Aravind adiga by anurag

“THE WHITE TIGER”- ARAVIND ADIGA

PRESENTATION BY-

ANURAG MINJ B.A ENGLISH (HONS) WITH

MASS COMMUNICATION.

SEMESTER V. MATS UNIVERSITY.

ABOUT AUTHORARAVIND ADIGA WAS BORN ON 23RD OCTOBER, 1974 IN MADRAS, TAMIL NADU, INDIA. . HE GREW UP IN MANGALORE AND STUDIED AT CANARA HIGH SCHOOL, THEN AT ST. ALOYSIUS HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE HE COMPLETED HIS SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE (SSLC) IN 1990. HE STUDIED ENGLISH LITERATURE AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK.ARAVIND ADIGA IS A JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR, WHO HOLDS DUAL INDIAN AND AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP. HIS DEBUT NOVEL,THE WHITE TIGER, WON THE 2008 MAN BOOKER PRIZE. ADIGA BEGAN HIS JOURNALISTIC CAREER AS A FINANCIAL JOURNALIST, INTERNING AT THE FINANCIAL TIMES. WITH PIECES PUBLISHED IN THE FINANCIAL TIMES, MONEYAND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. HIS REVIEW OF PREVIOUS BOOKER PRIZE WINNER PETER CAREY'S BOOK, OSCAR AND LUCINDA, APPEARED IN THE SECOND CIRCLE. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY HIRED BY TIME, WHERE HE REMAINED A SOUTH ASIA CORRESPONDENT FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE GOING FREELANCE. DURING HIS FREELANCE PERIOD, HE WROTETHE WHITE TIGER. HE CURRENTLY LIVES IN MUMBAI, INDIA.ARAVIND ADIGA'S DEBUT NOVEL,THE WHITE TIGER, WON THE 2008 BOOKER PRIZE. HE IS THE FOURTH INDIAN-BORN AUTHOR TO WIN THE PRIZE, AFTER SALMAN RUSHDIE, ARUNDHATI ROY AND KIRAN DESAI. THE NOVEL STUDIES THE CONTRAST BETWEEN INDIA'S RISE AS A MODERN GLOBAL ECONOMY AND THE LEAD CHARACTER, BALRAM, WHO COMES FROM CRUSHING RURAL POVERTY.

AT A TIME WHEN INDIA IS GOING THROUGH GREAT CHANGES AND, WITH CHINA, IS LIKELY TO INHERIT THE WORLD FROM THE WEST, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WRITERS LIKE ME TRY TO HIGHLIGHT THE BRUTAL INJUSTICES OF SOCIETY (INDIAN). THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO—IT'S NOT AN ATTACK ON THE COUNTRY, IT'S ABOUT THE GREATER PROCESS OF SELF-EXAMINATION, ARAVIND ADIGA.HE EXPLAINED THAT THE CRITICISM BY WRITERS LIKE FLAUBERT, BALZAC AND DICKENS OF THE 19TH CENTURY HELPED ENGLAND AND FRANCE BECOME BETTER SOCIETIES. SHORTLY AFTER WINNING THE PRIZE IT WAS CLAIMED THAT ADIGA HAD SACKED THE AGENT WHO HELPED HIM TO VICTORY—AND TO REACH A DEAL WITH ATLANTIC BOOKS AT THE 2007 LONDON BOOK FAIR. HOWEVER, IT LATER EMERGED THAT THESE STORIES WERE FACTUALLY INCORRECT: ADIGA HAD FIRED HIS AGENT ALMOST A YEAR BEFORE, IN NOVEMBER 2007. ARAVIND ADIGA’S SECOND BOOK, “BETWEEN THE ASSASSINATIONS” WAS PUBLISSHED IN INDIA IN 2008. THE BOOK FEATURES 12 INTERLINKED SHORT STORIES INTERLINKED. HIS THIRD AND SECOND NOVEL PUBLISHED WAS “LAST MAN TOWER” WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN 2011.

INTRODUCTION

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. ARAVIND ADIGA’S THE WHITE TIGER WAS RELEASED TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM AND BECAME A WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER. THE NOVEL WAS A FINALIST FOR THE PEN/ ROBERT BINGHAM FELLOWSHIP FOR WRITERS AND WON ADIGA THE GALAXY BRITISH BOOK AWARD FOR AUTHOR OF THE YEAR. HOWEVER, THE WHITE TIGER SURPASSED THESE HONORS WHEN IT WON THE PRESTIGIOUS BOOKER PRIZE IN 2008.THE WHITE TIGERIS ADIGA’S DEBUT NOVEL, BUT IT FITS NATURALLY INTO HIS CAREER TO DATE. ADIGA WAS WORKING AS A FREELANCE JOURNALIST FOCUSED ON SOUTHEASTERN ASIA WHILE WRITING THE WHITE TIGER.

HE HAS SUGGESTED THAT HIS WORK IS DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT INJUSTICES IN INDIA AND CHINA—MASSIVE GLOBAL ECONOMIES THAT CONTINUE TO HAVE LARGE POPULATIONS LIVING IN POVERTY. WITH HIS CHARISMATIC AND COMPLEX NARRATOR, WHO HAS RISEN FROM SERVANT TO MASTER OF HIS OWN FLEET WITH SIXTEEN DRIVERS, ADIGA IS ABLE TO EXPLORE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN AN “INDIA OF LIGHT, AND AN INDIA OF DARKNESS.” CRITICS PRAISE ADIGA’S DISCUSSION OF INDIA’S SOCIAL CHANGES, PARTICULARLY HIS ABILITY TO DEFY EXPECTATIONS. IF ADIGA IS WRITING SOCIAL CRITICISM IN THE TRADITION OF CHARLES DICKENS, ADAM LIVELY POINTS OUT THAT ADIGA STANDS AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM OF REPRESENTATIONS OF POVERTY FROM THOSE IMAGES OF DOE-EYED CHILDREN.

THE WHITE TIGERSYNOPSIS-BALRAM HALWAI (PROTAGONIST) IS THE WHITE TIGER - THE SMARTEST BOY IN HIS VILLAGE. HIS FAMILY IS TOO POOR FOR HIM TO AFFORD FOR HIM TO FINISH SCHOOL AND HE HAS TO WORK IN A TEASHOP, BREAKING COALS AND WIPING TABLES. BUT BALRAM GETS HIS BREAK WHEN A RICH MAN HIRES HIM AS A CHAUFFEUR, AND TAKES HIM TO LIVE IN DELHI. THE CITY IS A REVELATION. AS HE DRIVES HIS MASTER TO SHOPPING MALLS AND CALL CENTRES, BALRAM BECOMES INCREASINGLY AWARE OF IMMENSE WEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY ALL AROUND HIM, WHILE KNOWING THAT HE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THAT WORLD. AS BALRAM BROODS OVER HIS SITUATION, HE REALIZES THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY HE CAN BECOME PART OF THIS GLAMOROUS NEW INDIA - BY MURDERING HIS MASTER. THE WHITE TIGER PRESENTS A RAW AND UNROMANTICISED INDIA, BOTH THRILLING AND SHOCKING - FROM THE DESPERATE, ALMOST LAWLESS VILLAGES ALONG THE GANGES, TO THE BOOMING WILD SOUTH OF BANGALORE AND ITS TECHNOLOGY AND OUTSOURCING CENTRES. THE FIRST-PERSON CONFESSION OF A MURDERER, THE WHITE TIGER IS AS COMPELLING FOR ITS SUBJECT MATTER AS FOR THE VOICE OF ITS NARRATOR - AMORAL, CYNICAL, UNREPENTANT, YET DEEPLY ENDEARING.

