CHAPTER-2 THE TIGER KING
-KALKI
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SUMMARY
This story refers to the Maharaja Sir Jilani Hung Bahadur of
Pratibandapuram. Astrologers predict his future when he was just 10
days old. Astrologers say that a tiger will kill him. On this, surprisingly
the 10-day old prince said: “Let tigers beware!” The boy grows up just
like any other royal child raised. Such as by drinking the milk of white
cow and looked after by English nanny and watching English movies.
When he was 20, he was crowned king and came to know about the
prediction about his death. So, then onwards he started killing a tiger
and put a ban on the tiger hunt in his state. According to the astrologers
he needs to be careful with the 100th tiger even if he successfully kills
99 tigers.
One time a high ranking British officer visits his state and wants to go
for a tiger hunt. However, the maharaja declined his wish. And in order
to secure the state from the wrath of the British officer. The maharaja
sent 50 diamond rings to the officer’s wife whose worth was Rs 3 lakh.
Within ten years the maharaja successful slays 70 tigers. But after that,
there were no tigers left in Pratibandapuram. Hence, to complete his
target of killing a hundred tigers he marries a girl from the royal state
that has more tigers so that he can complete his target. Whenever he
visits his in-laws, he makes sure that he kills 5-6 tiger each time. In
addition, in this way, he was able to kill 99 tigers but he was unable to
find the 100th tiger. On not finding the 100th tiger the maharaja became
violent and threatened the Dewan. In order to save himself from the fury
of the king, the Dewan got an old tiger from the circus and with great
difficulty put him in the forest.
He told Maharaja about the tiger. So, maharaja went on a hunt and shot
the tiger and felt victorious and happy. But then again, he didn’t know
that his bullet miss and the tiger was alive and he only collapsed out of
fear. No one has the guts, to tell the truth to the king so they killed the
tiger and brought it in a grand procession.
Lastly, the maharaja was joyful and happy. So, on his son’s birthday, he
buys a wooden tiger as a gift for him. The tiger had rough edges and
while playing with it he gets a woodcut in his hand which later on
advances into an infection. And because of it, he dies. Therefore,
fatefully the 100th tiger although made of wood take its revenge and
killed the king.
Conclusion of the Tiger King Summary
By means of the tiger king summary, the writer wants to say that no one
can change what’s written in destiny no matter what they do.
INTRODUCTION
The Maharaja of Pratibandhpuram is the hero of the
story.He was famous as ‘ The Tiger King’.As soon as the
Tiger King was born the astrologer predicted that his death
would come from a tiger.He must be particularly careful
with the hundredth tiger.At the age of twenty the Maharaja
started out an tiger hunt.He was able to kill ninety nine
tigers.There remained just one more tiger to complete his
tally.On the third birthday of his son he bought a wooden
tiger for him.While playing with that tiny little wooden tiger
one of the silver pierced his right hand.Infection flared in
his hand and he died soon after.In this way the hundredth
tiger took its final revenge upon the Tiger King.
Questions
1) Who is the Tiger King ?Why does he get that name ?
2) What will Maharaja do to find the required number of tigers to
kill ?
3) What will now happen to the astrologer ?Do you think the
prophecy was indisputably disproved ?
4) 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 ?
5) How would you describe the behavior of the Maharaja’s minions
towards him ?Do you find them truly sincere towards him or are
they driven by fear when they obey him ?Do we find a similiarity
in today’s political order ?
6) Why does tiger king get this name ?
7) What does the chief astrologer tell to be the cause of the
Maharaja’s death ?
8) How was at one time maharaja in danger of losing his throne ?
9) How did the hundredth tiger take revenge upon the Tiger king ?
