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The Tiger King
The story 'The Tiger King' is satire on the conceit of those in power. Most of the time the rulers are not interested in serving the people or work for the welfare of the public. Instead they spend their time in foolish pursuits. Even the coteries who surround these power centers are interested in taking advantage of the proximity for their own welfare. This is a story about transience of life, of power and reverberates the maxim: "Too many slips between a cup and a lip."
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Check out a summary:
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About the author
Kalki Krishnamurthy
264 books898 followersTamil language Novel Writer, Journalist, Poet & Critic late Ramaswamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy also known as ‘Kalki’. He derived his pen name from the suffixes of his wife name Kalyani and his name Krishnamurthy in Tamil form கல்யாணி and கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி as Kalki (கல்கி). His name also represents “Kalki avatar”, the tenth and last avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu.
His writings includes over 120 short stories, 10 novelettes, 5 novels, 3 historical romances, editorial and political writings and hundreds of film and music reviews. Krishnamurthy’s witty, incisive comments on politics, literature, music and other forms of art were looked forward to with unceasing interest by readers. He wrote under the pen names of ‘Kalki’, ‘Ra. Ki’, ‘Tamil Theni’, ‘Karnatakam’ and so on.
The success that Krishnamurthy attained in the realm of historical fiction is phenomenal. Sixty years ago, at a time when the literacy level was low and when the English-educated Tamils looked down on writings in Tamil, Kalki’s circulation touched 71,000 copies – the largest for any weekly in the county then – when it serialised his historical novels. Kalki had also the genius to classify the historical and non-historical events, historical and non-historical characters and how much the novel owes to history.
His writings includes over 120 short stories, 10 novelettes, 5 novels, 3 historical romances, editorial and political writings and hundreds of film and music reviews. Krishnamurthy’s witty, incisive comments on politics, literature, music and other forms of art were looked forward to with unceasing interest by readers. He wrote under the pen names of ‘Kalki’, ‘Ra. Ki’, ‘Tamil Theni’, ‘Karnatakam’ and so on.
The success that Krishnamurthy attained in the realm of historical fiction is phenomenal. Sixty years ago, at a time when the literacy level was low and when the English-educated Tamils looked down on writings in Tamil, Kalki’s circulation touched 71,000 copies – the largest for any weekly in the county then – when it serialised his historical novels. Kalki had also the genius to classify the historical and non-historical events, historical and non-historical characters and how much the novel owes to history.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 8, 2022
Kalki takes his readers to the days of autocratic and eccentric kings, who lived under the iron thumb rule of Britishers. Hence they fear them. In order to make the story mysterious Kalki has added a supernatural element in the story. The conceited king disapproved the prediction made by the astrologer about his death. However his demise from the wooden tiger (100th tiger) approved it.
The story lampoons the vanity of the ruling class. Most of the time the rulers are not interested in serving the people or work for the welfare of the public; instead they spend their time foolish pursuits. Even the coteries who surround these power centers are interested in taking advantage of the proximity for their own welfare. This is a story about transience-of life, of power and reverberates the maxim: “Too many slips between a cup and a lip.”
The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram tried to belie what was written in his fate. The result was ironical as well as tragic. The chief astrologer had foretold that the prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are born enemies. Therefore, the tiger would be the only cause of his death.
The self-righteous King banned tiger hunting in the state by anyone except himself. If anybody dared even to throw a stone at a tiger, his wealth and property would be confiscated. The King appeared well set to realise his ambition. Somehow he was able to kill 99 tigers. He needed just one (tiger) to complete the register.
The author employs the literary device of dramatic irony in the story. The irony is that the King thinks himself safe after killing the hundredth tiger.
Hardly does he know that the hundredth tiger didn't die of his bullet but survived. Sardonically, the tiger that caused the death of the Tiger King was not a tiger of flesh and blood. It was a wooden toy-tiger.
The author doesn't comment straight on subjecting innocent animals to the willfulness of human beings. Nowhere has he tried to sermonize or preach against the killing of innocent animals. But there are circuitous hints which show that he has hidden consideration for such wild animals. They are wantonly killed by the likes of the Tiger King. The hundredth tiger took its final revenge upon the Tiger King.
