Bengaluru: In conversation with journalist Deepa Ganesh on his Kannada play Rakshasa Tangidi, playwright Girish Karnad revealed the intricacies of the ruins of Hampi and how the glorious Vijayanagara Empire was defeated in a day.
His latest play touches upon the third-most important historical event in Karnataka. “The period of Basavanna and the Vachanas of 11th century was captured in Tale Danda. It was followed by the 18th century recording of Tipu Sultan keeping Englishmen out of his courtroom. Between these two periods comes the 16th century battle of Vijayanagar,” Mr Karnad said.
The celebrated playwright said that the Battle of Hampi, which was the attempt of the North to invade South, was not as simple as colonial historians have portrayed it, as they did not bother to question ‘why’. Mr Karnad said that he has dwelled upon the question of how the glorious Vijayanagara Empire fell in half-a-day.
After discussing the events which led to the battle, actor Arundhati Nag read a part of the play.