SYNOPSISTHE WHITE TIGER IS AT ONCE A CLASSIC RAGS TO RICHES STORY, A MURDER STORY, AND A BRUTAL CRITIQUE OF THE INEQUALITIES IN INDIAN SOCIETY. IT IS TOLD THROUGH THE FORM OF AN ONGOING LETTER TO THE CHINESE PREMIER, WHO IS TO VISIT INDIA TO LEARN LESSONS ABOUT 'ENTREPRENEURSHIP', FROM BALRAM HALWAI.BALRAM, THE 'WHITE TIGER' IS BORN IN THE DARKNESS, THE NAME GIVEN TO POOR, RURAL INDIA. HE WORKS IN A TEA-SHOP, BUT HAS AMBITIONS TO RAISE HIMSELF OUT OF POVERTY, AND MANAGES TO GET A JOB WORKING AS A CHAUFFEUR FOR A WEALTHY, CORRUPT BUSINESSMAN. HE FOLLOWS HIM TO DELHI, WHERE HE LIVES IN CRAMPED AND DIRTY SERVANTS QUARTERS IN THE BASEMENT OF HIS MASTER'S LUXURY APARTMENT BLOCK. WHEN HIS MASTER'S WIFE RUNS OVER AND KILLS A STREET CHILD, HE IS ALMOST FORCED INTO A CONFESSION IN ORDER TO SAVE HER.INCENSED BY THIS, AND THE STARK INEQUALITIES HE LIVES WITH, AND THE PRECARIOUSNESS OF HIS OWN POSITION, HE PLOTS A WAY OUT OF THIS WORLD WHERE AN INNOCENT MAN CAN JAILED FOR A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT TO SAVE HIS MASTER'S SKIN. HE MURDERS HIM, AND ESCAPES TO BANGALORE WITH HIS MONEY, WHERE HE IS ABLE TO START A NEW LIFE AS THE OWNER OF A TAXI COMPANY, EMPLOYING MANY OTHERS. HE HAS COME OUT OF THE DARKNESS, AND INTO THE LIGHT.

THE PROTAGONISTINTRODUCING 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 CULTURES; THE WATER BUFFALO AND, TRAPPED IN SO MANY KINDS OF CAGES THAT ESCAPE IS (ALMOST) IMPOSSIBLE, 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. SOLD IN SIXTEEN COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, THE WHITE TIGER RECALLS THE DEATH OF VISHNU ANDBANGKOK 8 IN AMBITION, SCOPE, AND NARRATIVE GENIUS, WITH A MISCHIEF AND PERSONALITY ALL ITS OWN. AMORAL, IRREVERENT, DEEPLY ENDEARING, AND UTTERLY CONTEMPORARY, THIS NOVEL IS AN INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING SENSATION -- AND A STARTLING, PROVOCATIVE DEBUT.

NARRATIVE STYLETHE BASIC PREMISE OF THIS NOVEL IS THAT A FIRST PERSON NARRATOR, BALRAM HALWAI, WRITES A SERIES OF LETTERS TO THE CHINESE PREMIER WEN JIABAO, WHO HEARS ON THE RADIO THAT HE WANTS TO "KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT BANGALORE." BALRAM HALWAI, IN HIS UNIQUE AND RATHER SARCASTIC VOICE, SEEKS TO PROVIDE THE PREMIER WITH THE TRUTH FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE AS HE REVEALS THE TROUBLING INCONSISTENCIES AND TERRIBLE CRUELTIES IN INDIA.STYLISTICALLY, THE MAJOR ASPECT OF THE NOVEL IS THE VOICE OF BALRAM HALWAI AND HOW HE MANAGES TO PRESENT INDIA TO US WHILST ALSO SHOWING HIMSELF TO BE A SYMPATHETIC CHARACTER WITH DISARMING ELEGANCE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NO MEAN FEAT WHEN WE REMEMBER THAT BALRAM IS A SELF-CONFESSED AND UNASHAMED KILLER. HE LAYS BEFORE US THE GRITTY REALITIES OF MODERN-DAY INDIA WITH ITS TERRIBLE POVERTY AND PRESENTS THE SITUATION OF TRYING TO ALLEVIATE ANY OF THOSE CONDITONS AS BEING ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS. THE VOICE OF BALRAM IS CERTAINLY VERY CAPTIVATING AS HE LEADS US THROUGH HIS JOURNEY FROM RURAL POVERTY TOWARDS URBAN SUCCESS AND THE VARIOUS CHARACTERS AND EVENTS HE SEES ALONG THE WAY.

SUMMARY“My country is the kind where it pays to play it both ways: the Indian entrepreneur has to be straight and crooked, mocking and believing, sly and sincere, at the same time.” “Those who live in this place call it the Darkness. Please understand, Your Excellency, that India is two countries in one: an India of Light, and an India of Darkness. The ocean brings light to my country. Every place on the map of India near the ocean is well off. But the river brings darkness to India—the black river.”

- THE WHITE TIGER.BALRAM WRITES AN EMAIL TO THE CHINESE PRIME-MINSTER MR. JIABAO WHO WANTS TO VISIT BANGALORE TO GET TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT LIVING IN IT. HE TELLS ABOUT HIS LIFE AND DESCRIBES HIS VILLAGE LAXMANGARH WHICH IS IN THE DISTRICT OF THE RURAL GAYA. BALRAM CALLS HIMSELF HALF-BAKED BECAUSE HE NEVER COMPLETED SCHOOL AND IS HALF-EDUCATED. THEREFORE HIS IDEAS ARE HALF FORMED, HALF-DIGESTED AND HALF CORRECT AND HE EVEN GETS HIS NAME BY HIS TEACHER DUE TO THE FACT THAT HIS PARENTS JUST NAMED HIM “MUNNA”, WHICH MEANS BOY. THE TEACHER BACKS HIM UP AND CALLS HIM “THE WHITE TIGER” CONSIDERING THAT THE WHITE TIGER IS THE RAREST ANIMAL IN THE JUNGLE AND APPEARES ONLY ONCE IN A GENERATION.

