- A presentation by

Shahrukh Mehta (Vice-Principal)

VASISHTHA
GENESIS SCHOOL

The Tiger King

- By Kalki
About the Author : Kalki
Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy (9 September 1899 – 5 December 1954),
better known by his pen name Kalki, was an Indian writer, journalist,
poet, critic and Indian independence activist. He was named after
"Kalki", the tenth and last avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu. His writings
include over 120 short stories, 10 novellas, 5 novels, 3 historical
romances, editorial and political writings and hundreds of film and
music reviews.

Krishnamurthy's father was Ramaswamy Aiyar, an accountant in

Puttamangalam village in the old Tanjore district of erstwhile Madras
Presidency. He began his primary education in his village school and
later attended Municipal High School in Mayavaram but quit in 1921,
just short of completion of his Senior School Leaving Certificate, in
response to Mahatma Gandhi's 1921 call for non-co-operation joining
the Indian National Congress instead.
Irony and Satire
• The irony that reveals the follies of autocratic and willful rulers who flout all laws and bend them
to suit their selfish interests.
• The dramatic irony --Tiger King alone is unaware that his bullet had not killed the hundredth
tiger. The other characters and the readers anticipate his doom as he celebrates his triumph
over his destiny.
• The King wanted to prove the astrologer wrong and to save his life. Ironically, to avert death he
actually invites it.
• The lofty titles used to introduce the Tiger King, suggesting an invincible ferocity are indeed
ironic for he is finally killed by a cheap, crudely made wooden toy tiger which became the tool of
Nature’s revenge.
• Irony is indeed sharp when the surgeons announce the operation successful and declare the
king dead.
Instances of Satire
• When the Maharaja of Pratibandhpuram was told that he would be killed by a tiger, he could
never imagine the twist in fate where a toy tiger could be fatal.
• The grandeur associated with a king’s life proves a mockery.
• The story also satirizes the corrupting influence of power. Just because the Tiger King had power,
he felt he could browbeat his subjects and even defeat fate.
• He neglected his responsibility as a ruler. He neglected the welfare of his subjects, his family,
increased and reduced taxes at will and sacked his officers. They feared him or else he would
have learnt the truth.
• When we see the king gloating over his bravery after killing the hundredth old, weak tiger, we
notice that Kalki is satirizing the notions of cowardice and bravery.
• Kalki is also criticizing the King’s men and subjects who pander to his whims out of fear or like
the shopkeeper manipulate and fool him.
Humour in the Tale
• The instance of the Stuka bomber
• The king’s offer of mouse hunt etc.
• The incoherent blabbering by the Dewan and the Chief Astrologer
• The Dewan procuring an old tiger from people’s park and its stubborn refusal to get off the car
and the
• description of its waiting in humble supplication to be shot.
• The shopkeeper quoting three hundred rupees for a cheap two annas and a quarter toy tiger.
Highlights
• This is the story of the Maharaj of Prathibandapuram,His
HignessJamedar-General, Khilendar-Major,
SataVyaghraSamhari,
MaharajadhirajaVisvaBhuvanaSamrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jug
Bahadur,who became known as the Tiger King.
• According to the Legend, when he was born, the
astrologers proclaimed that having been born under a
particular star meant that he would have to die.
• Hearing this the Royal Prince who was then only ten days
old suddenly spoke, much to the astonishment of all those
assembled there.
• The prince wanted to know the manner of his death.
• The Astrologer said that he was born in the hour of the bull.
• The bull and the tiger are enemies; therefore, his death would be caused by the Tiger.
• Listening to this the Prince who was an infant growled and said, “Let tigers beware’.
• The prince grew up with all education and became stronger. He was crowned as the
Maharaj.
• The Maharaja started out on a Tiger Hunt, Killed a Tiger and sent
word for the Astrologer.
• The Astrologer proclaimed that he may kill Ninety-Nine Tigers, but
must be careful with the 100th Tiger.
