IGNOU MEG-14 Block 7 Summary | Tughlaq: Girish Karnad
- Last Updated On October 15, 2025
Table of Contents
Here you will get the detailed summary of IGNOU MEG 14 Block 7 – Tughlaq: Girish Karnad.
We have provided the summary of all units starting from unit 1 to unit 4.
Introduction
IGNOU-14 Block 7 – Tughlaq by Girish Karnad examines one of the most celebrated plays in modern Indian drama. Written in 1964, Tughlaq portrays the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the 14th-century Sultan of Delhi, and uses his historical narrative as a lens to explore timeless political and moral questions. The block introduces readers to the context of contemporary Indian literature, the author’s creative vision, and the play’s structure, themes, and characters. Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq remains a landmark work for its complex portrayal of an idealistic ruler whose vision of a just and rational state collapses into chaos and tyranny.
Unit 1 – Introducing Contemporary Indian Literature
This unit situates Tughlaq within the broader framework of contemporary Indian literature, which emerged after independence as a response to the country’s political, social, and cultural transformations. Writers began to question authority, challenge tradition, and explore the contradictions of modern life. Themes of identity, nationhood, morality, and social justice became central to literary expression.
The rise of Indian drama in regional languages and English marked a major cultural shift. Playwrights like Vijay Tendulkar, Mohan Rakesh, Badal Sircar, and Girish Karnad experimented with new forms of theatre, blending Indian myths, history, and folk traditions with modernist ideas. Within this context, Tughlaq stands out as a play that combines historical narrative with political allegory, making it both a reflection of medieval India and a commentary on contemporary governance and idealism.
Unit 2 – Introducing the Author and the Play
This unit provides an overview of Girish Karnad’s life, literary career, and intellectual background. Karnad (1938–2019) was one of India’s most influential playwrights, writing primarily in Kannada but reaching a global audience through translations. His plays often draw upon mythology, folklore, and history to examine modern existential and political dilemmas.
Tughlaq, written when Karnad was in his twenties, captures the tension between vision and reality in leadership. The play is set in the 14th century but resonates with the political mood of post-independence India, especially the disillusionment following idealistic beginnings. The story revolves around Muhammad bin Tughlaq, a brilliant yet impractical ruler whose dreams of uniting India under a rational and just system ultimately destroy him and his empire.
Through its historical setting, Karnad explores timeless questions: How do idealism and power coexist? Can reason alone govern human nature? Tughlaq thus becomes both a historical drama and a psychological study of failure, ambition, and moral decay.
Unit 3 – Tughlaq: Structure, Themes, and Motifs
This unit analyzes the structure and themes of the play. Tughlaq is divided into thirteen scenes that trace the gradual downfall of the Sultan — from his early reforms to his descent into madness and tyranny. The play’s episodic structure mirrors the fragmentation of his rule and his psychological instability.
Thematically, Tughlaq centers on idealism versus reality, religion and politics, betrayal, and the corruption of power. The Sultan begins as a visionary who dreams of a rational state based on justice and equality. He abolishes discriminatory laws and attempts to unite Hindus and Muslims. However, his impatience, arrogance, and lack of empathy turn his utopia into a nightmare. The move of the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, and the disastrous experiment with token currency, symbolize his misguided rationalism and detachment from human suffering.
Karnad’s use of motifs such as prayer, chess, and madness adds depth to the play’s symbolism. The recurring image of prayer contrasts divine order with human chaos; the game of chess reflects Tughlaq’s political manipulations; and madness becomes a metaphor for the ruler’s moral confusion and isolation.
Unit 4 – Characters and Critical Comments on the Play
This unit examines the major characters and critical interpretations of Tughlaq. The central figure, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, is portrayed as a man of extraordinary intelligence and vision, yet tragically flawed by pride and intolerance. His downfall is both political and spiritual — the inevitable collapse of a mind too rational for the irrational world it seeks to control.
Other important characters — Barani, the historian and moral conscience of the play; Sheikh Imam-ud-din, the religious leader who challenges the Sultan; Najib, the manipulative courtier; and Aziz, the opportunistic commoner — all represent different facets of human nature and political power. Together, they create a panorama of deceit, faith, and ambition.
Critics have viewed Tughlaq as a political allegory, often comparing its themes to the early years of Indian independence and the idealism of leaders like Nehru, followed by public disillusionment. The play also reflects existential concerns — the loneliness of power, the futility of reason without compassion, and the tragedy of human aspiration.
Karnad’s language, a blend of classical and modern tone, heightens the dramatic tension and makes the play both historically authentic and philosophically rich. Tughlaq remains relevant for its exploration of leadership, morality, and the complexities of human governance — themes that transcend time and context.