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The Tiger King

- Kalki
Introduction:
Through the story “The Tiger King” Kalki transports the readers to the days of autocratic and eccentric -
where we find kings dominating their subjects, but living under the mortal fear of the Britishers. To add
an uncanny atmosphere to the story one finds traces of the supernatural in the story. The ‘Tiger King’
being arrogant, chooses to disprove the prophecy of the astrologers. Alas! destiny proves to be all
powerful . We see that the prediction, which was made when the king was ten days old comes out to be
true.
Theme:
At the face of it the story seems to revolve round the theme that destiny is all powerful and inevitable
and that one is governed by one’s stars and therefore, ought to take astrologers seriously.
However, it would be erroneous to draw this conclusion. The author appears to be more serious about
the crime committed in thoughtless killing of tigers by the erstwhile royal rulers. They were followed by
the commoners and poachers and as a result, the tiger is on the brink of extinction in our country. Thus,
the story is more about crime and punishment than destiny. It also seems to suggest that one should not
act rashly to prove or disprove astrological predictions. The treatment of the theme is laced with
humour, irony and quick paced narrative.

Short Questions
Q: Why does the author give the detailed identification of the Tiger King through a variety of titles?
Ans: Kalki, he author of the story has no intention of praising the king. In fact, immediately after
addressing him with a variety of titles, he brings an anti-climax by telling his readers that his name is
‘shortened to the Tiger King’.
Q: Why does the ten-day-old prince Jung Jung Bahadur utter the words ‘Let tigers beware!’?
Ans: The astrologers predicted new born future king of Pratibandapuram would die due to a tiger, the new
born prince growled, ‘Let tigers beware’. What he wished to say that he would not be afraid ot tigers
instead tigers would be afraid of him. He pronounced that when he grew up he would wipe them out to
disprove the astrologer’s prediction. Indeed, when grew he played havoc on the tiger population of his
own kingdom and that of his father-in-law.
Q: How was the Tiger King brought up?
Ans: As a child the Tiger King was brought up by an English nanny and tutored in English by an Englishman.
He was given the mild of an English cow. Like many other Indian crown princes he watched only English
movies.
Q: What is the underlying idea behind the author’s detailed description of the bringing up of the Tiger
King?
Ans: During the pre-partition days almost all over India the royals were brought up on purely English lines.
Britishers had a great deal of influence in the functioning of the princely states. They found the English
mannerisms and norms best. So, they used to follow them. Through this author here satirizes and ridicules
the attitude and ways of the Indian royalty.
Q: Comment briefly on the relations between the king and his subjects citing instances from the story.
Ans: There was no bond between the king and his subjects. The king was eccentric and whimsical and
did not care for the welfare of his subjects. Most of the officers and subordinates were not loyal to the
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king. They were cowards and obeyed him only out of fear. They hid the truth about the death of 100 th
king. Even diwan managed to trap one old tiger in the forest for the king to hunt. He was apprehensive
of losing his job. These examples prove that the relation between the king and his subjects was not
cordial.
Q: What did the high-ranking British officer wish to do? Was his wish fulfilled?
Ans: The high-ranking British officer wanted to kill a tiger to flaunt his dare-devilry in front of other
officers and companions. When he was not permitted for hunting, he sent a message for the permission
to be granted to have a photograph while holding the gun and standing near the dead body of a tiger
killed by a king. However, his wish was not fulfilled.
Q: Why did Maharaja not agree to the request of the British Officer?
Ans: British officer was willing for hunting tiger but the Maharaja was resolute and did not agree to his
request because he feared that other officers would also come with similar demands.
Q; ‘ Tiger King’ stood in danger of losing his kingdom. How did he save his crown?
Ans: The king did not permit the British officer for tiger killing. This step would aggravate the English
officers and so he 'stood in danger of losing his kingdom itself.' So, the Maharaja and the dewan decided
to pacify the officer through bribe. They decided to send expensive diamond rings to the 'duraisani', the
wife of the British officer. Contrary to the king's expectation, the lady kept all the rings and sent him a
note of thanks. Thus, the Maharaja though poorer by three lakh rupees, managed to save his throne
Q How did the 'duraisani' behave on receiving the gifts? What idea do you form about her from her
behaviour?
Ans: some fifty samples of expensive diamond rings were sent to the ‘ duraisani’ by the king and he
expected that she would select one or two and return the rest. But the lady being so greedy, retained all
of them and sent a letter of thanks.
