The Tiger King

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.

Video on Last Lesson

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.

Video on Lost Spring

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.

Video on The Rattrap 

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.

Important Question Answers

Q1. The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. How does the author employ the literary device of dramatic irony in the story?

Ans. The story 'The Tiger King' is a satire on the pride and conceit of those in power. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram tried to belie what was written in his fate and reverse his destiny just because he is a king and has power. The result was ironical as well as tragic. The chief astrologer had foretold that the tiger would be the cause of his death. King, being intoxicated in power tried to kill 100 tigers to save himself but he couldn’t. He wasn’t killed by a real tiger but a wooden toy tiger.

The proud King’s death episode is quite dramatic. When the king refused to leave the forest in order to kill the hundredth tiger, a very old and weak tiger was brought by his dewan and left in the forest but the king missed his aim and tiger wasn’t shot by him. Later, the hunters shot the tiger. Here, the author employs the literary device of dramatic irony. The irony is that the King thinks himself to be safe after killing the hundredth tiger but the hundredth tiger didn't die of his bullet. Ironically, danger was looming large on the king and when he along with his son were playing with the wooden tiger, the slivers on its rough surface caused infection and it resulted into the death of Tiger King. Even after lot of drama, sincere efforts and danger faced by the king, he got killed due to a tiger though a wooden one.

Q2. Do you find the Maharaja’s minions truly sincere towards him or are they driven by fear when they obey him? Do we find a similarity in today’s political order?

Ans. The behaviour of the Maharaja's minions towards him was certainly not sincere and dutiful, but it is driven by fear. Their only aim was to keep the king happy and in good humour. His ministers, dewan and other servants were overawed by the power and anger of their King. Blind obedience, docile submission and flattery were the features of their behaviour.

First comes the chief astrologer. Even he is scared to speak the truth. He waits for the time and the mood of the king. First, he only tells that the king will die. After being questioned he tells that his death will come from the tiger. The behaviour of the dewan offers an interesting study. He is docile, humourless and servile towards his master. He shudders at the sight of the gun of the Maharaja. He is confused and idiotic most of the times. The dewan finds the right girl for the king as per his instructions. He arranges for the hundredth tiger who was very old and weak so that everyone can avoid king’s ire after shooting the hundredth tiger. The hunters didn’t tell the king that the hundredth tiger didn’t die of his bullet and killed the tiger themselves to be safe from his anger. The shopkeeper also displays flattery and cunningness. The wooden tiger costs only two annas and he charged three hundred rupees instead of telling that the toy is not a worthy gift.

There is surely a similarity in today's political order. We see the politicians lie prostrate before their masters to flatter them and don’t have courage to speak of the main leader’s mistakes and tell the ways to improve them. They simply become ‘yes man’.