The Tiger King
Summary of "The Tiger King" by Kalki
“The Tiger King” is a powerful satirical short story written by Kalki Krishnamurthy, one of
India's renowned Tamil writers and freedom fighters. The story offers a biting commentary on
the arrogance of rulers, the absurdity of human pride, and the mindless exploitation of
nature, all wrapped in dark humor and dramatic irony.
Birth and Prophecy
The story begins with a grand introduction of the protagonist, the Maharaja of
Pratibandapuram, who is humorously given a string of over-the-top royal titles. Known
widely as “The Tiger King”, his fame arises not from ruling skills but due to his obsessive
campaign against tigers.
As a newborn, astrologers predict that he will become a brave king but will eventually die
due to a tiger. In a twist of magical realism, the ten-day-old prince speaks aloud,
questioning the manner of his death and mocking the astrologers, displaying early signs of
arrogance and defiance.
The chief astrologer, stunned but unshaken, predicts that the king's death will be caused by
a tiger, emphasizing that even if he kills ninety-nine tigers, he must be cautious with the
hundredth.
Tiger Hunt Begins
The prince grows up with all the influence of British colonialism—drinks English milk, raised
by an English nanny, watches only English films, and is taught by an English tutor. After
ascending the throne at the age of twenty, he takes the prophecy to heart and begins his
campaign to kill one hundred tigers, determined to prove fate wrong.
Soon, the state issues a ban on all tiger hunting by anyone except the king. The Maharaja
becomes deeply obsessed and derails his responsibilities as ruler, choosing to focus entirely
on the tiger hunt.
Conflict with the British and Bribery
At one point, a high-ranking British officer wants to hunt in his territory. The Maharaja,
worried the officer might steal his tiger, refuses permission. This leads to a diplomatic issue,
potentially threatening his kingdom.
To resolve it and maintain face, the Maharaja bribes the officer’s wife with fifty diamond
rings costing three lakh rupees. She accepts all the rings as a "gift," and the political
situation is defused. This episode highlights the hypocrisy of colonial officials and the
ridiculous lengths to which the Maharaja will go to retain his image and power.
Marriage for Tigers
Eventually, the king exterminates the tiger population in his own kingdom. Faced with a
lack of tigers, he comes up with an unusual idea—he instructs his minister to find him a
bride from a royal family whose state has a healthy tiger population.
The dewan finds such a princess, and the Maharaja marries her solely to continue his tiger
hunts. With every visit to his in-laws, he kills more tigers and eventually reaches the count of
ninety-nine.
The Final Tiger and Irony
Now just one tiger away from defeating fate, the Maharaja becomes extremely anxious. He
starts dreaming of tigers and obsessing over finding the hundredth one. At this point, a tiger
starts attacking cattle in a village in his kingdom. Excited, the Maharaja rushes to hunt it, but
fails to actually kill it—his bullet misses, and the tiger merely faints.
The hunters, fearing for their jobs, shoot the tiger themselves and stage a victory. The king
believes he has conquered fate and celebrates. The dead tiger is taken in procession and
buried with honor.
Death by Wooden Tiger
Soon after, the king’s son turns three years old, and the Maharaja wishes to gift him
something special. He chooses a cheap, crudely made wooden toy tiger from a local shop,
priced at two annas and a quarter, but buys it for three hundred rupees due to his royal
status and emergency price inflation.
While playing with the prince, a tiny wooden sliver from the toy pierces the Maharaja’s
hand. What seems like a minor injury becomes infected. Within a few days, it turns into a
suppurating sore, and the Maharaja is taken to surgery.
The operation is declared “successful,” but the Maharaja dies—killed by the very object
symbolizing the hundredth tiger.
Themes and Symbolism
1. Satire on Autocracy: The story mocks royal arrogance, vanity, and misplaced
priorities. The Maharaja ignores governance and uses state resources for personal
goals.
2. Human vs Fate: It explores the futility of resisting destiny. Despite all efforts, fate
catches up in the most ironic way.
3. Colonial Critique: The British officer incident reflects colonial pomp, hypocrisy, and
how Indian royals bent over backwards to please them.
4. Man vs Nature: The narrative criticizes humanity’s disregard for animal life and
natural balance in the name of pride and power.
5. Dramatic Irony: The readers are aware of the prophecy and the deception involving
the 100th tiger, making the ending more impactful.
Literary Devices
● Irony: Central to the story’s plot and punchline.
● Hyperbole: Exaggerated descriptions of the Maharaja’s titles, behavior, and the
ridiculous situations he creates.
● Symbolism: The toy tiger represents the disguised form of fate.
● Narrative Voice: The humorous and sarcastic tone of the narrator enhances the
satirical edge of the story.
Reading with Insight (Answers)
1. 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?
