TUGHLAQ

TUGHLAQ
Assignment-3
1. Does Scene V ring a bell in your mind? Does it remind you of a similar scene
in ‘Julius Caesar’? Conspirators everywhere, it seems, have to look for a
leader who has no personal axe to grind.
Girish Karnad’s stories and characters had great influence of

Shakespearean plays in it. The particular play ‘Tughlaq’ is no exception.
Many critics, readers and the writer himself had commented on how Scene
V of ‘Tughlaq’ resembles acts in Shakespeare’s play ‘Julius Caesar’.
Analyzing Scene V of ‘Tughlaq’ it is quite evident that there is a conspiracy
being planned to assassinate Mohammed-bin-Tughlaq. Act II Scene I of
‘Julius Caesar’ is also characterised by a similar conspiracy where eight
members actively participated to discuss ways to finish off the Roman
general. Both these characters were highly respected by the public. Tughlaq
was a king who believed in the doctrine of equality, a scholar, visionary and
idealist but deep inside was a political manipulator especially with his
enemies. Ratansingh calls him “an honest scoundrel” who can go to any
lengths to achieve his ends. The Amirs and Sayyids grouses about the king’s
despotic rule as well as his plan to move the capital from Delhi, a Muslim
dominated area to Daulatabad, a Hindu reigned city. The senators in Rome
also had a nerve-racking situation because of the ongoing conflicts between
Caesar and the Senate. They were anxious whether the Roman general and
statesman would overthrow the Senate once he acquires the position of a
king. They also had personal rivalries with Caesar. Thus, the consternation
of a tyrannical rule was what gave way to both these conspiracies.
The assassination of Caesar was carried out by Cassius, Brutus, Casca,
Decius, Cinna, Cimber, Legarius and Trebonius. But, only Brutus was
Caesar’s confidant. Hence, he was appointed as the leader. Similarly, in the
play ‘Tughlaq’, Shihab-ud-din, Prince of Sampanshahr who is quite close to
Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq and does not have any personal grudge against
him is chosen to be the head. Credulous Brutus is made to believe that the
people of Rome condemns Caesar’s rule by “tactful”, “scheming and
unscrupulous”, “practical and shrewd” Cassius. Even though not cunning
like Cassius, Sheikh Shams-ud-din assures that murdering Tughlaq is crucial
to save Islam.
2. The exposure of conspiracy in Scene VI was deftly handled. There is a

similar scene in ‘Henry V.’ An important item in this respect is the sense of
timing. Do you agree?
The plan to assassinate Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, conspired by the

Amirs, Sayyids, Shihab-ud-din and Ratansingh was caught in flagrante by
the king himself. The conspirators least expected betrayal from Ratan Singh
who later flees Delhi. This well planned conspiracy and failure to execute it
reminds readers of Act II Scene II in Henry V where Earl Richard of
Cambridge, Sir Thomas Grey of Northumberland and Henry Lord Scrope of
Masham are caught rapid by Henry V exposing their scheme of eliminating
him. The three traitors were financed by French government. This plan is
often referred to in history as the Southampton Plot of 1415. Both Tughlaq
and Henry V believed that these traitors should be executed. Mohammed-
bin-Tughlaq stabbed Prince Shihab-ud-din to death and all the other
conspirators were beheaded. Henry V imprisoned the conspirators for
treason and later executed them. They believed that killing the traitors
would cause fear in anyone who thinks of hatching a plot against the
monarchs.
Tughlaq and Henry V were clever enough to wait for the right moment
to punish their men who double crossed them. Tughlaq does not even
create the slightest doubt during Durbar-i-Khas. When Tughlaq asks
everyone to take an oath on Koran Shihab-ud-din enquires about the
distrust Mohammed has towards him which enrages the king but he quickly
controls it. This provides a clear idea that Tughlaq had plans in his mind and
he held a hoodwink trap to confine the ones who connived against him.
When they try to attack Tughlaq during his prayer, they are surrounded by
the king’s soldiers who apprehended and later beheaded them. Henry V
was also patient and asked advice to the traitors regarding a drunken man
arrested the previous day for speaking against the king. Henry had plans to
let the man go free but the conspirators recommended him to punish the
rebel. Henry frees him and punishes the three colluders. Both Tughlaq and
King Henry V made the traitors realise their foolishness before executing
them.

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TUGHLAQ

Girish Karnad’s stories and characters had great influence of

2. The exposure of conspiracy in Scene VI was deftly handled. There is a

The plan to assassinate Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, conspired by the

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