Q. Why did the Maharaja's tiger killing spree came to a halt after seventy tigers?
Or Why was the Maharaja sunk in gloom even after having killed seventy tigers?
Ans: Within ten years Maharaja's tiger hunting spree had resulted in the killing of seventy tigers.
However, his tiger killing mission came to a sudden standstill because the tiger population became
extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram. He was anxious because he thought that he would not be able
to achieve his target and so his life would be in danger.
Kalki jokingly remarks that the reason for the disappearance of the tigers was that either they were
practising birth control or committing harakiri or had probably fled from the forests of Pratibandapuram.
Q: What step did Maharaja take to find the required no. of tigers?
Ans: The Maharaja decided to marry a girl of royal family with a large tiger population. He had killed
seventy tigers and wanted thirty more in order to compete the desired no. of tigers.i.e. 100 tigers.
Q: What were the two restricting outside factors that checked the kings in those days from doing
exactly what they wished?
Ans: The two outside restricting forces were the Britishers Indian National Congress. The kings could not
afford to annoy the Britishers for fear of losing their kingdom, and in of excessive discontentment
among their subjects they were answerable to the Indian National Congress.
Q. Why did Maharaja order the dewan to double the land tax? Did the dewan respond to this order?
Ans: The Maharaja called the dewan and ordered him to double the tax of the villagers who had
informed him of the presence of a tiger in the forest because despite his best efforts he was unable to
locate the beast. This infuriated and frustrated the Maharaja. The dewan was terrified out of his wits
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and requested the king to review his orders because the doubling of taxes would result in widespread
discontentment among the people.
Q: How did the dewan manage to arrange the hundredth tiger for the Maharaja?
Ans: The dewan had hidden at his home an old tiger which had been brought from the People's Park in
Madras. He feared that if the Maharaja did not get a tiger to hunt, the results would be catastrophic and
he would lose his job. Therefore, he and his aged wife dragged the tiger to their car, shoved it into the
seat and took it straight to the forest where the Maharaja was hunting.
Q: Was the predictions made by the State astrologer “indisputably disproved"? Give reasons in
support of your answer.
Ans: Undoubtedly the State astrologer's predictions came out to be true. He had made two predictions,
firstly, the prince is born in the hour of the Bull and "death comes" to him "from the tiger". At a later
stage he warned the king against killing the hundredth tiger. Both the predictions came true.
Q Why does the king think of giving up tiger hunting after his hundredth victim?
Ans: The king was eccentric and arrogant. He resorted to tiger hunting just to prove the State astrologer
wrong. Moreover, he was aware of the dangers involved in tiger-hunting, so he decided to stop tiger-
hunting after his hundredth victim.
Q Why was Maharaja elated and how did he decide to celebrate? How did he decide to celebrate it?
Ans: The Maharaja got elated on having killed hundredth tiger because his vow had been fulfilled. By
killing the hundredth tiger, he thought the prophecy about his death had been disproved. A grand
procession was taken out through the town. Later the dead body of hundredth tiger was buried and a
tomb was erected over it.
Q Who actually had killed the hundredth tiger?
Ans: When hunters found the aged tiger had not died of the Maharja’s bullet but had only fainted from
the loud report of gun, hunters decided not to reveal the truth that he had missed the mark. They
feared that they would lose their jobs. So, one of the hunters shot the tiger from a point - blank range.
Q Why did the king go to a shopping centre in Pratibandapur What did he buy there?
Ans: The Tiger King went to the shopping centre to buy a birthday present for his three-year-old son. He
wished to give his son a very special gift on his third birthday. He bought a wooden toy tiger.
Q: How did the king's arm become seriously infected?
Ans: The king's arm had got infected from a prick caused by one of the slivers on the wooden tiger. In
one day, the infection spread in the Maharaja's right hand and in four days it developed into a sore
affecting the arm.
Q: Do you find any element of irony in the statement, “It was celebration time for all the tigers
inhabiting Pratibandapuram”?
Ans: It was announced in Pratibandapuram that tiger hunting would be totally banned so it was
celebration time for tiger. The proclamation stated that if anyone dared even to throw a stone at a tiger,
his entire wealth and properties would be confiscated. However, it was not so because the king was not
restricted to kill tigers, rather he indulged in wiping them out. Thus, the statement is ironical.

