THE TIGER KING

1. Characters

● The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram (Tiger King)

o Adjectives: Arrogant, Determined, Superstitious, Foolhardy, Ironical

o Character Sketch: The Maharaja is a brave but arrogant king who becomes obsessed with avoiding his prophesied death by killing tigers. His defiance of fate and extreme actions illustrate his determination, but his lack of insight and the irony of his life ultimately lead to his downfall.

● The British Officer

o Adjectives: Authoritative, Egotistical, Manipulative, Opportunistic, Unscrupulous

o Character Sketch: The British officer is a symbol of colonial power and privilege. He desires to hunt tigers in the kingdom and is disappointed when denied, but settles for a bribe in the form of a diamond ring.

● The Dewan (Chief Minister)

o Adjectives: Loyal, Manipulative, Practical, Cunning, Fearful

o Character Sketch: The Dewan is the Maharaja’s chief advisor, who helps the king in his mission to hunt tigers. Although loyal, he is practical and often uses clever tactics to assist the king.

● The Maharaja’s Son

o Adjectives: Innocent, Unaware, Symbolic, Passive, Tragic

o Character Sketch: The Maharaja’s young son indirectly becomes the cause of his father’s death due to the fatal irony involving a wooden toy tiger. He symbolizes the innocence that is often subject to the consequences of adult actions.

2. Central Theme and Subthemes

● Main Theme: The Irony of Fate and Human Arrogance
The main theme revolves around the futility of trying to escape one’s fate, as seen in the Maharaja’s relentless efforts to avoid death by defying the prophecy, which ironically leads to his downfall.

● Subthemes:

o Abuse of Power and Authority: The Maharaja uses his authority to ruthlessly kill tigers, disregarding their ecological importance and indulging his obsession.

o Conflict between Man and Nature: The story highlights the conflict between man’s pride and nature’s balance, with the Maharaja’s reckless actions disrupting the natural order.

o Satire on the Absurdity of Royalty and Colonialism: Through humor and satire, the story critiques the eccentricities of royalty and the shallow mindset of British colonial officials.

o Irony and Predestination: The Maharaja’s fate is sealed despite his best efforts, emphasizing the theme of destiny and the irony of life’s unpredictability.

3. Relatively Tough Words with Meanings

● Durai: A term for a British official or white man in colonial India.

● Prophesied: Predicted, often used in a context of foretelling future events.

● Flout: Openly disregard or mock authority, rules, or traditions.

● Despotic: Exercising power in a cruel or oppressive way.

● Ecological Imbalance: A disruption in the natural balance of an ecosystem.

● Diabolical: Extremely evil or wicked.

● Conscience-stricken: Feeling guilty or remorseful.

● Intuition: The ability to understand or know something instinctively.

4. List of Good Expressions and Phrases for Answer Writing

● “The Maharaja’s life is dominated by his obsession to defy fate.”

● “The prophecy becomes a psychological burden that leads him to reckless decisions.”

● “The irony of fate is humorously yet tragically portrayed.”

● “Human arrogance clashes with the natural order.”

● “The Tiger King’s delusional sense of power ultimately becomes his undoing.”

● “The Dewan is both a loyal servant and a clever manipulator.”

● “A subtle satire on the absurdities of royalty and the colonial mindset.”

● “The story underscores the futility of resisting one’s destined path.”

● “The king’s irrational obsession with tigers reflects the frailty of human pride.”

● “The tragic twist of fate manifests through the wooden toy tiger.”

5. Use of Poetic Devices and Figures of Speech

● Irony:

o The story is filled with irony, particularly in the Maharaja’s attempts to defy fate. Despite killing 99 tigers, he meets his end because of a wooden toy tiger, fulfilling the prophecy in a humorous yet tragic way.

● Satire:

o Kalki uses satire to critique the absurdity of royal obsession and British colonial attitudes. The British officer’s desire for a tiger hunt and the king’s response highlight the whimsical nature of colonial power dynamics.

● Hyperbole:

o The Maharaja’s intense obsession with killing exactly 100 tigers is an exaggeration, underscoring the absurdity of his quest and the lengths he goes to avoid death.

● Symbolism:

o Tigers: Represent both the prophecy and the natural world disrupted by human arrogance.

o Wooden Toy Tiger: Symbolizes the Maharaja’s inevitable fate and the irony that something so trivial brings about his end.

