The Tiger King

About The Author

Kalki is the pen-name of Ramaswamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy (9 September 1899 – 5

December 1954). He was a Tamil writer, journalist, poet, critic and Freedom Movement
activist. His writings include over 120 short stories, 10 novelettes, five novels, three
historical romances, editorials and political writings and hundreds of films and music
reviews. Kalki received the Sangeetha Kalasikhami award conferred on him by the Indian
Fine Arts Society in 1953. On the occasion of the centenary celebrations, a postage stamp
was released in his honour. His works were nationalised by the government of Tamil
Nadu.

Introduction
The story revolves around a King whose death at the hands of a tiger had been foretold by
astrologers, when he was born. He tries to reverse the fate spelled out for him and the author
uses thinly-veiled satire to walk the reader through the King’s attempts, which later proven
futile, in a manner that makes the readers laugh.
Kalki takes his readers to the days of autocratic and eccentric kings. These kings lived under
the thumb rule of britishers, hence they fear them. In order to make the story mysterious
Kalki has added supernatural element in the story. The haughty king disapproved the
prophecy made by the astrologer about his death, but his death from the wooden tiger (100th
tiger) approved it.
The story ‘The Tiger King’ is satire on the conceit of those in power. Most of the time the
rulers are not interested in serving the people or work for the welfare of the public; instead
they spend their time foolish pursuits. Even the coteries who surround these power centers
are interested in taking advantage of the proximity for their own welfare. This is a story about
transience-of life, of power and echoes the maxim: “Too many slips between a cup and a lip.”
Justification of Title
“The Tiger King” is a very appropriate title for the story for several reasons. First of all, the
king is crazy about tiger hunting so much that he marries a princess whose father’s kingdom
has a sizeable tiger population. He kills one hundred tigers just to fulfil his vow. Secondly,
the king with all his frenzy, anger and ruthlessness is as ferocious as a tiger. Thirdly, he dies
of a silver prick received from a wooden toy tiger. Finally, the prediction that a tiger would
cause the king’s death also comes true. Since the story revolves round the king and the
hundred tigers that he kills, it could not be better titled than “The Tiger King”.

Irony and Satire in ‘The Tiger King’

‘The Tiger King’ is replete with irony that reveals the follies of autocratic and wilful rulers
who flout all laws and bend them to suit their selfish interests. The dramatic irony in the story
is sharp when the Tiger King alone is unaware that his bullet had not killed the hundredth
tiger. The other characters and the readers anticipate his doom as he celebrates his triumph
over his destiny. We realize how misplaced the King’s pride at killing the first tiger was. The
astrologers had prophesied, “You may kill ninety nine tigers like this, but your death will be
brought on by the hundredth tiger.” The King wanted to prove the astrologer wrong and to
save his life. Ironically, to avert death he actually invites it. The lofty titles used to introduce
the Tiger King, suggesting an invincible ferocity are indeed ironic for he is finally killed by a
cheap, crudely made wooden toy tiger which became the tool of Nature’s revenge. He had
killed a hundred tigers in vain and must be punished for it. Irony is indeed sharp when the
surgeons announce the operation successful and declare the king dead.

Instances of Satire
Satire employs irony, sarcasm, ridicule, etc. in exposing and criticizing follies and vices in
men. The story uses humour to criticize self-seeking Kings who wilfully exploit both nature
and their subjects for sefish interests. When the Maharaja of Pratibandhpuram was told that
he would be killed by a tiger, he could never imagine the twist in fate where a toy tiger could
be fatal. Because of his conceit, he was unprepared for such surprises flung by life at him.
The grandeur associated with a king’s life proves a mockery. The news of the king’s ailment
invited not one, but three surgeons. They got so tied up in technicalities that they declared the
operation successful even though the king died.
The story also satirizes the corrupting influence of power. Just because the Tiger King had
power, he felt he could browbeat his subjects and even defeat fate. He neglected his
responsibility as a ruler. He neglected the welfare of his subjects, his family, increased and
reduced taxes at will and sacked his officers. They feared him or else he would have learnt
the truth.
When we see the king gloating over his bravery after killing the hundredth old, weak tiger,
we notice that Kalki is satirizing the notions of cowardice and bravery. There is no heroism in
fighting an unequal battle. The King’s cowardice was obvious when he justifies that one may
kill even a cow in self defence. Kalki is also criticizing the King’s men and subjects who
pander to his whims out of fear or like the shopkeeper manipulate and fool him.
Light humour in the Tiger King
 The instance of the Stuka bomber
 The king’s offer of mouse hunt etc
 The incoherent blabbering by the Dewan and the Chief Astrologer
 The Dewan procuring an old tiger from people’s park and its stubborn refusal to get
off the car and the description of its waiting in humble supplication to be shot.
 The shopkeeper quoting three hundred rupees for a cheap two annas and a quarter toy
tiger

.Themes
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.