A. Dramatic irony is evident throughout the story. The king believes he can outwit
fate by killing tigers, but the audience knows that fate often takes unexpected
turns. In the end, the king dies because of a toy tiger — not a real one —
fulfilling the prophecy in an unexpected way. The contrast between what the
character expects and what actually happens makes the satire even sharper.
2. What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the
willfulness of human beings?
A. The author indirectly criticizes mankind’s dominance over nature. The
Maharaja's obsession leads to the extinction of tigers in his state and shows
how human beings often harm innocent animals for selfish purposes. The tale
mocks this cruelty and blind exercise of power.
3. How would you describe the behaviour 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 similarity in today’s political order?
A. The Maharaja’s courtiers and minions appear to obey him out of fear, not
loyalty. Their actions — such as faking the 100th tiger's death — suggest they
are more concerned with saving their jobs than being truthful. This reflects
how sycophancy and fear often dominate political environments, both in the
past and in contemporary times.
4. Can you relate instances of game-hunting among the rich and the powerful
in the present times that illustrate the callousness of human beings towards
wildlife?
A. Even today, illegal wildlife hunting and trophy hunting are often associated
with elites and celebrities. Despite laws and conservation efforts, there are still
reports of influential people engaging in such acts for sport or prestige,
showing the persistence of such callousness.
5. We need a new system for the age of ecology — a system which is
embedded in the care of all people and also in the care of the Earth and all life
upon it. Discuss.
A. This story underscores the urgent need for ecological sensitivity. A new
system rooted in sustainability, respect for all life forms, and co-existence with
nature is essential. Unlike the Maharaja’s destructive obsession, modern
society must value biodiversity and adopt ethical environmental practices.
Excerpt-based Questions
Excerpt 1
“The Maharaja’s tiger hunts continued to be highly successful. Within ten
years he was able to kill seventy tigers. And then, an unforeseen hurdle
brought his mission to a standstill. The tiger population became extinct in
the forests of Pratibandapuram. Who knows whether the tigers practised
birth control or committed harakiri? Or simply ran away from the State
because they desired to be shot by British hands alone?”
Questions:
1. What tone is most evident in the author’s comment about tigers practicing
birth control?
○ A. Tragic
○ B. Humorous
○ C. Sarcastic
○ D. Angry
2. What does the extinction of tigers in Pratibandapuram signify in the context of
the story?
3. What does the phrase “desired to be shot by British hands alone” imply?
○ A. British officers were better hunters
○ B. Tigers respected the British
○ C. A satire on colonial obsession with hunting
○ D. British people had legal rights to hunt
4. How does this passage reflect the Maharaja’s priorities as a ruler?
5. Identify and explain the use of personification in this excerpt.
Excerpt 2
“On that day father and son played with that tiny little wooden tiger. It had
been carved by an unskilled carpenter. Its surface was rough; tiny slivers
of wood stood up like quills all over it. One of those slivers pierced the
Maharaja’s right hand. He pulled it out with his left hand and continued to
play with the prince. The next day, infection flared in the Maharaja’s right
hand. In four days, it developed into a suppurating sore which spread all
over the arm.”
Questions:
1. What was the actual cause of the Maharaja’s death?
○ A. A tiger’s attack
○ B. Infection from a sliver in the toy tiger
○ C. Poisoned food
○ D. An assassination plot
2. How is dramatic irony used in this passage?
3. What is the symbolic significance of the wooden tiger in this story?
○ A. A gift of love
○ B. A poorly made toy
○ C. The true 100th tiger, fulfilling the prophecy
○ D. A representation of poverty
4. What does this incident reveal about fate and the Maharaja’s belief in
controlling it?
5. Comment on the irony in the Maharaja’s reaction after getting hurt by the toy.
Excerpt 3
“The Maharaja and the dewan held deliberations over this issue. As a
result, a telegram was despatched forthwith to a famous British company
of jewellers in Calcutta. ‘Send samples of expensive diamond rings of
different designs.’ Some fifty rings arrived. The Maharaja sent the whole
lot to the British officer’s good lady. The king and the minister expected
the duraisani to choose one or two rings and send the rest back. Within
no time at all the duraisani sent her reply: ‘Thank you very much for your
gifts.’ In two days a bill for three lakh of rupees came from the British
jewellers. The Maharaja was happy that though he had lost three lakh of
rupees, he had managed to retain his kingdom.”
Questions:
1. Why did the Maharaja send rings to the British officer’s wife?
○ A. As a wedding gift
○ B. To prevent her husband from hunting tigers
○ C. To bribe her to cancel the hunting request
○ D. To gain an alliance
2. What does the duraisani’s response reveal about colonial entitlement?
3. How does the Maharaja justify the loss of ₹3,00,000?
○ A. He considered it a donation
○ B. He saw it as the price for peace
○ C. He believed retaining his kingdom was worth it
○ D. He thought it was a fair transaction
4. What does this incident reflect about the Maharaja’s political weakness?
5. Comment on the humor and irony used by the author in this episode.