• The Tiger King challenged him. The Astrologer agreed to set fire to
his Astrology books, cut his Tuff and become an insurance agent if
his prediction became untrue.
 • The King banned Tiger shooting except him.
• If anyone dared to kill a Tiger then all their wealth and property
would be confiscated.
• The Maharaja vowed that he would look into the state affairs only
after killing the tiger.
• In full swing he hunted the Tigers, many a times missed the bullet
but finally he won.
• One day A High ranking British Official visited Prathibandapuram, who
was fond of hunting Tigers wanted to hunt but the Maharaja refused
permission.
• The British official even sent a message that he only wanted to take a
Photograph holding a gun with the carcass a dead Tiger.
• The Maharaja still refused. Now he was in danger of losing his throne,
as he had prevented the British official in full filling his desire.
• To resolve the situation, The Maharaja and the Dewan held deliberations, and finally decided to get
Diamond rings for the British Officer’s Lady .
• They ordered some samples from Calcutta and fifty rings arrived.
• They were sent to her, but instead of choosing one, she retained all and thanked The Maharaja for his
gifts.
• The bill amounted to Rupees Three lakhs.
• The king was happy though he had lost a heavy amount; he managed to retain his Kingdom.
• The King continued to Kill and was in short hunting thirty Tigers.
• Now he decided to marry, ‘a girl in the Royal family of a state
with a large tiger Population’ and married.
• Every time he visited his father-in-law, he would kill five to six
tigers.
• He completed hunting Ninety-Nine Tigers, The Maharaja’s
anxiousness grew. By now, it was difficult to locate Tigers any
where.
• The Maharaja wanted to kill the Hundredth Tiger and give up
Tiger hunting.
 • The Maharaja was worried about killing the Hundredth Tiger.
• One day he came to know that sheep were disappearing from a Hillside village.
• He announced a three year tax exemption for the village and set out for the Tiger Hunt.
• But he couldn’t locate and hunt.
• Many officers lost their jobs.
• One day he called the Dewan and ordered him to double the Land Tax.
• The Dewan found a way out. He brought a tiger from the People’s
Park in Madras and kept it hidden in his house.
• At midnight he and his aged wife dragged the Tiger to the car and
shoved it into the seat.
• The dewan himself drove the car and struggled to pull it down.
• The next day the Tiger wandered in the forest in the sight of the
Maharaja and aimed at it.
• The tiger crumpled heap and the Maharaja was overjoyed
proclaiming that he had killed the Hundredth king and hastened
away in his car.
• The hunters come close and saw that the Tiger rolled its eyes .
• They understood that the King had missed the bullet and the Tiger had
fainted out of shock.
• Fearing that they would lose their jobs one of the hunters took aim and
shot it.
• The dead Tiger was taken in procession through the town and buried.
• A tomb was erected over it.
 • A few days later the maharaja celebrated his son’s third Birthday.
• He wanted to present his a gift.
• He went round for shopping but couldn’t find anything suitable. He spotted a wooden Tiger in a
toyshop and decided it was the perfect gift.
• The shopkeeper cleverly quoted the two annas worth Wooden Tiger for Rupees Three Hundred.
 • One day when the Maharaja and his son were playing with tiny
Wooden Tiger, it had tiny slivers of woods standing like quills all over as
it was carved by an unskilled carpenter.
• One of the slivers pierced the Maharaj’s right Hand and he pulled it out
with his left hand and continued to play.

• The next day infection flared in the Maharaja’s right hand and in four days
it developed into a suppurating sore which spread all over the arm.
• Three surgeons from Madras performed the operation and declared,
“The operation was successful. The Maharaja is dead.”
• As the Astrologer had predicted, the Hundredth Tiger killed him or took
revenge on the Tiger King.
Summary
Thank You
- A presentation by
Shahrukh Mehta (Vice-Principal)
VASISHTHA
GENESIS SCHOOL
At & Po. Baben, Opp. Avadh Life Style, Bardoli Dist : Surat 394601, Gujarat, INDIA
www.vasishthagenesisschool.ac.in | vgsbardoli@gmail.com | +91 91575 44555