In this masterly analysis of the conflicts that haunt an astute politician amidst a crumbling empire, the playwright weaves his narrative from the intricate interplay of historical forces leading to the war of succession, and the ideologies and delusions that either make or mar the historical characters. In a decadent, bourgeois society, the opportunistic upper and military classes make the most of the situation in seeking, retaining and augmenting their own powers. Even the support of the two sisters Jahanara and Roshanara, each of her chosen brother, is seen to be part of the larger scheme of intrigues rampant in the Mughal chambers and courts. The historical matrix of the play provides a base for an exploration of the psyche of the characters, where latent fears and worries come to the force as the situation becomes more and more grim.
Written in 1974, a few months before the Emergency, and offering, among other things, a critique of the one nation-one language-one religion theory, Aurangzeb has even greater political and cultural relevance today.
Widely acknowledged as one of those who have revolutionized modern Tamil drama, Indira Parthasarathy is a creative writer, literary and cultural critic, and historian who started his career as an academic. His best known plays are Aurangzeb, Pasi, Mazhai, Nandan Kathai and Raamaanujar. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award for the novel Karuthi-p-punal (1977) which has been translated into all the major Indian languages, including Bengali.
About the Author:
T. Sriraman is Professor, Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad. His publications include a translation of the Tamil novel Vasaveswaram, course books in English and a book on practical criticism.
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