Important points
Tiger King” was the title given to Maharaja Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bhadur. When he was ten
days old, he inquired intelligently of the astrologers and was informed that he would be
murdered by a tiger. “Let tigers beware!” he exclaimed.
• No further miracle occurred; the infant developed normally, sipping white cow’s milk,
being educated by an English tutor, being cared for by an English nanny, and watching
English films.
• He was anointed king at the age of twenty. It was then that the astrologer’s prediction of his
demise at the hands of the tiger reached the Maharaja’s ear, and in order to protect himself,
he killed a tiger. Overjoyed, he informed the astrologer, who replied that he could kill 99
tigers but should exercise caution with the hundredth.
• From then on he started killing tigers and none 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 fifty diamond rings expecting that she would take one
or two instead she kept all the rings costing three lakh rupees and sent ‘thanks’ to the
Maharaja. But his state was secured.
• In ten years he killed seventy tigers and didn’t find any in Pratibandapuram so he decided to
marry a girl from the royal state who had more tigers to complete his target whenever he
visited his in-laws he killed five to six tigers. So he killed ninety-nine tigers and was
feverishly anxious to kill the hundredth but couldn’t find news about the presence of a tiger
near a village proved disappointing.
• Now the Dewan was warned of his danger 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 shot the tiger with great care and triumphantly left the area. The bullet did not
hit the tiger, but the tiger had collapsed out of fear. Now the crew had killed the tiger and
brought it in magnificent procession; it was the Maharaja’s son’s third birthday, and he
desired to purchase a gift from the toyshop. He purchased a crudely carved wooden tiger.
• While the Maharaja was playing with the prince, a shard of the wooden tiger punctured his
right hand, eventually killing him. As a result, the hundredth tiger exacts his final vengeance
on the “Tiger King.”

Questions and Answers
Short Answer Type Questions
Q. 1. Who is the Tiger King?
The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the Tiger King of the story. He was known
in his kingdom by different names as His Highness Jamedar, General Khiledar-
Major, Sata-Vyaghrasamhari, MaharajadhirajaVisvaBhuvanasamrat, Sir Jilani
Jung Jung Bahadur, M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K.

Q2. Why does the Tiger King get this name?

Ans. Tigers dominate the life and even death of the king. So he is named the
tiger king. The chief astrologer foretells that he is born in the hour of the Bull.
The Bull and the Tiger are enemies. Therefore, his death will come from the
Tiger. Ironically, the king who killed 99 tigers, his death was caused by a
wooden toy tiger.

Q3. What was the miracle that took place in the royal palace?
Ans. When the Maharaja was a 10 day old baby, he spoke and asked intelligent
questions about his death. After knowing that he would be killed by a tiger, he
uttered saying ―Let tigers beware.

Q4. How did the chief astrologer react to the tiger king‟s question about the
manner of his death? How did the tiger king take it?
Ans. When the baby barely ten days old, opens its lips in speech. The chief
astrologer was wonderstruck. He thought it to be incredible that the baby raised
an intelligent question –to know about the manner of his death. The astrologer
told that the prince was born in the hour of the bull. The bull and tiger are
enemies. Therefore, death to him shall come from the Tiger. The tiger king
growled, ―Let tigers beware!‖
Q5. How was the Tiger King brought up?
Ans. As a child the Tiger King was brought up by an English nanny and tutored
by an Englishman. He was given the milk of an English cow. He watched only
English movies.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. What impression do you form about the Tiger King after reading the
story?
Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, had
many titles and sub-names. But he was popular as the Tiger King. The chief
astrologer predicted that his death would come from a tiger. Crown prince Jung
Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day by day. When he grew to twenty he
took the reign in his hands.
The Maharaja continued his campaign of tiger-hunting with rare
singlemindedness. Within a span of ten years he killed 70 tigers. It was his
master strategy to marry a girl of a state which had a large tiger population. So
he was able to kill 99 tigers in all.
The Tiger King could pay any price to maintain his kingdom. He had to give a
bribe worth three lakh rupees to a high ranking British official to retain his
kingdom.
The Maharaja knew how to take work from his minions. He used the dewan to
find out the suitable girl for his marriage. He could be hot-headed and doubled
the tax on the people. He also threatened the dewan to dismiss him from his
service. It is ironical that the King met his death by a wooden tiger. At last, the
hundredth tiger took revenge upon him.

Q. 2. How did the Tiger King come in the danger of losing his throne and
how did he save his kingdom?
Ans. The state banned tiger hunting by anyone except the king. Once a high
ranking British officer visited Pratibandapuram. He was fond of hunting tigers.
He liked to be photographed with the tigers he had shot. The Maharaja was firm
in his resolve. He refused permission. He was ready to organise any other hunt.
The officer could go on a boar hunt but the tiger hunt was impossible.
The British officer‘s secretary sent word through the dewan. The Maharaja
could do the actual killing. The officer only wanted to be photographed holding
the gun near the dead tiger. The Maharaja didn‘t relent. He prevented a British
officer from fulfilling his desire. The Maharaja stood in danger of losing his
kingdom itself. He held deliberations over the issue with the dewan. Samples of
expensive diamond rings were ordered. A famous British company of jewellers
in Calcutta sent fifty rings. The Maharaja sent the whole lot to the British
officer‘s good lady. She was expected to choose one or two rings. The lady kept
all the rings with her. She sent her thanks to the Maharaja for the gifts. The
Maharaja was very happy. Though he had lost three lakh of rupees, he had
managed to retain his kingdom.
Even the coteries who surround these power centers are interested in taking
advantage of the proximity for their own welfare. This is a story about
transience-of life, of power and reverberates the maxim: ―Too many slips
between a cup and a lip.