LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

How does The Tiger King use satire to highlight the dangers of absolute power?

Ans. Kalki employs humour and irony to critique the absurdity of autocratic rule. The Maharaja’s
obsession with the prophecy leads him to misuse state resources, impose harsh taxes, manipulate
marriage for selfish ends, and even stage a tiger hunt with a zoo animal. His eventual death by a toy
tiger underscores the futility of such unchecked power and ego, delivering a sharp satirical blow to
royal vanity and misplaced priorities.
Discuss the Maharaja’s obsession with the prophecy and its consequences.

Ans. From infancy, the Maharaja is fixated on defying the astrologer’s prophecy. This obsession
governs his life decisions—hunting tigers, marrying strategically, bribing British officials, and
neglecting governance. Ironically, his paranoia leads him to a false sense of security after the 100th
tiger, and he ultimately dies due to a trivial, unanticipated cause—showing how blind obsession often
leads to downfall.
INFERENTIAL / VALUE-BASED / COMPETENCY QUESTIONS
Do you think the Maharaja was a good ruler? Justify.

Ans. No, he was self-centered and more concerned with fulfilling the prophecy than with his people's
welfare. He used state funds for personal bribes and increased taxes irrationally, showing poor
leadership.
What does the story suggest about fate and human effort?

Ans. The story implies that fate is inescapable. Despite all efforts to outwit death, the Maharaja dies in
an ironic twist, reinforcing that destiny cannot be altered by mere human will.
HIGHER ORDER THINKING / DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Comment on the significance of the wooden tiger in the story.

Ans. The wooden tiger becomes a symbol of fate’s unpredictability. Though harmless in appearance,
it proves fatal. This ironic turn critiques human arrogance and reminds us that danger may come from
the least expected sources.
How does the story reflect man’s exploitative attitude towards nature?

Ans. The story critiques how rulers and elites treat nature as a game. Tigers are hunted for pride, not
protection. Even when extinct in the state, the Maharaja imports one to complete his quest, showing
deep disregard for wildlife conservation.
How does the author use satire to highlight two follies of the Tiger King? Give examples.
Ans. Kalki effectively uses satire in The Tiger King to expose two major follies of the protagonist —
his blind faith in astrology and his autocratic misuse of power. The story is laced with irony,
exaggeration, and absurdity to mock the behaviour of rulers who act out of self-interest and
superstition rather than wisdom.
Folly 1: Superstitious Obsession with the Prophecy

The Tiger King’s irrational fear of death by a tiger, as predicted by astrologers, becomes the central
driving force of his life.
Satirical Example: Even as a ten-day-old infant, the prince speaks in a squeaky voice, mocking the
astrologers by saying, "All those who are born will one day have to die. There would be some sense in
it if you could tell us the manner of that death."

This exaggeration mocks both royal arrogance and the seriousness with which superstitions are
followed.
His obsession reaches such heights that he kills 99 tigers just to escape fate, only to be ironically
killed by a wooden toy tiger — an inanimate version of the creature he feared most.
This dramatic irony underlines the futility of trying to outwit destiny and satirizes blind superstition.

Folly 2: Abuse of Power for Personal Vanity

The Maharaja’s authority is used not for public welfare but for fulfilling his personal vow of killing
100 tigers.
Satirical Example: When a British officer wants to be photographed with a hunted tiger, the Maharaja
bribes the officer’s wife with 50 diamond rings worth ₹3 lakh to avoid allowing him the hunt,
satirizing the ridiculous extents rulers go to maintain personal pride.
He even marries a princess from a state with a large tiger population, turning marriage into a tool for
hunting convenience — a pointed mockery of political marriages and royal selfishness.
The situation becomes so absurd that when no tiger is left, a tame tiger is secretly brought from a zoo
and made to appear wild. Even when the Maharaja misses the shot, his men quietly kill the tiger to
protect their jobs, highlighting the culture of fear and sycophancy around power.
OTHER SATIRES in "The Tiger King" by Kalki
1. Satire on British Colonial Authority and Indian Submissiveness
Example:
“We are ready for a boar hunt, mouse hunt, mosquito hunt — but tiger hunt is impossible!”
Explanation:
The Maharaja refuses to allow the British officer to hunt a tiger but is terrified of losing his kingdom.
The moment the officer’s wife shows interest, he sends her 50 diamond rings worth ₹3 lakh.
This mocks the spinelessness of Indian royalty under British rule — publicly proud but privately
submissive. The pomp of resistance is undercut by material bribery and fear of colonial power.
2. Satire on Sycophancy and Bureaucracy
Example:
“If the Maharaja didn’t find the tiger soon, the results could be catastrophic. The dewan dragged a zoo
tiger in his car at midnight.”
Explanation:
The Dewan’s ridiculous actions, including sneaking a tame tiger from a zoo and disguising it as wild,
lampoon how courtiers obey blindly out of fear, not loyalty. The Maharaja’s ministers lie to keep their
jobs, reflecting a culture where truth is secondary to power.

3. Satire on Absurd Royal Titles and Vanity

Example:
“His Highness Jamedar-General, Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari, Maharajadhiraja Visva
Bhuvana Samrat...”
Explanation:
The comically exaggerated title mocks how Indian princes glorified themselves with pompous
designations, even though their actual actions were petty and self-serving. It's a direct jab at
meaningless grandeur without responsibility.

4. Satire on Hypocrisy of Royal Priorities

Example:
“The king turned his attention to his son only after completing his vow of killing hundred tigers.”
Explanation:
Until then, he ignored his family and royal duties. His sudden affection for his son on the birthday is
shallow and performative. Even the toy he chooses — a wooden tiger — brings about his death,
satirizing how even symbolic tigers can defeat a king obsessed with killing them.
5. Satire on Traditional Astrology
Example:
“If the hundredth tiger is killed, I will burn my books, cut my tuft, and become an insurance agent.”
Explanation:
The astrologer’s dramatic statement ridicules blind faith in predictions, even by those who claim
expertise. Kalki mocks how even educated people accept astrology as truth, highlighting
contradictions between logic and superstition.

What does the behaviour of the minions reveal about their nature in The Tiger King?

Ans.
The behaviour of the minions in The Tiger King reflects their lack of integrity, blind
obedience, and fear-driven conduct. Their actions are not motivated by loyalty or public
service, but by a desperate attempt to please the king and retain their positions.

1. Fear Overrides Truth

When the Maharaja misses his shot at the hundredth tiger, the hunters find that the tiger is
still alive.
“The tiger looked back at them rolling its eyes in bafflement.”
Yet, instead of telling the truth, they kill the tiger secretly to preserve the illusion of the
king’s success. This shows they fear punishment more than they value honesty.

2. Sycophancy Over Duty

The Dewan, the king’s chief minister, is expected to advise the king wisely. Instead, he fakes
a tiger hunt by smuggling a zoo tiger in his own car at midnight — just to satisfy the
Maharaja’s obsession and avoid his anger.

“The Dewan and his aged wife dragged the tiger to the car...”
This shows how officials around the king act as yes-men, encouraging his delusions instead
of correcting him.

3. Self-preservation Over Ethics

The king threatens officers, fires them at will, and raises taxes when frustrated. The ministers
and officials submit silently, not out of respect, but because they do not want to lose their
jobs.
The behaviour of these minions reflects a culture of unquestioning obedience, common in
authoritarian regimes, where people serve power, not truth or responsibility.

The Tiger King reveal how absolute power breeds fear, flattery, and dishonesty. Their
behaviour mirrors the functioning of many real-life political systems, where truth is
suppressed and leaders are misled by their own people, ultimately leading to their downfall.