Long Answers__
Q: 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?
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Ans: Dramatic irony involves a situation in a play or a narrative in which the audience shares the things
with the author about which the character is ignorant. The "character acts in a way grossIy
inappropriate to the actual circumstances or expects the opposite of what fate has written for him.
" Kalki has made a very skilful use of dramatic irony in the story. After killing the first tiger, the king
flaunts its dead body before the astrologer to show that he is more powerful than the tiger. However,
the astrologer warns the king that he should be "careful with the hundredth tiger." The king chooses to
prove the astrologer wrong once again and makes frantic efforts to kill hundred tigers. Thus, having shot
at the old tiger, the Tiger King believes he has killed the hundredth tiger. But the reader soon comes to
know that the emaciated tiger does not get killed, but only faints. However, the king who is too excited
of having disproved the prediction, is ignorant of what lies in his future. A mere sliver on the wooden
tiger's body causes his dramatic death. Quite ironically the hundredth tiger 'kills' the king instead and
the astrologer's predictions come true. Both the reader and the author leave a sigh of relief at the death
of a cruel king.
Thus, through the powerful use of dramatic irony, Kalki satirizes those powerful people who go to any
extent to satisfy their ego.
Q: What is the author's indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the wilfulness of human
beings?
Ans: The author wants to tell his readers that man is living in a world created by God and every creature
in this world has an equal right to live one's life. In doing so, there is no need to interfere in the
existence of other living beings. Those who intrude into the privacy of others or kill fellow human
beings, birds, trees or beasts for pleasure are guilty of committing the gravest and unpardonable sin.
The wilful and ruthless killing of tigers in the story “The Tiger King” is contrary to the divine rules.
Leading one’s normal and natural life is the birth right of every living creature. Thus, fate spells the
conceited king’s death proving that the sin of wanton and ruthless killing of tigers cannot escape divine
punishment. Moreover, the whole episode reveals that man cannot outwit death and he has to pay for
his sins.
Q: What are your comments about the life led by the minions? Were they loyal to their king or they
just feigned to be so? Can a parallel be drawn between them and the state of affairs in the modern
Indian political setup?
Ans: The political setup revealed in the story mirrors its universal flaws. The king, his officials and
subjects lack the values their stature demands. The ruling Indian class during the British regime was
often ruthless, atrocious, eccentric, whimsical and conceited, and refused to see reason. The Tiger King
is no exception. The king feels happy when he is informed about the presence of tiger that would have
completed his mission of killing the hundredth tiger. He immediately announces a three year exemption
from all taxes for the villagers, but when the tiger is not traced for a few days he thinks of doubling the
taxes with immediate effect. The mounting fury of the king at his failure makes many officers lose their
jobs. As a matter- of- fact there is no love between the king and his subjects. Under such circumstances
one cannot expect the minions and the officers to be sincere to the king
The officers obey the king not because he is the sovereign authority but because they are cowards and
fear they would come to harm if they disobeyed the king. They fawn before him obsequiously, lest the
king dismisses them or have them arrested or killed, should they earn his wrath and displeasure. For
example, the dewan, in order to save his job, brings an old tiger for the king and fulfil his vow. Likewise,
the hunters choose not to inform of the survival of his hundredth victim and instead themselves kill it
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from it from a point - blank range fearing the king would be very furious if they broke the news to him.
Even the state astrologer is afraid of predicting the king’s death, till the king himself tells him to ‘speak
without fear’. Thus, most of the officers including the dewan are mere time severs and aim at grinding
their own axe.
Q: A value- oriented conduct and total reversal of attitude towards ecology is the need of the hour,
where equal Importance is given to the beings and the flora and fauna of the world. Discuss.
Or
We need a new system for the age of ecology - a system which seeks its foundation on the ethics
embedded in the care of all people and also in the care of the Earth and all life upon it. Discuss.
Ans: God created man as the crowning glory of his creation and probably has been repenting ever since.
Man, the most intelligent of all the creations of God, had his work cut out for him - to look after, protect
and preserve the flora and fauna of the beautiful Earth he calls his world. Unfortunately, he is the chief
cause of all the harm that has come to ecology of the blue planet, be it melting ice-sheets, receding
glaciers, depleting forests and dwindling diversity of birds, animals and trees. Man's greed and
selfishness has caused a rat-race in the world other and in the name of progress, he has scarred and
scathed nature.