Kalki seems to highlight the extinction of the most beautiful animal due to indiscriminate killings. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram kills seventy tigers in his kingdom. The tiger population in his state becomes extinct. He marries in the royal family of a state having large number of tigers. The Maharaja would kill five or six tigers whenever he visited his father-in-law's kingdom. So he was able to kill 99 tigers in all. Only the hundredth tiger eluded him. And lastly, it appeared in the form of a wooden toy to take revenge upon him.
And there are other themes as well --
How would we describe the behaviour of the Maharaja's minions towards him?
Do we find them truly sincere towards him or are they driven by fear when they obey him?
Do we find a similarity in today's political order?
The behaviour of the Maharaja's minions towards him is driven by fear. Their only aim is to keep him in good humour. His servile followers are overawed by the power and anger of their King. Complete obedience, docile submission and flattery are the features of their behaviour.
First comes the chief astrologer. Even he is scared to speak the truth. He waits for the time and the mood of the king. He tells the prince's death will come from the tiger. He must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.
The behaviour of the dewan offers an interesting study. He is docile, humourless and servile towards his master. He shudders at the sight of the gun of the Maharaja. He is confused and idiotic most of the times. The dewan finds the right girl for the king. The dewan sometimes acts wisely. He arranges for the hundredth tiger for the Maharaja's shooting.
The behaviour of the shopkeeper is a strange blending of flattery and cunningness.
The wooden tiger costs only two annas. He charges three hundred rupees for a price of just two annas. There is surely a similarity in today's political order. We see the politicians lie prostrate before their masters to compliment them.
The story lampoons the vanity of the ruling class. Most of the time the rulers are not interested in serving the people or work for the welfare of the public; instead they spend their time foolish pursuits. Even the coteries who surround these power centers are interested in taking advantage of the proximity for their own welfare. This is a story about transience-of life, of power and reverberates the maxim: “Too many slips between a cup and a lip.”
The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram tried to belie what was written in his fate. The result was ironical as well as tragic. The chief astrologer had foretold that the prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are born enemies. Therefore, the tiger would be the only cause of his death.
The self-righteous King banned tiger hunting in the state by anyone except himself. If anybody dared even to throw a stone at a tiger, his wealth and property would be confiscated. The King appeared well set to realise his ambition. Somehow he was able to kill 99 tigers. He needed just one (tiger) to complete the register.
The author employs the literary device of dramatic irony in the story. The irony is that the King thinks himself safe after killing the hundredth tiger.
Hardly does he know that the hundredth tiger didn't die of his bullet but survived. Sardonically, the tiger that caused the death of the Tiger King was not a tiger of flesh and blood. It was a wooden toy-tiger.
The author doesn't comment straight on subjecting innocent animals to the willfulness of human beings. Nowhere has he tried to sermonize or preach against the killing of innocent animals. But there are circuitous hints which show that he has hidden consideration for such wild animals. They are wantonly killed by the likes of the Tiger King. The hundredth tiger took its final revenge upon the Tiger King.
Kalki seems to highlight the extinction of the most beautiful animal due to indiscriminate killings. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram kills seventy tigers in his kingdom. The tiger population in his state becomes extinct. He marries in the royal family of a state having large number of tigers. The Maharaja would kill five or six tigers whenever he visited his father-in-law's kingdom. So he was able to kill 99 tigers in all. Only the hundredth tiger eluded him. And lastly, it appeared in the form of a wooden toy to take revenge upon him.
And there are other themes as well --
How would we describe the behaviour of the Maharaja's minions towards him?
Do we find them truly sincere towards him or are they driven by fear when they obey him?
Do we find a similarity in today's political order?
The behaviour of the Maharaja's minions towards him is driven by fear. Their only aim is to keep him in good humour. His servile followers are overawed by the power and anger of their King. Complete obedience, docile submission and flattery are the features of their behaviour.
First comes the chief astrologer. Even he is scared to speak the truth. He waits for the time and the mood of the king. He tells the prince's death will come from the tiger. He must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.
The behaviour of the dewan offers an interesting study. He is docile, humourless and servile towards his master. He shudders at the sight of the gun of the Maharaja. He is confused and idiotic most of the times. The dewan finds the right girl for the king. The dewan sometimes acts wisely. He arranges for the hundredth tiger for the Maharaja's shooting.
