Review: Muhammad Bin Tughlaq: Tale of a Tyrant

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq: Tale of a Tyrant by Anuja Chandramouli
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“I go into any movie that's historical fiction thinking, 'OK, I'm here to watch a work of art, something delivering a series of opinions, and if it's a good work of art, these opinions become so deeply embedded in complexity and richness that I won't even be bothered by the opinions. I'll make my own mind up.”
Tony Kushner

MBT is an enigmatic ruler and has divided opinions about him. Some say he was a visionary way ahead of his times. Others say he was a mad man. The history is made up most of the times by the rulers. Even in present day and age this holds true. Media is managed by the rulers.

The story of MBT is lesser known but most of us know him as a ambitious, visionary but a mad ruler. “Tughlaghi Firman” even today is used for an outlandish order. Some say he was way ahead of his times and other say he was a maniac.

The book starts with Alluddin Khilji end and his successor takes over, he is a sex maniac and Ghiayasuddin takes over from him. MBT is his son and when ascends to throne without any blood bath he has many plans.

I have an opinion that a historical book should be assessed from that era’s rules and values. Here the book faltered and the current era rules are imposed in a rather high-handed manner. Like the thing about Hindus breaking the Masjids and taking revenge. Many such things are there in the book which are forced from today’s day and age. I could not finish and left it in between. The book is boring also and seemed stretched. 3/ 5 stars.


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