HIS HOME HASN'T GOT ELECTRICITY OR A WATER TAP BUT A BUFFALO WHICH IS BETTER FED BY THE WOMEN THAN THE MEN. BALRAM TALKS ABOUT HIS DAD WHO IS A HARD WORKING RICKSHAW-PULLER AND HIS MUM WHO DIED. LATER ON HIS BROTHER KISHAN FETCHES HIM TO GO TO THE TEA SHOP AND SINCE THIS DAY SCHOOLING IS FINISHED FOR HIM AND HE HAS TO WORK IN THE SHOP. AFTER HIS FATHER DIED OF TUBERCULOSIS HIS BROTHER KISHAN TAKES CARE OF HIM AND MARRIES ONE MONTH LATER. NEVERTHELESS BALRAM AND KISHAN PACK OFF TO DHANBAD WITH THEIR COUSIN DILIP.THEY ALL GET WORK IN A TEASHOP BUT BALRAM IS FIRED BECAUSE OF SPYING ON EVERY CUSTOMER IN THE SHOP.THEREFORE HE IS INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CAR-DRIVER.MOREOVER HE WOULD EARN MUCH MONEY BUT HE ISN’T ABLE TO PAY FOR THE DRIVING LESSONS.KISHAN AND DILIP HAND DOWN GOOD NEWS TO HIM BECAUSE HIS GRANDMOTHER, WHO ASKS FOR REMEMBERING HER IF HE GETS RICH, AGREES TO INVEST IN THE LESSONS.BESIDES BALRAM HAS TO SEND EVERY RUPEE HE EARNS BACK.HIS TEACHER IS VERY STRICT AND SLAPS HIM EACH TIME BALRAM MAKES A MISTAKE NEVERTHELESS HE IS SATISFIED WITH HIM IN THE END AND HE TAKES HIM TO A FIREWORK AS REWARD.AFTER BALRAM HAS FINISHED HIS LESSONS HE SEARCHES FOR A HOUSEHOLD WHICH NEEDS A DRIVER.

ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT AS SUCCESSFUL AS HE HAS EXPECTED HE KEEPS TRYING AND IS ACCEPTED FINALLY AFTER HE TELLS HIS NEW MASTERS MR ASHOK, THE STORK AND MUKESH SIR HE’S FROM LAXMANGARH.HE MAKES A DRIVING TEST IN A MARUTI SUZUKI WITH THEM.BALRAM DOESN’T WANT ANY MONEY FROM HIS MASTERS BUT THEY WANT HIM TO ACCEPT IT.IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF MR ASHOK, MUKESH SIR AND THE STORK HE IS TREATED VERY WELL. THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH FOOD, HE GETS A UNIFORM AND HE SHARES A ROOM WITH ANOTHER SERVANT, CALLED RAM PRASAD.IN CONTRAST TO RAM WHO HAS A BED TO SLEEP BALRAM HAS TO LIE ON THE FLOOR, BUT FOR HIM IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN SLEEPING ON THE ROAD.RAM IS THE NUMBER ONE DRIVER BUT IF HE IS BUSY BALRAM IS ALLOWED TO DRIVE HIS MASTERS INSTEAD OF MAKING TEA OR SWEEPING THE FLOOR.BECAUSE THE MASTERS LIKE TO DRINK WHISKEY RAM AND BALRAM HAVE TO BUY THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE IN THE ENGLISH LIQUOR SHOP, ‘JACKPOT’.ONE MORNING MR ASHOK’S WIFE PINKY MADAM, WHO ACTUALLY PLAYS BADMINTON WITH HER HUSBAND, KNOCKS ON BALRAM’S DOOR AND LIKES TO PLAY WITH HIM BUT IN CONTRAST TO RAM HE’S VERY BAD IN IT.MR ASHOK WANTS HIS SERVANTS TO MOVE IN ANOTHER ROOM, A BETTER ONE WITH TWO SEPARATED BEDS AND MORE PRIVACY. HE EVEN TELLS BALRAM HE WAS ALSO BORN IN LAXMANGARH AND ORDERS TO DRIVE HIM AND HIS WIFE TO HIS BIRTHPLACE.

PINKY MADAM THINKS ABOUT A RETURN DATE IN NEW YORK BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO GO BACK TO AMERICA.AFTER THEY HAVE EATEN AT THE STORK’S MANSION BALRAM’S FAMILY ARRIVES AND TAKES A LOOK AT “HIS” CAR, THE HONDA CITY, WITH PRIDE.LATER AT HOME HIS GRANDMOTHER WANTS HIM TO MARRY EVEN THOUGH HE ISN’T READY YET. WHEN HE COMES DOWN THE HILL MR ASHOK AND PINKY MADAM WAIT FOR HIM AT THE CAR AT THE STORK’S MANSION BECAUSE THEY HAD WONDERED WHERE HE HAS BEEN. PINKY MADAM ASKS ABOUT NEW YORK AGAIN BUT REGARDING INDIA’S DEVELOPMENT AND THE SERVANTS WHO ARE PART OF THE FAMILY ALREADY, MR ASHOK WOULD RATHER STAY IN INDIA.AN UNIFORMED MAN CAME TO SCHOOL FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION TO WRITE DOWN THE PUPILS AGES. DUE TO THE FACT THAT BALRAM DOES NOT KNOW HIS AGE THE MAN SAYS HE IS EIGHTEEN AND ABLE TO VOTE FROM NOW ON AND THIS DAY IS HIS BIRTHDAY. DURING HIS WORK IN THE TEA-SHOP HE EAVESDROPS A DIALOGUE SAYING A MAN WAS KILLED WHO WAS DISTURBING THE OFFICIAL CELEBRATION OF THE SOCILIALIST ELECTION-WIN. AFTER IT BALRAM TALKS ABOUT THE VISIT OF THE GREAT SOCIALIST AND VIJAY LAXMANGARH'S NEW DEPUTY WHO IS THE FORMER BUS CONDUCTER. AT HIS MASTER'S - MR. ASHOK - HOME BALRAM FINDS OUT THAT THE OTHER DRIVER RAM, WHO HIS SERVANT NUMBER ONE IS A MUSLIM. THE STORKS DISAPPROVES OF THIS RELIGION AND THINKS THAT RAM IS A HINDU, BALRAM THREATENS RAM. FINALLY RAM IS AFRAID TO BE DISCOVERED AND LEAVES MR. ASHOK'S HOME. BALRAM BECOMES THE SERVANT NUMBER ONE.