The behaviour of the shopkeeper is a strange blending of flattery and cunningness.
The wooden tiger costs only two annas. He charges three hundred rupees for a price of just two annas. There is surely a similarity in today's political order. We see the politicians lie prostrate before their masters to compliment them.
March 27, 2023
A short story about a king who, it is foretold, will kill ninety-nine tigers, but the hundredth... it's left at that. So Jung Jung Bahadur, the imperious 'tiger king', sets out to kill the ninety-nine tigers due to him. And a hundredth, never mind the ominous tones of that prophecy.
A brilliant satire about the uselessness of political power, of the hollowness of sycophancy, and more. It's all a farce, from the reason for the Tiger King marrying the woman he does, to what happened to that hundredth tiger, but all of it pokes fun at graver matters.
A brilliant satire about the uselessness of political power, of the hollowness of sycophancy, and more. It's all a farce, from the reason for the Tiger King marrying the woman he does, to what happened to that hundredth tiger, but all of it pokes fun at graver matters.
August 12, 2016
Small, humorous and well written.
The Tiger King is one of most perfectly written short story, I have ever read. Its commentary on ways of Indian Kings during British rule is great - including the pun at very beginning on name of king, the legends that get formed around the king's nature, his blind passion for killing tigers which brought him troubles several times, the truths behind behavior of Royalty and British administration's acts of vanity; and the irony brought in the climax (Which by the way is also a pun on medical practices). All this is composed into a shorty story which is nicely paced and hilarious - enjoyable to anyone who loves reading and has a sense of humor.
The Tiger King is one of most perfectly written short story, I have ever read. Its commentary on ways of Indian Kings during British rule is great - including the pun at very beginning on name of king, the legends that get formed around the king's nature, his blind passion for killing tigers which brought him troubles several times, the truths behind behavior of Royalty and British administration's acts of vanity; and the irony brought in the climax (Which by the way is also a pun on medical practices). All this is composed into a shorty story which is nicely paced and hilarious - enjoyable to anyone who loves reading and has a sense of humor.
April 22, 2024
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“The Tiger King” is a captivating tale that takes young readers on an exciting journey through the vibrant landscapes of ancient South India. Illustrated with stunning visuals, this picture book brings to life the majestic Chola dynasty and its legendary ruler, Emperor Rajendra Chola I.
Through colorful illustrations and engaging storytelling, children will learn about the thrilling adventures of Emperor Rajendra as he navigates the challenges of ruling his kingdom and encounters wild tigers in the jungle. The book beautifully captures the essence of historical India, immersing young readers in a world of ancient palaces, lush forests, and majestic beasts.
With its enchanting illustrations and gripping narrative, “The Tiger King” sparks the imagination of young readers and instills a sense of wonder about the rich tapestry of Indian history. It teaches valuable lessons about courage, leadership, and the importance of protecting wildlife. Overall, “The Tiger King” is a delightful picture book that entertains, educates, and inspires children of all ages. It’s a must-have addition to any young reader’s library, offering a fascinating glimpse into the wonders of ancient India.
“The Tiger King” is a captivating tale that takes young readers on an exciting journey through the vibrant landscapes of ancient South India. Illustrated with stunning visuals, this picture book brings to life the majestic Chola dynasty and its legendary ruler, Emperor Rajendra Chola I.
Through colorful illustrations and engaging storytelling, children will learn about the thrilling adventures of Emperor Rajendra as he navigates the challenges of ruling his kingdom and encounters wild tigers in the jungle. The book beautifully captures the essence of historical India, immersing young readers in a world of ancient palaces, lush forests, and majestic beasts.
With its enchanting illustrations and gripping narrative, “The Tiger King” sparks the imagination of young readers and instills a sense of wonder about the rich tapestry of Indian history. It teaches valuable lessons about courage, leadership, and the importance of protecting wildlife. Overall, “The Tiger King” is a delightful picture book that entertains, educates, and inspires children of all ages. It’s a must-have addition to any young reader’s library, offering a fascinating glimpse into the wonders of ancient India.
April 29, 2013
Many a slip between the cup and the lip
January 1, 2025
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews