The Tiger King

Introduction

The story ‘The Tiger King’ is a satire on the pride and stubbornness of those in power. The writer takes
us to the days of autocratic and eccentric kings. These kings lived under the thumb rule of British,
hence they fear them. Most of the time the rulers were not interested in serving the people and working
for the welfare of the public; instead they spent their time in foolish pursuits. They flouted all laws and
bent them to suit their selfish interests. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram tried to belie what was written
in his fate. The chief astrologer had predicted that the cause of his death would be a tiger. The King
tried his best to belie the prediction. His campaign of tiger-hunting was very successful. All his strategies
and wise plans worked till he killed 99 tigers. But the hundredth tiger eluded him till his death.

The irony of fate brings quite an unexpected end of the Maharaja. The hero who killed ninety nine tigers
couldn't kill the only one that was left. The last tiger he thought to be dead survived. The King's bullet
had missed its mark. Ironically, the hundredth tiger which caused his death was not a ferocious beast
of blood and flesh. It was a wooden tiger. One of the slivers of wood pierced his right hand and caused
infection and a suppurating sore. It ultimately led to his death.

Theme

Animals and birds are as much part of the nature as human beings. The destruction or haphazard killing
of one species may not only lead to its extinction, but it will adversely affect the ecological balance.
Those animals which serve as food for the wild animals, will increase in large number, if the beast of
prey are wiped out. Each species, howsoever fierce, deadly, ferocious or poisonous has its role in
maintaining ecological balance in nature.

Characters

1. The Tiger King: a hero of the story, the Maharaja of Pratibandhpuram, also known as His Highness
Jamedar, General Khiledar-Major, Sata-Vyaghra samhari, Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana samrat,
Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K.

2. Crown prince: a ten day old baby who later became the Maharaja of Pratibandhpuram.

3. Chief astrologer: a royal foreteller of the state.

4. Durai: means "chief, leader" in Tamil.

5. A British high ranking officer & his secretary

6. Dewan: a chief administrative office of the Maharaja.

Summary

The Maharaja Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bhadur was called “Tiger King”. When he was just 10 day old, he
asked intelligent questions to the astrologers and was told that he would be killed by a tiger. He uttered
“Let tigers beware!”

No other miracle took place, the child grew like any other Royal child drinking white cow’s milk. He was
taught by an English tutor and looked after by an English nanny. He watched English films.

When he was 20, he was crowned as king. It was then the prediction of his death by the tiger reached
the Maharaja’s ear and he in turn to safe guard himself killed a tiger and being thrilled he told the
astrologer who replied that he can kill 99 tigers but should be careful with the 100th. He pledged that
all other affairs of the state would be attended after killing the hundred tigers.
Then he started killing tigers. None except Maharaja was allowed to hunt tigers. A high-ranking British
officer visited the state that was fond of hunting tigers and his wish was declined. The officer requested
for getting a photograph with a tiger killed by Maharaja and this request was rejected. So to please the
officer’s wife, he sent 50 diamond rings expecting that she would take one or two, instead she kept all
the rings costing 3 lakh rupees and sent ‘thanks’ to the Maharaja. But his state was secured.

In 10 years, he killed 70 tiger and didn’t find any in Pratibandapuram so he decided to marry a girl from
royal state which had more tigers to complete his target. Whenever he visited his in-laws, he killed 5-6
tigers. So he killed 99 tigers and was feverishly anxious to kill the 100th but couldn’t find. News about
the presence of a tiger near a village proved disappointing. He asked his Dewan to find the tiger
otherwise face his anger. Now the Dewan was afraid of losing his job so he visited ‘People’s Park in
Madras’ and brought an old tiger and placed it in the forest and informed the Maharaja.

The Maharaja took great care and shot the tiger and left the place with great triumph. The bullet did not
hit the tiger but out of fear the tiger had collapsed. Now the staff killed the tiger and brought it in grand
procession.

It was the third birthday of the Maharaja’s son and he wanted to buy a present from the toyshop. He
bought a wooden tiger which was poorly carved. While the Maharaja was playing with the prince, a tiny
sliver of the wooden tiger pierced his right hand which later on caused his death. Thus the hundredth
tiger takes his final revenge upon the “Tiger King”.

Main points

1. When the Prince at ‘Pratibandhpuram’ was born – Astrologers predicted that he would be killed
by100th tiger, to prove the astrologer wrong he killed the first tiger and challenged the prediction.
2. The astrologer said that the 100th tiger would kill him. The Maharaj put all his Estate duties aside
and set upon killing 100 Tigers.

3. When all the Tigers in his Estate were killed, he married a princess whose father had many Tigers
his forests.

4. He even spent Rs. 3 lakhs to please a British officer who wanted to hunt tigers in his estate.

5. Finally, the hundredth tiger was killed, the Maharaja was very happy & then decided to spend time
with his son.

6. He bought a wooden toy tiger on his son’s third Birthday – toy was made up by an unskilled
carpenter. One of slivers pierced his right hand - developed an infection - operated & died.

7. Irony – killed 99 tigers but wooden tiger took its revenge.