Today many ecosystems of the world stare in the face of extinction due to their naked plunder by man
and due to indiscriminate killing of animals and birds and deforestation. It is sad that man has, so far,
failed to realize that with the extinction of flora and fauna, his own life also hangs imbalanced. Clearly,
at this critical juncture, we don't need any industrial, technological or computer age but an age of
ecology. The ordinary people of the world must rise to the occasion to save their mother Earth from
total annihilation. What we require, first of all, is a deep cut in all our activities which threaten the
environment. We must join hands and do all we can to protect the bio-diversity of our planet and save
eco-systems and environment from collapsing. The depleting ozone layer and increasing global warming
need immediate international checks.
Mankind must find ways and means to keep its population in control so that our planet, with its finite
resources, can continue to sustain us and other species. This mammoth change cannot be brought
about overnight by a handful of individuals or organizations. It requires concerted efforts on the part
of all the peoples of the world. It is high time we revered our attitude towards ecology and saved it
instead of harming it.
Additional questions
Q: What sort of education was given to the Tiger king? Do you approve of the type of education
imparted to him? Was this education typical of the Pratibandapuram kingdom or was it the usual
practice in most of the states in India?
Ans: The Tiger King was given to understand that everything that belongs to the English was worth
emulating and whatever is Indian was considered to be useless. So much so that the milk given to the
young prince came from an English cow. He was brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by
an Englishman and saw nothing but English films. This type education was not peculiar to the Tiger
King's state alone but almost all over India the wards of the ruling class were given the same sort of
training. This resulted in a lopsided development of the personality and the princes were alienated from
their own culture and subjects. They were made to believe that they were a class apart and they have
nothing to do with the common man. So, when the young princes took the reigns of their state in their
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hands they behaved in an erratic and irresponsible manner and refused to see reason, and like the Tiger
King had a single track of mind and behaved like spoilt brats.
Q: What idea do you form about the married life of the king?
Ans: Most people marry to establish a family and to fulfil their marital duties. Marriage is sacred for such
people and they discharge the duty of loving and looking after their spouses and children sincerely and
truthfully.
But here is a king, the great Tiger King of Pratibandapuran who marries not because he needs a
soulmate or seeks love or wants to carry out his parental duties but because he needs thirty more tigers
to kill to fulfil his vow. Marrying a royal princess whose father's kingdom has a large tiger population will
give the Maharaja a 'licence', a legitimate right to kill tigers there.
Thus, even after marriage, the Maharaja is mainly occupied with tiger hunting. He has little time for
managing the State affairs or for his wife and family. He has no time for love and care. How he begets a
son is really surprising. What would you say of a father who, though he is a king, has not bought a single
present for his son till he gets three years old and the one he finally gets, he does not pay for it.
Therefore, one can easily imagine the kind of married life the king would have led. One cannot help
pitying the lot of his wife.
Q: Do you find any moral lesson in the warning given by the chief astrologer against killing the
hundredth tiger?
Ans: The chief astrologer's warning contains a moral lesson that there is a limit to committing a sin.
When a sinner commits a sin for short-term gains, he forgets about the far-reaching effects of his
misdeeds. He feels happy with the immediate gains and thinks himself to be very smart to be able to
cheat; exploit, damage and destroy despite the resistance that he meets. The more sins he commits, the
harder criminal he becomes. He is left with no sense of remorse and starts considering himself to be
invincible. He neither fears the divine law, nor the law of the land. Blinded by his so-called 'success', he
neither responds to logic nor common sense. Thus, he goes on and on with his sinning spree without
realising that there is a limit to committing sin. In the story “The Tiger King" the Maharaja ignored the
warning of the astrologer. . But the cup of his sin was full to the brim with the killing of ninety-nine
tigers. Now the final judgement awaited him. He could kill no more- rather all the sins committed by him
scripted his end. Thus, he fell a prey to wooden tiger.
Q: Was there any justification in the killing of so many tigers by the Maharaja? What should he have
done?
Ans: Just in order to disprove the astrological prediction killing so many tigers can never be justified.
Instead, the king should have lived his life fully performing his royal as well as household duties to the
best of his ability. Public welfare and protection of his subjects and kingdom with all its natural wealth,
including its flora and fauna, should have been the sole aim of his life. He must have accepted the fact
that death is inevitable and culmination of life.