The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger

The 2008 Man Booker Prize winner, The White Tiger, is an effortless debut by the Indian born writer Aravind Adiga, in which he reveals the dark side of India, the modern day jungle that still plagues with caste system. The title “White Tiger” is used to suggest person with extraordinary talent or bravery, one who appears only once in a generation. He is one-of-a-kind, bound to success, and is likely to establish a name for himself. Once thus called as a child, the narrator, Balram Halwai, asserts the name and tries all his might to live up to it. The novel consists of Balram’s letters to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, as he explains to the Premier how an Indian entrepreneur like himself comes into being, and the prices needed to be paid along the way.

The analogy between India and the jungle brilliantly captures the workings of Indian society at its transformation. Sadly, everything in India helps preserve its caste clichés, for the changes that take place both politically and economically surprisingly do not affect in any slightest way the traditional values that Indians have been living in. Balram’s case shows that in order to break away from fate, one has to put away all the morals and do whatever it takes, like slaying one’s employer, as in his example. For Balram, since the social working itself is immoral, no conscience is needed in the pursuing of success.

Balram showcases a simple man’s struggle in India. In a country where people are treated like animals, and sometimes worse, Balram alone stands out, for he is the white tiger of the generation, a man of action, and one who is not afraid to fight against fate. On his way to success, he may do things that the readers find hard to agree with; however, in the end he successfully arouses a deep respect from all of us. For in the world where one either sinks deep or rises high, we all need to make difficult decisions at some point. Indeed, there will be sacrifices, and we are bound to regret for whatever step we take; however, it is human survival we are talking about. Coming down to the bottom line, we are all animals, and are all trying in one way or another to survive in this big jungle called society.

Adiga successfully transform what he sees in India into a narrative that is witty, sarcastic and at times shocking. It is a thought-provoking tale that documents a world which is little known to us. Balram’s story is a candid sample on the injustices and drawbacks of social structure that exist not only in India, but every single part of the world. The White Tiger, a novel that deals with a dark matter with such lightness, is a page-turner which embodies everything that reflects the Indian politics, economics and its complex society.