HE EXPLAINS THAT THE NAMES AND NUMBERS OF THE SEVERAL STREETS DO NOT FOLLOW ANY SYSTEM OF LOGIC, WHICH SERVES AS A TRANSITION TO HIS DUTIES AS A DRIVER IN DELHI. WHILST DRIVING MR. ASHOK, MUKESH SIR AND PINKY MADAM AROUND THE CITY TO DROP THEM OFF AT A MALL, BALRAM GETS CONSTANTLY MOCKED BY MUKESH SIR FOR GETTING LOST ALL THE TIME AND IMMEDIATELY PROTECTED BY MR. ASHOK WHO FEELS PITY FOR HIM.SINCE BALRAM CAN’T ENTER THE MALL LIKE ALL SERVANTS HE WAITS AMONG THE OTHER DRIVERS IN FRONT OF THE MALL. HE NOTICES A MAGAZINE CALLED “MURDER WEEKLY” THAT FEATURES VIOLENT STORIES ABOUT FICTIONAL MURDERS IN DETAIL THAT SEEM TO FASCINATE MOST OF THE SERVANTS. AFTER DRIVING HIS MASTERS HOME, FURTHER MOCKERY FROM MUKESH SIR AND CLEANING THE CAR BALRAM RETURNS TO THE SERVANTS’ QUARTER IN THE BASEMENT OF THE BUILDING HIS MASTERS ARE LIVING IN. THERE HE GETS MOCKED AND ABUSED BY THE OTHER SERVANTS UNTIL HE DECIDES TO MOVE IN A LITTLE ROOM WHERE HE CAN BE ALONE EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN HORRIBLE SHAPE AND FULL OF ROACHES. THE NEXT DAY BALRAM GETS TO DRIVE MR. ASHOK AND MUKESH SIR TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CONGRESS PARTY WHERE HE HAS TO WAIT FOR TWO HOURS AFTER DROPPING THEM OFF. WHILE HE SUSPECTS HIS MASTERS TO BE BRIBING SOME POLITICIAN HE IS IMPRESSED BY HIS SURROUNDINGS, SUCH AS THE PRESIDENTS HOUSE, AND FEELS A STRONG NEED TO BELONG TO THE UPPER PART OF THE CITY. WHILST CONTINUING HIS DUTIES BALRAM SUSPECTS A CRISIS IN THE RELATIONSHIP OF MR. ASHOK AND PINKY MADAM AND HAS TO FACE FURTHER ABUSE FROM MUKESH SIR UNTIL HE HAS TO DROP HIM OFF AT THE RAILWAY ONE DAY LEAVING ASHOK AS HIS ONLY MASTER. THROUGHOUT THE TIME HE GETS YELLED BY PINKY MADAM FOR HIS LOW HYGIENE BALRAM FEELS A STRANGE ATTRACTION TOWARDS HER WHICH HE SUPPRESSES SINCE THE TENSION BETWEEN HER AND MR. ASHOK SEEMS TO BE GROWING

. THEY BOND ONCE AGAIN OVER MOCKING BALRAM TOGETHER ON ANOTHER TRIP TO THE MALL WHERE BALRAM RE-JOINS THE OTHER DRIVERS WAITING IN FRONT OF IT. WHILE THE OTHER DRIVERS ARE BUSY READING THE NEWEST EDITION OF “MURDER WEEKLY” BALRAM NOTICES THAT SERVANTS ARE BEING KEPT OUT OF THE MALL AND THAT THE BOUNCERS ARE IDENTIFYING THEM BY THEIR CLOTHING. THEREFORE HE FIGURES THAT HE HAS TO BUY PROPER CLOTHING IN ORDER TO GET INTO THE MALL HIMSELF, WHICH HE DOES LATER ON AFTER HAVING BOUGHT NEW SHOES, CLOTHES AND TOOTHPASTE.APART OF THIS EXCITING NEW EXPERIENCE BALRAM HAS TO FACE FURTHER HUMILIATION BY PINKY MADAM AND MR. ASHOK WHO MAKE HIM DRESS UP AS A MAHARAJA FOR THEIR OWN AMUSEMENT AND HAVING HIM DRIVE THEM TO A PARTY WHERE HE HAS TO WAIT WITH THE OTHER DRIVERS ONCE AGAIN. ON THE WAY BACK AN INTOXICATED PINKY MADAM BUYS A LITTLE BUDDHA STATUE FOR BALRAM AND THEN INSISTS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HERSELF, LEAVING BALRAM ALONE ON THE ROAD.THIS TURNS OUT TO BE ANOTHER MOCKERY SINCE MR. ASHOK AND PINKY MADAM PRETEND TO RUN OVER BALRAM AND THEN PICK HIM UP AGAIN TO CONTINUE DRIVING HOME.

DURING THE TOUR THEY COMMIT A HIT-AND-RUN ON A POOR CHILD AND FORCE BALRAM TO COVER IT UP BY CLEANING THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. IN RESPONSE MUKESH SIR RETURNS ON THE NEXT DAY THAT TREATS BALRAM REALLY NICE FOR THE FIRST TIME WHILE MR. ASHOK IS STILL BUSY COMFORTING PINKY MADAM WHO SUFFERED A SEVERE SHOCK.IT TURNS OUT THE BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE OF MUKESH SIR TOWARDS BALRAM ONLY SERVED THE PURPOSE TO EASE HIM IN INTO TAKING THE BLAME FOR THE WHOLE INCIDENT, THUS BALRAM IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO JAIL INSTEAD OF THEM.THEN BALRAM DESCRIBES THE PRINCIPLE OF THE ROOSTER COOP. IN A ROOSTER COOP, ALL CHICKENS ARE STUFFED TOGETHER TIGHTLY. THEY ARE SO BUSY TRYING TO FIND A BREATHING SPACE IN ORDER TO KEEP ALIVE THAT THEY DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT BREAKING OUT OF THE COOP. IN BALRAM’S OPINION, 99.9 % OF THE INDIANS, THE SERVANTS, ARE IMPRISONED IN SUCH A ROOSTER COOP BY THE RICH. ALTHOUGH THESE MEN HAVE THE SAME ABILITIES AS THE RICH, THEY WERE TAUGHT TO BE SLAVES SO WELL THAT THEY DON’T MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO BREAK OUT OF THE COOP. FURTHERMORE, THEY KNOW THAT THEIR FAMILIES WILL BE AS GOOD AS DEAD IF THEY SHOULD TRY TO BETRAY THEIR MASTERS.

WHEN BALRAM IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO JAIL FOR THE HIT-AND-RUN COMMITTED BY PINKY MADAM, HE FEELS LIKE BEING TRAPPED IN THIS COOP AND NOT ABLE TO BREAK OUT OF IT. HE IS SO TERRIFIED THAT HE DOESN’T EVEN THINK ABOUT RUNNING AWAY. FORTUNATELY, NOBODY HAS REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND BALRAM DOESN’T HAVE TO GO TO PRISON. THE ONE WHO DELIVERS THIS MESSAGE TO BALRAM IS PINKY MADAM – SHE IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE FAMILY WHO ACTUALLY SEEMS TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE UNKNOWN CHILD. BALRAM REALISES THAT THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE FAMILY IS NOT THE BEST. PINKY MADAM APPEARS QUITE UPSET, AND SOME DAYS LATER SHE COMMANDS HIM TO DRIVE HER TO THE AIRPORT AT TWO IN THE MORNING.WHEN MR ASHOK REALISES THAT HIS WIFE HAS LEFT HIM FOR GOOD, HE TURNS HIS ANGER ON BALRAM, UNTIL THE LATTER KICKS HIM IN THE CHEST TO STOP HIM. MR ASHOK DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. HE SPENDS MUCH TIME BEING DRUNK AND BEING DRIVEN AROUND THROUGH DELHI AIMLESSLY. IT MELTS BALRAM’S HEART TO SEE HIS MASTER SO LOST AND POWERLESS AND HE GIVES HIS BEST TRYING TO DISTRACT HIM AND CARE FOR HIM. HE THINKS THAT IT IS HIS DUTY TO BE LIKE A WIFE TO MR ASHOK NOW THAT PINKY MADAM IS GONE. THE MASTER-SERVANT-RELATIONSHIP BECOMES QUITE CLOSE. STILL, BALRAM CAN’T TELL WHERE HIS SINCERE CONCERN FOR HIS MASTER ENDS AND HIS SELF-INTEREST BEGINS – WITHOUT MR ASHOK HE WOULDN’T HAVE ANY JOB AND MONEY.