● Personification:

o The prophecy is almost given a life of its own, haunting the Maharaja throughout his life, reflecting the powerful role of fate in the story.

● Alliteration:

o Phrases like “fierce ferocity” and “cunningly clever” create a rhythmic quality that adds humor and emphasis to the story’s narrative tone.

● Metaphor:

o The Maharaja’s obsession with tigers serves as a metaphor for humanity’s futile attempts to control or escape fate.

Telegraphic Summary

1. Prophecy at the Birth of the Maharaja

● Birth of the Tiger King:

o Maharaja of Pratibandapuram born - astrologers predict his future - prophecy declares that he will be killed by a tiger - child prince listens curiously.

● Maharaja’s Bold Declaration:

o Child defies prophecy - claims he will kill all tigers - humor in his audacity - prophecy becomes a central force in his life.

2. Maharaja Becomes King and Begins the Tiger Hunt

● Assumes Kingship and Obsession with Tigers:

o Prince grows up - becomes Maharaja - recalls prophecy - determined to defy it by killing tigers - obsessed with eliminating all tigers in his kingdom.

● First Tiger Hunt and Defiance of Fate:

o Kills his first tiger - calls astrologers - challenges their prediction - astrologer warns him to beware of the hundredth tiger - Maharaja accepts the challenge.

3. The Tiger King’s Reign of Terror on Tigers

● Systematic Tiger Hunts:

o Maharaja embarks on relentless tiger hunt - kills several tigers across the kingdom - exploits power ruthlessly - orders subjects to assist in tiger hunts.

● Conflict with the British Officer:

o British officer requests to hunt a tiger - Maharaja refuses - doesn’t want to share tiger count - bribes officer with diamond rings - symbolizes colonial power dynamics and Maharaja’s pride.

4. Decline in Tiger Population and Search Beyond the Kingdom

● Depletion of Tigers in Pratibandapuram:

o Maharaja’s kingdom runs out of tigers - kills nearly all - fear of prophecy intensifies - desperate to kill the hundredth tiger to break prophecy.

● Maharaja’s Desperation and Marriage:

o Marries a princess from a neighboring kingdom - visits her palace to hunt tigers - kills more tigers there - symbolic of his obsession affecting personal life.

5. Killing of the Ninety-Ninth Tiger and Search for the Hundredth Tiger

● Elusive Hundredth Tiger:

o Maharaja grows anxious - kills ninety-nine tigers - struggles to find the hundredth tiger - kingdom-wide search initiated - no tiger found, heightening tension.

● Dewan’s Clever Plan:

o Dewan (chief minister) worried - brings an old tiger from zoo - arranges for Maharaja to hunt it - shows Dewan’s loyalty and pragmatism.

● Fake Victory Over the Hundredth Tiger:

o Maharaja shoots tiger - believes prophecy defeated - leaves feeling victorious - unaware the tiger is only wounded - hunters secretly kill it later to protect Maharaja’s pride.

6. Ironic Twist and the Maharaja’s Death

● Maharaja’s Confidence and Toy Purchase for Son:

o Celebrates his victory over prophecy - buys a wooden tiger as a birthday gift for his son - unaware of the irony that this toy will fulfill the prophecy.

● Death by Wooden Toy Tiger:

o Maharaja injured by a wooden splinter from toy tiger - develops infection - dies due to infection - prophecy fulfilled in an unexpected way.

7. Conclusion and Irony of Fate

● Final Irony and Moral Message:

o Fate triumphs over the Maharaja’s arrogance - defied prophecy but ultimately defeated by a tiger, albeit a wooden one - story concludes with moral that human pride cannot overcome fate.

Master Passage

In The Tiger King, Kalki explores themes of human arrogance, the inevitability of fate, and the abuse of power. The story follows the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, who, upon hearing a prophecy that he would die due to a tiger, becomes obsessed with killing one hundred tigers to defy his fate. His determination to control his destiny leads him to exploit his authority, mercilessly depleting the tiger population and even manipulating those around him to fulfill his ambition. Ironically, after killing ninety-nine tigers, he dies from a wound caused by a wooden toy tiger, humorously fulfilling the prophecy he sought to escape. Through this satirical narrative, Kalki critiques the futility of human pride and the absurdity of trying to overpower fate. The story underscores that destiny often prevails despite one's best efforts to avoid it, revealing the limitations of human control.