The Tiger King
by Kalki
Analysis of the Chapter:
· The
story ‘The Tiger King’ is written by Kalki Krishnamurthy, a Tamil writer.
· The
story is a sneak peek on the general attitude of human beings towards animals.
It is a sarcastic comment on the people who in order to save their life don’t
hesitate to kill other creatures through the fact that even a wooden tiger is
good enough to take the revenge for the merciless killing of ninety nine
tigers.
· This
story also conveys the lessons of life and death and that there is no way to
avoid death.
· The
story conveys a very important message that man is mortal and by no means one
can avoid his destiny. It will happen what is destined to.
· There
are instances of crisp humour which brings an element of interest and fun to the
story.
· The
story is set in the time of Pre Independence era when India was struggling under
the domination of the Britishers.
· The
readers are brought to realise that a wise person needs to accept his destiny
humbly and must respect other creature’s right to life. Instead of making
efforts to change the destiny one must try to raise the quality of life.
Summary:
The story is about the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram who
was conferred with many titles and reverently called as the Tiger King. Everyone
who reads of him, would desire to meet a man of such indomitable courage but it
can’t be fulfilled as the Tiger King is dead. as soon as he was born,
astrologers had foretold that one day the Tiger King would actually have to
die.
As soon as Maharaja was born, astrologer foretold that
one day the Tiger King would have to die. At this, 10 days old infant said that
all have to die one day. No predictions are required to know that. There would
be some sense, if he could tell the manner of his death. All were surprised to
hear the baby prince. The chief astrologer explained that the prince was born
in the hour of the bull and his death would come from the Tiger. Instead of
getting terrified to hear this he uttered terrifying words, ‘‘Let tigers
beware!”
As Maharaja was growing up, he drank milk of English
cow, brought up by English nanny, tutored by Englishman, watched English films
as other crown princes. At the age of twenty his State came into his hands from
the Court of Wards.
The Maharaja started out on a tiger hunt as he may
kill even a cow in self-defence and killing tiger in self-defence won’t be an
objection. The Maharaja was thrilled after killing the first tiger. He called
the state astrologer and showed him the tiger. He responded that the king could
kill ninety-nine tigers but he must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.
The king said, “What if the hundredth tiger was also killed? The astrologer
said that in that case, he would tear his books, cut off his tuft and stop
practising his profession.
The Maharaja vowed to attend to all other matters only
after killing hundred tigers. The State banned tiger hunting by anyone except
the Maharaja. At times his bullet missed its mark, the tiger leapt upon him and
he fought the beast. Each time Maharaja was the winner. Once,
there was also a danger for his kingdom when a high ranking British officer
wished to hunt tigers in Pratibandapuram. But the Maharaja refused to give permission
promising to organise any other hunt. The officer was also ready only for a
photograph of himself holding the gun near the tiger’s carcass. But the
Maharaja would not agree even to that proposal. To compensate for this the
Maharaja sent some fifty rings worth rupees three lakh to the British officer’s
good lady, the Duraisani who took all with a word of gratitude.
Within ten years he was able to kill seventy tigers
but then, the tiger population became extinct in the forests of
Pratibandapuram. Therefore, he called his diwan and expressed his desire of
marrying a girl in the royal family of a state with a large tiger population
and asked him to find such girl. Maharaja got married and killed five or six
tigers each time he visited his father-in-law. In this manner, ninety-nine
tigers were killed. Only one tiger was left but by this time the tiger farms
were empty even in his father-in-Iaw’s kingdom. He had to be
extremely careful with that last tiger as per the late chief astrologer’s
advice.
Then, the sheep began to disappear from a hillside
village in his state. It was certain that this was the work of a tiger. The
villagers informed the Maharaja who announced a three-year exemption from all
taxes for that village and set out on the hunt at once. The tiger was not found
anywhere. The Maharaja was determined and refused to leave the forest until
tiger was found. Due to Maharaja’s fury and obstinacy many officers lost their
jobs. He also ordered to double the land tax forthwith. Dewan
was also asked to leave his job if people turned against him. Then, he made
arrangements and an old and weak tiger was brought from the People’s Park in Madras and kept
hidden in his house. The dewan and his aged wife dragged the tiger and brought
him in his car to the forest where the Maharaja was hunting. But the tiger
refused to get out of the car. The dewan was exhausted to push the beast out of
the car. Next day, with boundless joy the Maharaja spotted the tiger and taking a careful aim at the beast he shot it. Right then, the tiger fell in a crumpled
heap. He ordered the tiger to be brought to the capital in grand procession and
went away in his car. The hunters went near and realised that the tiger was not dead. It
had fainted from the shock of the bullet. They decided that the Maharaja must
not come to know that he had missed his target and shot the tiger themselves.
A few days later the Maharaja’s son’s third birthday
was celebrated. He wished to give him some special gift on
his birthday. In the shopping centre he spotted a wooden tiger as the perfect
gift. Father
and son played with that tiny wooden tiger which was carved by an unskilled
carpenter. One of the slivers on its rough surface pierced the Maharaja’s right
hand. The next day, infection flared in his hand. Three famous surgeons from Madras
operated the Maharaja who was declared dead eventually. In this manner, the hundredth tiger
took revenge upon the Tiger King for merciless killing of ninety nine
tigers.
Message
from the chapter
The chapter ‘The Tiger King’ very beautifully brings
out the spiritual message that death is the reality of life and the one who has
taken birth in this mortal world has to die one day, sooner or later. One can
avoid his destiny by no means. It also teaches that we must not grieve or think
too much about something that is bound to happen and only then he can be happy
and blessed. Therefore, a wise person understands and accepts the laws of
nature and life. Instead of making efforts to change the destiny one
must try to raise the quality of life and try to make his people’s and his own life
happy, meaningful and beautiful.
Satire Used in the Story
The story is a big satire on the people like the Maharaja
who try to reverse their fate and avoid their destiny. The author uses cleverly
veiled satire to take the reader through the King's attempts to change his
fate, which later proved futile, in a manner that makes everyone laugh.