THE BEGINNING INTIMACY BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM COMES TO A SUDDEN END WHEN THE MONGOOSE ARRIVES FROM DHANBAD AND MR. ASHOK TELLS HIM THAT HE IS GLAD TO HAVE ‘SOMEONE REAL’ BY HIS SIDE AGAIN. THE MONGOOSE HAS A LETTER FROM BALRAM’S GRANDMOTHER AND READS IT ALOUD FOR HIM – ALTHOUGH BALRAM CAN RED: SHE WANTS HIM TO SEND MORE MONEY AND TO COME HOME IN ORDER TO MARRY. THE NEXT MORNING, BALRAM FINDS MR. ASHOK MASSAGING HIS FEET HIMSELF. IMMEDIATELY, THE SERVANT BRED INTO HIM GRABS THE FEET OF HIS MASTER, WHICH REALLY UPSETS MR. ASHOK AND MAKES HIM SHOUT ‘HOW STUPID CAN YOU PEOPLE GET?’REFLECTING THIS SITUATION, THE THOUGHT OF MURDER CROSSES BALRAM’S MIND FOR THE FIRST TIME (‘I HAD A VISION OF A PALE STIFF FOOT PUSHING THROUGH A FIRE. “NO,” I SAID.’). BALRAM IS OBSERVED BY THEM AND AS LONG AS HE IS, HE CAN’T BREAK OUT OF THE COOP, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY GUARDED FROM THE INSIDE.BALRAM COMES TO DESCRIBING HOW HE CHANGED FROM AN INNOCENT VILLAGE BOY TO A CORRUPTED MAN. HE CLAIMS THAT THESE CHANGES JUST HAPPENED IN HIM BECAUSE THEY FIRST HAPPENED IN HIS MASTER. HAVING BEEN ALONE FOR SOME TIME, MR. ASHOK STARTS GOING TO DISCOS. IN THE SMALL CAR, BALRAM CAN FEEL THAT HIS MASTER IS HORNY AS IF THEY WOULD SHARE THE SAME BODY. WHEN MR. ASHOK LEAVES THE HOTEL, HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY A NEPALESE LOOKING GIRL. THE FACT THAT HIS STILL MARRIED MASTER BETRAYS HIS WIFE DRIVES BALRAM FURIOUS. AS HE WAITS FOR THE TWO OF THEM TO COME OUT OF A CINEMA, HE TALKS TO A BOOK SELLER, WHO IS SURE THAT THE NAXALS ARE PLANNING SOME KIND OF REVOLUTIONARY CIVIL WAR. AFTER DRIVING MR. ASHOK AND THE GIRL HOME, HE TAKES THE CAR FOR A RIDE ON HIS OWN, LISTENING TO LOUD MUSIC, AND SPITS ON THE SEATS AFTERWARDS.

AS HE EAVESDROPS ON HIS MASTER THE NEXT MORNING, HE REALISES THAT THE GIRL – UMA – IS MR. ASHOK’S OLD LOVER. HE FEELS GUILTY FOR HAVING CONDEMNED HIS MASTER AND PUNISHES HIMSELF BY PINCHING HIS PALM. MR. ASHOK TELLS UMA THAT SHE CAN TRUST BALRAM BECAUSE HE IS ‘STUPID AS HELL, BUT HONEST’. THE TWO PASSENGERS DRINK WHISKY IN THE CAR AND THEN GO TO PICK UP A BLONDE WHORE FROM UKRAINE WHO LOOKS LIKE THE FAMOUS ACTRESS KIM BASINGER. MR. ASHOK SAYS THAT HE SEES SOMEONE AND DOESN’T NEED A WHORE, BUT HE CAN’T GET OUT OF THE SITUATION. BALRAM WANTS TO GIVE HIM ADVICE, BUT HE IS JUST THE DRIVER. WHEN MR. ASHOK FOLLOWS THE ASSISTANT AND THE WHORE INSIDE A HOTEL, HE LOOKS LIKE A GUILTY LITTLE BOY. BALRAM SWEARS TO DEFEND HIS MASTER’S HONOUR BECAUSE THE LATTER COULDN’T DEFEND HIM AGAINST BEING CORRUPTED BY OTHERS.AS HE DRIVES THROUGH DELHI, HE FEELS AS IF THE CITY WOULD UNDERSTAND HIM.WHILE MR. ASHOK IS JOGGING AROUND THE BLOCK BALRAM SUDDENLY ASKS VITILIGO-LIPS FOR A GOLDEN-HAIRED PROSTITUTE. VITILIGO-LIPS WANT TO ARRANGE SOMETHING FOR HIM.BALRAM SAYS THERE ARE FOUR WAYS FOR A SERVANT TO BETRAY HIS MASTER TO GET EXTRA CASH: 1ST HE CAN SELL PETROL FROM THE CAR. 2ND HE CAN GO TO A CORRUPT MECHANIC AND INFLATE THE PRICE THAT IS TO PAY AND KEEP THE REST FOR HIMSELF. 3RD HE CAN SELL THE EMPTY WHISKY BOTTLES. 4TH HE CAN USE THE CAR AS A FREELANCE TAXI. HE NEVER HAD CHEATED HIS MASTER BEFORE BUT HE STARTS TO DO THAT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND EVEN FEELS RAGE INSTEAD OF GUILT WHILE DOING IT. LATER HE WILL BE ASHAMED OF HIS BEHAVIOR.

“THE MORE I STOLE FROM HIM, THE MORE I REALIZE HOW MUCH HE HAD STOLEN FROM ME.”THE MOMENT HE HAS ENOUGH MONEY HE GOES TO VITILIGO-LIPS AGAIN AND ASKS FOR THE PROSTITUTE -NOT FOR HIS MASTER MR. ASHOK BUT FOR HIMSELF. ALTHOUGH SHE IS GOLDEN-HAIRED SHE ISN’T AS PRETTY AS THE WOMEN MR. ASHOK HAS MET. NEVERTHELESS THINGS START TO HAPPEN AND SUDDENLY BALRAM JUMPS OUT OF THE BED BECAUSE HE HAS DISCOVERED SOMETHING HE IS NOT ABLE TO STAND. THE HAIR HAS BEEN DYED ONLY. HE LEAVES AND IN CONSEQUENCE HE HAD SPENT ALL HIS MONEY FOR NOTHING.BALRAM ARRIVES AT HIS ROOM AND DISCOVERS A SURPRISE THERE. MR. ASHOK IS SITTING ON HIS BED AND SAYS HE WOULD KNOW WHERE BALRAM HAS BEEN. THE SHOCKING MOMENT PASSES FAST BECAUSE MR. ASHOK WAS TOLD THAT HE HAS BEEN AT THE TEMPLE.WITHOUT ANY INDICATION MR. ASHOK NAMES HIS DISSATISFACTION WITH HIS LIFE. HE THINKS EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE WRONG. IN HIS OPINION ACTUALLY BALRAM’S LIFE IS MORE LIVEABLE. THEREFORE MR. ASHOK WANTS BALRAM TO SHOW HIM HIS LIFE. HE HAS DINNER WITH HIM. BALRAM CAN’T UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BE LIKE MR. ASHOK.MUKESH COMES TO TOWN AGAIN. HE PERSUADES MR. ASHOK TO MARRY AGAIN. BUT AS MR. ASHOK IS ABLE TO CONVINCE HIM TO LEAVE SOME TIME TO FIND A WOMAN BY HIMSELF.MUKESH GIVES HIM A RED BAG WITH LOTS OF MONEY INSIDE. HE HAS TO BRING IT TO THE MINISTER AGAIN.AS THEY ARE WAITING IN A TRAFFIC JAM SOME BEGGARS COME ALONG THE ROAD. WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT BALRAM GIVES THEM ONE RUPEE. THE MONGOOSE GETS REALLY ANGRY AND SHOUTS AT HIM. WATCHING BALRAM HE KEEPS HIS EYES ON THE REARVIEW MIRROR THE WHOLE DRIVE. LATER IN THEIR APARTMENT THE MONGOOSE CHECKS THE BREATH OF BALRAM BECAUSE HE THINKS HE WAS DRINKING AND SENDS HIM AWAY ANGRILY.WHEN MUKESH LEAVES SOME DAYS LATER BALRAM DANCES AROUND THE PLATFORM AT THE TRAIN STATION THE MOMENT THE TRAIN DISAPPEARS.AS MR. ASHOK IS ON THE PHONE AGAIN BALRAM HAS TO BRING THE RED BAG FULL OF MONEY DOWNSTAIRS TO THE CAR. MR. ASHOK WOULD FOLLOW IN A MINUTE. AS BALRAM IS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE ELEVATOR HE SUDDENLY TURNS AROUND AS IF HE IS ON THE RUN AND RUNS FAST DOWN THE STAIRS. THE READER IS LEFT IN ONE MOMENT OF UNCERTAINTY. HOWEVER SOME TIME LATER BALRAM IS WAITING FOR HIS MASTER IN THE CAR WITH THE RED BAG AND ALL HIS UNTOUCHED MONEY ON THE BACKSEAT.

AS HE IS TALKING TO THE CITY WHILE HE IS DRIVING MR. ASHOK TO THE MINISTER AGAIN DELHI TELLS HIM THAT THE MONEY TRULY BELONGS TO BALRAM AND NO ONE ELSE.“IN YOUR HEART YOU’VE ALREADY TAKEN IT.” (P.245)BALRAM IS IN A REALLY BAD CONFLICT WITH HIS CONSCIENCE. IF HE FULFILS HIS PLAN HIS FAMILY WILL BE IN DANGER AND HE WOULD DISAPPOINT HIS FATHER WHO WANTED HIM TO BE AN HONEST MAN. ON THE OTHER HAND HIS FATHER WANTED HIM TO BE A MAN AND HIS FAMILY IS FOR A LONG TIME FAR AWAY FROM HIM. MOREOVER MR. ASHOK GAVE BALRAM THE BLAME FOR THE CAR ACCIDENT AND THE CHILD’S DEATH.FULFILLED WITH THESE THOUGHTS HE GOES TO THE TRAIN STATION SECRETLY AND WITHOUT ANY OBVIOUS REASON.“SO THIS IS WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE.” HE THINKS FOR HIMSELF AS IF HE IS PRACTICING HIS ESCAPE.BALRAM GETS A FREE DAY TELLING HIS MASTER HE WOULD GO TO THE TEMPLE ALTHOUGH IT IS A LIE. HE WANTS TO GO TO THE FAMOUS “RED-LIGHT-DISTRICT” IN DELHI. THOUGH HE CHANGES HIS MIND SEEING THE WOMEN BEHIND THE GLASSES LOOKED LIKE ANIMALS.SO HE GOES STRAIGHT ON TO AN OLDER PART OF THE CITY. BALRAM GETS TO A SECONDHAND MARKET WHERE BOOKS ARE SOLD. IT’S REALLY IMPRESSIVE FOR HIM. THEREFORE HE NAMES IT “WONDER OF THE WORLD”. THERE HE MEETS AN OLD BOOKSELLER. THIS MAN TELLS HIM A LOT ABOUT POETRY AND POETS.THIS POINT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR BALRAM.MOVED BY THIS HAPPENING THE SERVANT AWAKES AGAIN AND HE WANTS TO TELL MR. ASHOK ABOUT HIS SECRET, BUT HIS MASTER DOESN’T LISTEN. IN CONTRAST HE THINKS BALRAM WANTS TO MARRY AND GIVES HIM MONEY FOR THE FESTIVITY.THE NEXT DAY BALRAM GOES UNINTENTIONALLY TO THE SLUMS OF DELHI. HE THROWS ALL THE RUPEES HE GOT FROM HIS MASTER AWAY FOR THE NON-EXISTING WEDDING.

AS HE COMES HOME HE IS IN A REAL RAGE BUT IMMEDIATELY STOPPED BY A BOY. THIS BOY IS DHARAM, HIS NEPHEW, WHO IS SENT TO BALRAM. HE SHOULD HELP AND FIND SOMETHING TO WORK FOR HIM. PARTLY RELIEVED BALRAM REALIZES THAT THE BOY HAS STOPPED HIM FROM A MURDER.ONE NIGHT A LIZARD IS ON THE MOSQUITO NET OF BALRAM WHO IS TOTALLY SHOCKED. DHARAM HAS TO KILL IT AND GIVES HIS UNCLE THE FEELING THAT HE WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DHARAM DESTROYING HIS PLAN BECAUSE HE WON’T RECOGNIZE HE WAS PLANNING SOMETHING AS HE HAS SEEN BALRAM THIS FRIGHTENED.THE NEW WOMAN IN MR. ASHOK’S LIFE DOESN’T REALLY LIKE BALRAM AND MAKES PLANS FOR A REPLACEMENT DRIVER. MR. ASHOK AND HER STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AS MR. ASHOK GETS TO KNOW THAT HIS PARTY HASN’T THE MAJORITY ANYMORE. THEREFORE HE IS IN BIG TROUBLE AND ALL THE MONEY SEEMS TO BE WASTED. TRYING TO SAVE SOMETHING HE LENDS HIS CAR, INCLUDING BALRAM, TO TWO POLITICIANS. THEY LET BALRAM DRIVE AROUND THE WHOLE NIGHT AND DRINK ALL THE WHISKY THAT WAS IN THE CAR.AFTER BALRAM HAS BROUGHT THEM TO THEIR HOTEL AGAIN HE GRABS THE EMPTY BOTTLE TO GET SOME MONEY FOR IT. AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE HE SMASHES THE WHISKY BOTTLE RIGHT ON THE FLOOR. HE PICKS THE BIGGEST PART UP AGAIN KEEPING AND HIDING IT IN THE CAR AS A WEAPON AND TIDIES EVERYTHING, SO NOBODY WILL NOTICE SOMETHING.THE NEXT DAY BALRAM SEES MR. ASHOK MAKING A DEAL WITH ANOTHER SERVANT. BALRAM WONDERS IF IT IS A NEW REPLACEMENT DRIVER.

