Symbolism and Political Allegory in Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq: A Study of Parallelism Between History and Modernity

Abstract

Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq is a compelling historical play that reimagines the tumultuous reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, a 14th-century Sultan of Delhi, through a modern political lens. Karnad’s fascination with Tughlaq arises from the ruler’s paradoxical personality—an idealist plagued by political failure—which provides a fertile ground for exploring themes of leadership, disillusionment, and power. This article examines how Karnad employs symbolism and parallelism to construct a narrative that is at once historical and profoundly contemporary. The character of Tughlaq, with his utopian aspirations and tragic downfall, serves as an allegorical figure mirroring the political disillusionment of India in the 1960s. Through the strategic use of recurring symbols—such as prayer, sleep, chess, and the rose garden—Karnad probes the intersections of politics, religion, and existential anxiety. These symbols not only deepen the psychological portrait of the protagonist but also evoke broader metaphysical and socio-political concerns. The article argues that the play’s symbolic architecture and historical parallelism enable a critical interrogation of governance, idealism, and the cyclical nature of political unrest, thereby affirming Karnad’s relevance as a modern political dramatist.