Wide Spread Corruption and Social Disintegration:
Tughlaq shows the corruption and wide spread social disintegration of India during those days. He was a very well read and intelligent man but he miserable failed in his ideals and turned to be one of the most tyrannical rulers. While portraying all these situations, Karnad has reproduced the conditions in the politics of India during the sixties which is called the post Nehru era in Indian history. If we analyse the play carefully, we realise that there is a parallel between the reign of Tughlaq and the modern Indian conditions. Perhaps Karnad was not conscious of this similarity as he himself said, "I did not consciously write about the Nehru era. I am always flattered when people tell me that it was about the Nehru era." It was natural for a dramatist like him that he was aware of the prevailing contemporary conditions. He himself says, "If the writer does not have contemporary convictions, or is not committed, the play will not be contemporary." In fact, Karnad has nowhere laboriously tried to introduce the contemporary politics in the play. The national integration, political corruption, dishonesty and conspiracies, all are quite similar between those days and present Indian political surroundings. The ideals of Tughlaq though certainly useful for the uplift of the nation were shattered by his own folly as well as because of his corrupt officers responsible for their implementation. The same happened with the ideals of Nehru, chiefly after his death. The people failed to understand the greatness of the ideals of Nehru as Tughlaq could not be followed or understood by common men. This is why he determines that he will make the people understand by force, by the power of his sword. So, we see at the end of the play that there is great frustration and disintegration in the life of the emperor like the political situation in India so the play is a powerful political allegory.
Communal Problem:
The parallel that strikes the readers in the very beginning of the play is the communal problem. The Hindus and the Muslims have completely lost mutual trust. Tughlaq is trying his best to bring about Hindu Muslim unity and establish the reign of equality and justice for all. But even this constructive step failed to create trust among them. The Muslims consider it anti Islam and against the dictates of Koran. They have grave objections to the abolition of the Jiziya tax which, according to Koran is their right. On the other hand, the Hindus feel that in this step there is some intrigue and that the Hindus and the Muslims cannot be united. This is what is actually happening in India at present. There have been communal riots all over the country from time to time on the question of religious differences. In this play, the most important remark is when the old man asks the young man, "Beware of the Hindu who embraces you before you know that he'll turn Islam into another caste." Similarly Aziz also points out this condition on the question of the poor woman in the camp. Aazam warns that the child of the woman has died and she will now complain to the officers. But Aziz replies, "I'm a Brahmin and she won't complain against a Brahmin to Muslim officer. They'll send her to hell straight." This situation is quite parallel to post independent India. The Hindus and Muslims fought and killed each other so much that in the same city, their establishments were confined to particular areas. All the efforts of Gandhi and Nehru proved futile as those of Tughlaq and the trust between the two could not be created.
Politics, the Best Refuge for the Rogues:
Karnad has hinted at the folly of the politicians and has proved in this play that politics is the best refuge for the rogues. Aziz is very clever in this field. He makes best use of the opportunities and rises quickly. He tells Aazam, "If one used half that intelligence here, one can get robes of power...….It is a beautiful world—wealth, success, position, power—and yet it's full of brainless people with not an idea in their head." It is as if Karnad himself is expressing his dislike and anger against the foolish, uneducated and corrupt Indian politicians. Inefficient people like Aziz rise to powerful position. He is a dhobi who becomes a powerful officer by virtue of his flattery and comic gesture. He enters the Civil service and becomes an officer in the army. All his serious crimes have been pardoned. It is a bitter attack on the contemporary Indian politics. Aziz realises the fact that a politician is like a God because first he commits crime and then himself passes the judgement. This is as if Karnad is making a commentary on the contemporary politics and politicians.
Politics and Idealism, Two Different Things:
The life and reign of Tughlaq is the best example of the principle that politics and idealism are different things and they can never go hand in hand. The idealist Tughlaq in spite of his great intentions failed miserably. He tried for equality and justice for all without any distinction of creed and religion. He decided to change the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad to make it the best in the world. He introduced copper currency to improve the national economy but everywhere he failed. It was because he took care only of his plans and neglected their practical aspect. His method of implementing them was quite wrong. He tried to implement them with an iron hand which resulted in untold misery to the people though the integrity of the Sultan cannot be suspected. Another aspect is the indifference and corruption of the officers. They were busy in making money. Everybody was minting copper coins which shattered the national economy so is the case with the contemporary Indian politicians. Some of them formed great projects but failed to follow them. They act foolishly and then try to justify their Wrong actions. They work according to their whims as the Sultan did. They earn money by fair or foul. They are actually brainless people as Aziz calls them. For them politics is a golden world where they get power and wealth together. They do not hesitate in killing others for their ends and tolerate no opposition. This is what Tughlaq had done with his opponents. Thus, the political conditions of both the periods are almost quite similar.
Political Similarities between Tughlaq and the Modern Indian Scene:
The general political situation at present in India is just like the conditions during the days of Tughlaq. The officers have turned thoroughly corrupt. Bribing was a common feature from the lowest to the highest. Aziz is earning a lot of money in this way in the transit camp on Delhi-Daulatabad road. Like him the politicians have become thoroughly heartless. Aziz shows no sympathy with the woman whose child is suffering and knows that she has no money, still he presses upon her to give him bribe because "I've told you what you can do. I could try and bribe my senior officials, but you'll have to pay for it." Political intrigues are the marked features of India in the sixties and the reign of Tughlaq. Everybody was intriguing against the other. The dishonesty and insincerity among the officers has been the greatest obstacle. We often note in the Indian politics that the great plans and their benefit do not reach the common man, the money for the execution of plan is embezzled by the top officials and so everything fails. The chief reason of the failure of token currency is this carelessness and corruption among the officials.
Tughlaq had to face a number of revolts and rebellions during his reign. Various forces in different parts of the country had created disintegration of the empire and the Sultan was quite helpless. In great disappointment he asks Barani, "What should I do, Barani... I've tried everything but what cures one disease just worsens another." The revolts had been started all around which brought misery and sufferings to the people. The same is happening on the Indian political scene. The provinces are crying for complete independence and self rule. Various revolts and movements have been started by different groups and selfish politicians. The provinces have been divided. This similarity is very striking between the two periods. Thus, Karnad unhesitatingly points out the flattery, inefficiency and corruption between the two periods.