HE ASKS FOR A MOMENT OFF AND GOES TOGETHER WITH HIS NEPHEW TO THE ZOO. SEEING THE WHITE TIGER BALRAM IS SO OVERWHELMED THAT HE FAINTS.“THE MOMENT YOU RECOGNIZE THE BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORLD, YOU STOP BEING A SLAVE.” (P. 275)JUST ONE DAY AFTER THAT MR. ASHOK WANTS TO BE BROUGHT TO ALL THE BANKS AGAIN. WHEN THE RED BAG WAS WELL FILLED BALRAM DRIVES TO A PART OF THE CITY WHICH IS OUT OF CIVILIZATION. NO ONE IS THERE BUT THE TWO OF THEM.BALRAM STOPS AND TELLS HIS MASTER A WHEEL HAS TO BE BROKEN. THE ROAD IS ALL EMPTY, SO EVERYTHING IS PERFECT FOR BALRAM.BALRAM ASKS HIS MASTER FOR HELP AND GETS HIM OUT OF THE CAR THIS WAY. MR. ASHOK KNEELS DOWN. BALRAM GIVES HIM A LAST HINT SAYING, “IT’S BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS EVER SINCE THAT NIGHT WE WENT TO THE HOTEL IN JANGPURA”. WITHOUT ANY HESITATION BALRAM HITS HIS MASTER MR. ASHOK WITH THE BROKEN BOTTLE AND KILLS HIM BY BREAKING HIS NECK LIKE IT’S DONE WITH CHICKENS.BALRAM BREAKS OUT OF THE ROOSTER COOP. LEAVING THE DEAD BODY BEHIND HE DRIVES TO THE RAILWAY STATION BUT BEFORE HE LEAVES HE THINKS OF HIS NEPHEW HE HAS LEFT ALONE. NEVERTHELESS IT’S A BIG RISK FOR HIM HE DECIDES TO GO BACK AND CATCHES UP DHARAM.AFTER COMMITTING THE MURDER BALRAM PLANS HOW HE CAN GET TO BANGALORE. HE DECIDES TO TRAVEL BY TRAIN, ZIGZAGGING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER WITH HIS NEPHEW DHARAM WHO CONSIDERS THE JOURNEY AS HOLIDAYS.

IN ONE TRAIN HE RECOGNIZES A POLICE POSTER WITH A PHOTO OF HIMSELF. WHILE TALKING TO AN ILLITERATE MAN HE GETS THE PROOF THAT THE PHOTO LOOKS LIKE A STEREOTYPICAL INDIAN. HE MAKES UP THE FALSE STORY THAT THE MAN ON THE POSTER HAS CAUGHT TWO TERRORISTS. THE OTHER MAN REMARKS THAT THE SEARCHED MAN LOOKS LIKE HIM.THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS IN BANGALORE BALRAM NEEDS TO CALM HIS NERVES AND TO FORGET ABOUT THE MURDER. DHARAM AND HE STAY TOGETHER AT A HOTEL WHICH OFFERS GOOD FOOD. BALRAM ALSO REMARKS THAT BANGALORE IS FULL OF STRANGERS AND OUTSIDERS.BALRAM NOTICES THAT EVERYONE DRINKS COFFEE AND OF COURSE HE WANTS TO TRY OUT BUT HE DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO DRINK IT AT FIRST. AFTER WATCHING OTHER PEOPLE HE GETS TO KNOW EVERYONE DRINKS IT DIFFERENTLY.AS WELL BALRAM HAS DOUBTS WHETHER BANGALORE IS THE RIGHT CITY TO LIVE IN. STILL HE RENTS A FLAT AND HE WONDERS HOW TO FIT INTO THE CITY. LIKE HE HAS HEARD THE VOICE OF DELHI HE TRIES TO NOTICE THE VOICE OF BANGALORE.ACCORDING TO THIS HE DISCOVERS THE MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS ASPECT WHICH IS OUTSOURCING. HE REALIZES THE PEOPLE ARE WORKING AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEIR MASTERS LIVE IN AMERICA, SO HE ASKS HIMSELF HOW – ESPECIALLY THE GIRLS – COME HOME AGAIN. THERE ISN’T A TRAIN SYSTEM LIKE IN OTHER CITIES, THEREFORE HE DEVELOPS THE IDEA OF A TAXI SERVICE. FIRST HE HASN’T GOT A CHANCE TO START WITH HIS BUSINESS BECAUSE EVERY COMPANY ALREADY HAD AN ORGANISATION LIKE THAT. BUT THEN HE TRIES TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MR ASHOK WOULD DO. FINALLY HE GOES TO THE POLICE AND BRIBES THE INSPECTOR WITH MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND RUPEES. EVEN THE WANTED POSTER OF BALRAM IS IN THE STATION, BUT HE HAS SUCCESS. THAT IS WHY TWO DAYS LATER A COMPANY CALLS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HAVE A TAXI SERVICE.LITTLE BY LITTLE THIS “START- UP” GROWS INTO A BIG BUSINESS. BALRAM OWNS TWENTY- SIX VEHICLES AND SIXTEEN DRIVERS. FROM NOW ON BALRAM IS THE MASTER INSTEAD OF THE SERVANT. HE EVEN CALLS HIMSELF ASHOK SHARMA AND OFFERS AN OWN WEBSITE IN ENGLISH. INSTEAD OF TREATING HIS DRIVERS BADLY LIKE EVERY OTHER MASTER IN THE TOWN HE LOOKS AFTER THEM NICELY.

