Page 143 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Unit 18: Aravind Adiga: The White Tiger—Characterisation

cultures; the water buffalo and, trapped in so many kinds of cages that escape is (almost) impossible, Notes
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.
Balram begins by explaining that he is not just any murderer. Should the Premier wish to know
more. Balram reminisces about his job as a driver for the Stork’s family. After his father dies of
tuberculosis, the family sends his brother Kishan to work in the city of Dhanbad. Balram and his
cousin, Dilip, come along, and the 3 get work in a local teashop. Balram furthers his education by
eavesdropping on the customers. He overhears a conversation about how much money drivers
earn and decides he wants to be a chauffeur. Granny Kusum and the family agree to pay for
driving classes on the condition that Balram send his earnings home every month. Balram’s
driving teacher is an old, fat, hookah-puffing taxi driver. For every hour Balram spends learning
to drive, he spends several under the cars doing free repairs. When his training is complete, his
teacher takes him out for a final lesson: he brings Balram to a whorehouse and lets him choose a
prostitute. The hard work has only begun. Balram goes door-to-door asking for work, but he is
rejected for weeks. One day he sees a lone figure walking the grounds of a mansion. He decides,
“This is the master for me.” He begs the guard at the front gate to let him speak to the master with
no success. Balram continues to argue loudly. An older gentleman appears on the terrace. It is the
Stork. Balram yells that he is from the Stork’s village. He falls at the Stork’s feet and begs for work,
showering him with compliments. After a test drive, Balram is hired. Balram spends his days
cooking, cleaning, and washing two spoiled Pomeranians named Puddles and Cuddles. Since he
is the 2nd driver, he only drives when the 1st driver, Ram Parsad, is busy. Once every week, Ram
Parsad and Balram are sent to the “Jackpot” English Liquor Store to purchase expensive American
whiskey. This is the only time they work as a team. Otherwise they never speak a word to each
other even though they share a room. At night, Balram massages the Stork’s feet, listening to
conversations between the Stork and his two sons: Mukesh Sir (aka “the Mongoose”) and Mr.
Ashok. One day, Mr. Ashok asks Balram to drive him to the village of Laxmangarh. He was born
there and wants to see the village again. The ride to Laxmangarh is tense. Mr. Ashok and his
American wife, Pinky Madam, argue. Pinky Madam demands to know when they will return to
New York. Mr. Ashok dodges the question, and Pinky Madam accuses him of lying to her. When
they arrive in Laxmangarh, Balram’s family comes to see him. They are in awe of his khaki
uniform and the fancy Honda City car. But Balram is in trouble because he hasn’t sent any money
home for months. Granny Kusum threatens to marry him off to keep him in line. Balram does not
want to be married. They argue and he stomps out of the house. When Balram drives Mr. Ashok
and Pinky Madam home, his family gathers at the side of the road to say goodbye. Balram speeds
right past them out of town. He decides to cut ties with his family and never return to Laxmangarh.
During the drive home, Mr. Ashok and Pinky Madam continue to argue about returning to America.
Mr. Ashok says he prefers India. He feels he can accomplish more in India and he likes having
servants. Further down the road, trucks are blocking the way home. A group of men in red
headbands is shouting at a group of men in green headbands. Madam Pinky is alarmed. Balram
promises to continue his story – but first he will have to explain about Democracy. This will have
to wait for the following night because it’s time for him to go back to work. It is 2:44 in the
morning, “the hour of degenerates, drug addicts and Bangalore-based entrepreneurs.”

18.2 Characterisation

Balram Halwai
The narrator Balram Halwai grew up in the fictive village Laxmangarh in India. Like most families
in this region his family is very poor. Furthermore he lost his parents very early. His family
neither gave him a name nor a date of birth. They just called him "Munna" meaning "boy". His
father always wanted him to go to school to learn how to write and to read in reason to give him
better possibilities. At the school he got the name "Balram" by his teacher. One of the most important
facts is that the school inspector named him "The white Tiger "the rarest animal in the jungle

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 137