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Indian Writings in Literature Digvijay Pandya, Lovely Professional University

Notes
Unit 18: Aravind Adiga: The White Tiger—Characterisation

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
18.1 Text—The Write Tiger
18.2 Characterisation
18.3 Summary
18.4 Key-Words
18.5 Review Questions
18.6 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this Unit students will be able to:
• Explain the role of Balram Halwai.
• Discuss important characters.
Introduction

Balram Halwai murdered his master, got away with it and is now free. But is he? In the aftermath
of the crime, Balram has become a slave to India's economic system. He spends his days sleeping
and his nights slogging away at building his start-up taxi company. As the story opens, he recalls,
over seven nights, how he transformed from a young boy, born into a caste of lowly sweet-
makers, into one of the most wanted men in India.
Adiga explores Indian economics, culture and politics with this darkly satirical take on
contemporary Indian life. He takes us from small town Laxmangarh, to the capital of Delhi, and
finally, to Bangalore, the city which best represents where India's economics, politics and culture
are headed. He does this through the eyes of the charismatic, egotistical Balram Halwai, as he
writes to the premiere of China, Wen Jiabao, who is coming to visit India.
18.1 Text—The Write Tiger

Introducing a major literary talent, The White Tiger offers a story of coruscating wit, blistering
suspense, and questionable morality, told by the most volatile, captivating, and utterly inimitable
narrator that this millennium has yet seen. Balram Halwai is a complicated man. Servant.
Philosopher. Entrepreneur. Murderer. Over the course of seven nights, by the scattered light of a
preposterous chandelier, Balram tells us the terrible and transfixing story of how he came to be a
success in life — having nothing but his own wits to help him along. Born in the dark heart of
India, Balram gets a break when he is hired as a driver for his village’s wealthiest man, two house
Pomeranians (Puddles and Cuddles), and the rich man’s (very unlucky) son. From behind the
wheel of their Honda City car, Balram’s new world is a revelation. While his peers flip through the
pages of Murder Weekly (“Love — Rape — Revenge!”), barter for girls, drink liquor (Thunderbolt),
and perpetuate the Great Rooster Coop of Indian society, Balram watches his employers bribe
foreign ministers for tax breaks, barter for girls, drink liquor (single-malt whiskey), and play their
own role in the Rooster Coop. Balram learns how to siphon gas, deal with corrupt mechanics, and
refill and resell Johnnie Walker Black Label bottles (all but one). He also finds a way out of the
Coop that no one else inside it can perceive. Balram’s eyes penetrate India as few outsiders can:
the cockroaches and the call centers; the prostitutes and the worshippers; the ancient and Internet

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