Roktakto Prantor by Munir Chowdhury: Summary

The play Roktakto Prantor (translated as Field of Blood) is a Historical Tragedy written by the well-known playwright of Bangladesh, Munir Chowdhury. Even though on the surface, the play seems to be about the third battle of Panipath between the Maratha Hindus and the Muslims, there is actually an underlying romance involving the two main characters Ibrahim Kardi and Johora Begum.

Ibrahim Kardi is a Muslim. It is indicated in the play that before the war took place, he was appointed  in the Maratha Army by the chief Peshoba himself with due respect. He was rejected by armies of all ethnicities including the Muslims and since then he was serving for the Marathas. For this reason, he feels a moral obligation towards the Hindus in the third battle of Panipath against the Muslims, even though his religious orientation is Islam as well.

On the other hand, his wife Johora Begum was the daughter of the deceased Muslim chief. She was fighting for the Muslims under the guise of a fierce Muslim male warrior, Monnu Beg to avenge her father, who died at the hands of the Marathas. Hence, the main conflict of the play was evidently between the two main characters driven by moral obligations rather than the war itself.

Johora Begum wished that her beloved husband join the Muslims and lead them to victory instead of the Hindus. But Ibrahim Kardi was bound to the Hindu Army through his sense of righteousness and gratitude. On the other hand, Johora Begum was equally responsible and dutiful towards the Muslims. So, even though there was no lack of love between them, they were still separated by their political preference and conflicting morality leaving both of them devastated.

In the end, it is depicted that the Muslims have won over the Marathas. Johora Begum becomes glad to imagine that the internal argument between her and her husband has been finally resolved. However, Kardi ends up dying mysteriously leaving Johora Begum emotionally mortified. Even though the Muslims have won the battle, she could not join in the celebration and had to lament her husband’s death.