Re-mapping Socio-political Scenario of Post-independent India in Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq: A Historical Representation

Abstract

Theatre in India is as old as Vedas. Bharata’s Natya Shashtra is the first theoretical book on performing arts. Modern theatre or (Proscenium Theatre) was introduced in India in the late eighteen century after British colonization. Theatre practitioners of this period followed the British example, acquiring to some extent the aesthetics and dramaturgical structures of western theatre. During post-independence era a number of playwrights felt the need to develop an indigenous form of theatre that did not follow British models. Girish Karnad, Badal Sircar, Habib Tanvir, Vijay Tendulker, Mohan Rakesh, Mahasweta Devi and more recently Mahesh Dattani played significant role in evolution of modern Indian drama. Post-Independence drama expounds on those diverse issues that are a serious threat to our national stability and integrity. The researcher’s aim in this paper is to delineate the socio-political ambiance of the post-independent India stretching from the Nehruvian era of politics to the contemporary government. This paper also intends to explore the existential angst, the conflict between the past and the present values, the sense of annihilation and ennui of modern Indian people with contemporary politics. The present study will be done with the help of the analysis of Karnad’s famous play Tughlaq.