Girish Karnad
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: India Urdu Institute, an institute dedicated to the development of research and cultural studies in Urdu, has released a translation of Kannada playwright Girish Karnad’s three plays.
Translated by Prof Meem Noon Sayeed, former professor of Urdu at Bangalore University, the book is entitled “Girish Karnad ka Teen Dramay.” It was released by former MLA, R Roshan Baig.
Tughlaq, The Dreams of Tipu Sultan and Rakshasa Tangadi are the three plays in the book.
Speaking about the relevance of Karnad’s work in contemporary times, Baig stated that with increasing religious polarisation, reading Karnad’s plays can hold a mirror to our times.
“At the time of the demolition of Babri Masjid, when the entire country got influenced by right-wing propaganda which painted Muslims in bad light, it was Karnad, along with N Ram, who did a reality check on the plight of Muslims in India,” he said. He added that Karnad worked towards speaking for the rights of Muslims not only in his work but also his activism.