Page 118 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Indian Writings in Literature

Notes Balram’s eyes penetrate India as few outsiders can: the cockroaches and the call centers; the
prostitutes and the worshippers; the ancient and Internet cultures; the water buffalo and, trapped
in so many kinds of cages that escape is (almost) impossible, the white tiger. And with a charisma
as undeniable as it is unexpected, Balram teaches us that religion doesn’t create virtue, and money
doesn’t solve every problem — but decency can still be found in a corrupt world, and you can get
what you want out of life if you eavesdrop on the right conversations.
Sold in sixteen countries around the world, “The White Tiger” recalls “The Death of Vishnu” and
“Bangkok 8” in ambition, scope, and narrative genius, with a mischief and personality all its own.
Amoral, irreverent, deeply endearing, and utterly contemporary, this novel is an international
publishing sensation — and a startling, provocative debut.
The White Tiger’ tells the story of a poor Indian man, namely Balram Halwai, who wishes to leave
the Darkness with its miseries and poverty so he could experience the life of the rich in the Light.
His means of doing so turns out really bad, though. As a kid, Balram is taken out of school and
starts working at an early age. He begins cleaning tables at tea shops, then works as a driver as
well as a servant, and finally ends up being a successful entrepreneur. The whole novel (including
the murder he commits and speaks about from the very first chapter) is told through letters in
which he addresses some Chinese premier who wants to visit and know more about India. The
first third of the novel was really brilliant. Balram’s childhood, how he got his name, the Ganga
swallowing his mother as her corpse was being burned (shivers ran down my spine when I read
that part), his father’s death on the hospital’s floor, the corruption in India, the oppression and the
rigged elections… these were all so moving and beautifully written. However, I felt that the
narrative got slow and quite boring in the middle and towards the end. I would have liked it
better if there had been some good character I could truly care for. This might sound naive, but I’m
one of those readers who like to have two parties in a story: the good guys and the bad ones. ‘The
White Tiger’ was quite disappointing in this regard. I couldn’t grow emotionally attached to any
of the main characters basically because they were all jerks in some way or another. Though
mostly nice to his driver Balram, Mr Ashok bribed officials, was willing to send Balram to jail for
a crime he never committed, and got morally corrupt soon after his wife left him. The protagonist,
who I guess I was supposed to sympathize with (which I did at some point), was so selfish and
didn’t really care neither about little Bharam nor about his family as a whole. Nevertheless, such
fatal flaws in the characters reflect a realistic aspect of the human nature Adiga was possibly
trying to show: purely good guys are not there. Generally, the author has a smooth style of
writing and the book is worthy of being read. Got a lot of information about India, its people and
culture while reading it… significance of the title “ The White Tiger”describe the evolution Of

Balram’s opinion of his master and their relationship.
Self-Assessment
1. Fill in the blanks:
(i) Aravind Adiga is an Indian writer and journalist. His debut novel, The White Tiger, won
the 2008 ............... .
(ii) Adiga's second book, ..............., was released in India in November 2008 and in the US and
UK in mid-2009.
(iii) His second novel and third published book, ..............., was published in the UK in 2011.

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