of Hindus and as the capital city, it will symbolize bond between Muslims and Hindus. His purpose is good, but he fails to convince his subjects. He does not consider the emotional attachment people will have with their beloved Delhi.
In the next scene Muhammad proudly tells his step-mother that he has solved one of the famous problems of chess. But the step mother who really loves him is worried about his health because the he sleeps late at night. Muhammad says he is striving to take India and its people on the path of development so he got no time to sleep.
Then the play focuses on some political problems Tughlaq is facing. Sheikh Imam-Ud-din is turning the people of Kanpur against the sultan whereas his boyhood friend Ain-ul-Mulk, the governor of Avad is marching on Delhi with his thirty-thousand soldiers whereas Muhammad hardly has six thousand soldiers.
Muhammad is a crafty politician. Najib, his vazier informs that Sheikh closely resembles the sultan. Immediately he announces a public meeting with Imamuddin and invites people to witness their argument. However, his soldiers make sure that none attend the meeting.
Muhammad convinces Imamuddin to be his evoy of peace. Sheik agrees to stop Muslim bloodshed in the hand of another Muslim. He takes the message of peace to Ain-ul-Mulk. The Sheikh wearing royal dress, standing on royal elephant makes Ainulmulk's soldiers think that he is Muhammed the sultan. He is killed instantly. Tughlaq defeats Ainulmulk by laying a trap. But surprisingly, pardons him of all his crimes and even retains him as the Governor of Avadh.
Back home, his enemies are uniting against him. The Sheikhs, the Amirs and the Sayyads of Delhi joins hands with Ratansingh and Shihab-ud-din and plot to murder him during prayer. But Ratan plays double game and informs Tughlaq of this in advance. Hindu soldiers hidden behind the curtain attack the rebels and there is general massacre. Ratan takes his revenge on Shihab-ud-din for his father's death.
Shifting the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad begins. Tughlaq orders all the people to vacate Delhi and move towards Daulatabad. Thousands die on the road to Daulatabad. Corrupt officers and rogues like Aziz utilize the situation to make money. The sufferings of the people multiply by these officials. It is a huge blunder committed by Tughlaq.
Then the sultan takes another careless decision. He introduces copper coins in place of silver coins and declares that the value of copper currency will be equal to silver coin because he has read about the paper currency in China. People take undue advantage of Sultan’s policy. They mint copper coins at home and demand silver coin for copper. He reverts his action. But it is too late. The economy of the country is completely ruined by this action.
To make the situation even worse, draught hits the country. Without realising the situation, he lavied more tax on the farmers of Doab region. They revolt against Muhammad.
At this juncture, the holy man Ghiyas Uddin Abbasid, the grandson of Khalif is on the way to Daulatabad. Aziz and Azaam have once again changed their profession to dacoity now. They have formed a gang and robbing the people on the Delhi-Daulatabad highway. Unfortunately, Ghiyas Uddin Abbasid falls prey to Aziz's gang. They murder him and Aziz disguises himself as Abbasid. Aazaam follows him as his disciple. When he reaches Daulatabad, he is given a royal welcome and the Namaz restarts. The starving people want food not prayers. Large scale rioting and looting begins in Daulatabad and dead bodies rot everywhere. Then Tughlaq realizes that it's not Abbasid but a thief in disguise. Aziz is a very clever man. His words impress Muhammed. He is forgiven by the sultan. And sent to the Deccan as governor.
In the last scene we see tired and exhausted Sultan falling asleep on the throne. A servant tries to wake him, but soon gives up the effort. The play ends as Muhammad suddenly opens his eyes and looks around dazed and frightened. Has he gone mad?
Tughlaq constantly admits his mistakes and allows himself to be punished publicly. He moves his capital to Daulatabad because it is a city dominated by the Hindus. This move will further the cause of togetherness and communal unity. Through this character, the idealism of the Nehruvian era is commented upon. Delhi is near the border and there is always a fear of invaders. Daulatabad is a city of the Hindus and as the capital it will symbolize the bond between Muslims and Hindus. But he fails to convince his subjects. He does not consider the emotional attachment of people to their native soil. The opening scene reflect the idiosyncrasies and eccentricities of this character.
He contemplates to equate the value of copper coins with silver dinars. In order to establish himself as a worthy ruler, he exposes himself to public scorn and invites public condemnation. He hastens the process of his own nemesis through a series of badly contrived measures at projecting himself as a tolerant and efficient ruler. His irrational and erratic methods are severely criticized by his courtiers and citizens. He emerges as a shrewd politician and a mercilessly ambitious ruler. He is responsible for the assassination of Sheikh Imamuddin, his critic, who accuses him of parricide and of being un-Islamic. He stabs Shihab-ud-din when he tries to conspire against him. He is doomed because of his own follies and failures, and becomes an insensitive murderer.
Another mad decision is taken by the Sultan that he introduces copper currency and declares the value of copper currency will be equal to silver currency because he has read about the currency of China, where the paper- notes are treated as currency. But people take undue advantage of the Sultan’s policy. They mint copper coins at home and demand silver currency in exchange of copper currency. The economy of the country is ruined.
The Sultan becomes spiritually lonely and is tortured within. He becomes more frustrated when people call him ‘mad Muhammad’. His most trusted friend Najib is killed by his step-mother. Najib is poisoned by the Sultan’s step-mother. When the Sultan comes to know of that, he orders, she should be stoned to death.
The height of his insanity is reflected in the later episodes of the play. He later becomes a divided self, and suffers from inner turmoil and contradictions. His ultimate isolation gives a tragic dimension to the play. Tughlaq might be understood as an over-ambitious emperor, who aims to rebuild new cities and empires for the people. Each scene represents the progressive degradation and dehumanization of Tughlaq, leading to his tragic downfall.
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