HE IS OF THE OPINION THAT HE HAS LEARNED HIS REAL EDUCATION FROM THE ROAD AND THE PAVEMENT. BY LISTENING TO SOME MEN ON THE STREETS HE OBTAINS COURAGE THAT ONE DAY THERE WILL BE A REVOLUTION IN INDIA WHICH WILL DESTROY THE “ROOSTER COOP”. HE OBSERVES THAT ONLY FOUR MEN IN HISTORY HAVE LED A SUCCESSFUL REVOLUTION: ALEXANDER THE GREAT, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, MAO AND MAYBE HITLER.BALRAM ALSO CHANGES HIS PREVIOUS MIND OF GOLDEN- COLOURED HAIR GIRLS LIKE THEY ALWAYS ARE IN THE SHAMPOO ADVERTISEMENT. HE DOESN’T TRUST THE TV AND THE POSTERS ANYMORE AND THINKS IT’S NOT HEALTHY. ALSO HE BELIEVES THAT THE NEPALI AND INDIAN GIRLS ARE THE BEST PROSTITUTES.AFTER HEARING MOBILE PHONES CAUSE CANCER IN THE BRAIN AND TESTICLES HE THROWS IT AWAY BECAUSE HIS BRAIN IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR HIM.THE NOVEL ENDS WITH THE STATEMENT OF BALRAM IN WHICH HE DECLARES THAT THE YELLOW AND BROWN MEN WILL REIN THE WORLD IN ABOUT TWENTY YEARS.

THEMESCORRUPTION IN INDIATHROUGHOUT BALRAM'S NARRATIVE, ADIGA CONSTANTLY EXPOSES THE PREVALENCE OF CORRUPTION THROUGHOUT ALL OF INDIA'S INSTITUTIONS. SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, POLICE, ELECTIONS, INDUSTRIES AND EVERY ASPECT OF GOVERNMENT ARE THOROUGHLY CORRUPT, WHILE PRACTICES SUCH AS BRIBERY AND FRAUD ARE ENTIRELY COMMONPLACE. BALRAM'S APPROACH TO THIS TRUTH LARGELY INVOLVES A DEEPLY CYNICAL HUMOR. HOWEVER, THERE IS AN UGLY COMPONENT TO HIS CHARACTER ARC. IN ORDER TO ESCAPE THE "DARKNESS" AND ENTER INTO THE "LIGHT," BALRAM MUST HIMSELF BECOME A PART OF THIS SYSTEM. HIS VICTORY IS THUS BITTERSWEET; WHILE HE HAS SUCCEEDED IN ELEVATING HIS SOCIAL POSITION, HE CONTINUES TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY PARALYZED BY CORRUPTION, WHICH PREVENTS TRUE PROGRESS FROM TAKING PLACE. ADIGA'S ULTIMATE POINT SEEMS TO BE THAT CORRUPTION NECESSARILY BREEDS CORRUPTION, UNLESS OF COURSE A GREATER REVOLUTION REMAKES SOCIETY.MORALITYULTIMATELY,THE WHITE TIGERIS A TALE ABOUT MORALITY, SUGGESTING THAT MORALITY CAN BE VIEWED AS EITHER RIGID OR FLEXIBLE. BALRAM EVENTUALLY EMBRACES THE LATTER OPTION. IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY MURDERING ASHOK AND RISKING HIS FAMILY'S LIVES, BALRAM DEVELOPS AN ALTERNATE MORAL SYSTEM. HE REASONS THAT THE MONEY HE STEALS FROM ASHOK IS RIGHTFULLY HIS, SINCE SERVANTS ARE EXPLOITED BY THE RICH, AND HE CONVINCES HIMSELF OF HIS EXCEPTIONALISM AS "THE WHITE TIGER" IN ORDER TO RATIONALIZE HIS DECISIONS. BELIEVING HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS TRULY WOKEN UP TO THE TRUTH OF THE "ROOSER COOP," HE FEELS COMPELLED TO CHANGE HIS LIFE. IN THIS SENSE, BALRAM HAS BECOME A VERSION OF NIETZCHE'S "UBERMENSCH," OR OVER-MAN, WHO BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE ABOVE THE MORAL AND LEGAL LIMITATIONS OF SOCIETY. ADIGA POSES A QUESTION THROUGH BALRAM: DO WE BLAME A CRIMINAL FOR HIS DECISIONS, OR DO WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THOSE DECISIONS AS REACTIONS TO AN OVERLY OPPRESSIVE AND RESTRICTIVE SOCIETY? ASSUMING THAT A READER DOES NOT HAVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER, ADIGA SUGGESTS THEN THAT MORALITY IS A FLUID AND UNFIXED CONCEPT.

GLOBALIZATION-THE INDIA DESCRIBED BY BALRAM IS IN THE THROES OF A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION, HERALDED IN PART BY THE ADVENT OF GLOBALIZATION. INDIA FINDS ITSELF AT THE CROSSROADS OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELDS OF TECHNOLOGY AND OUTSOURCING, AS THE NATION ADAPTS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF A GLOBAL ECONOMY. BALRAM RECOGNIZES AND HOPES TO RIDE THIS WAVE OF THE FUTURE WITH HIS WHITE TIGER TECHNOLOGY DRIVERS BUSINESS IN BANGALORE, BUT THIS FORCE OF GLOBALIZATION HAS A DARKER COMPONENT FOR HIM AS WELL. IT THREATENS AND DISENFRANCHISES THOSE ADHERING TO A TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE, SUCH AS HIS FAMILY IN LAXMANGARH. HENCE, HE MUST CHANGE WHO HE IS IN ORDER TO COMPETE IN THIS NEW WORLD. ADIGA THUS VIVIDLY CONJURES THE TENSION BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW INDIA, SUGGESTING THAT SUCCEEDING IN THIS WORLD (AS BALRAM DOES) REQUIRES A FLURRY OF ETHICAL AND PERSONAL COMPROMISES.SOCIAL MOBILITY-BALRAM FREQUENTLY DISCUSSES THE ISSUES OF SOCIAL MOBILITY IN THE NEW SOCIAL HIERARCHY OF INDIA. HAVING IDOLIZED VIJAYFROM CHILDHOOD, BALRAM RECOGNIZES THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING UP IN THE WORLD, BUT HAS TO CONFRONT THE REALITY OF SUCH MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT HIS STORY. ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS HOW INDIA'S SOCIAL SYSTEM HAS CHANGED. UNDER THE CASTE SYSTEM, PEOPLE'S FATES WERE PREDETERMINED, BUT THEY WERE HAPPY, BELIEVING THEY BELONGED SOMEWHERE. HOWEVER, THE NEW SOCIAL STRUCTURE PROMISES THE POSSIBILITY OF SOCIAL MOBILITY, BUT ACTUALLY ONLY OFFERS TWO SOCIAL DIVISIONS: THE RICH AND THE POOR. THE POOR ARE KEPT IN AN ETERNAL STATE OF SUBSERVIENCE AND SERVITUDE TO THE RICH BY THE MECHANISM THAT BALRAM DUBS "THE ROOSTER COOP." HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOW MORE UNHAPPY BECAUSE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF SOCIAL MOBILITY THAT NEVERTHELESS REMAINS OUT OF THEIR GRASP. BALRAM ULTIMATELY FINDS A WAY TO BREAK FROM THE ROOSTER COOP, BUT IT REQUIRES HIM TO COMPROMISE HIS ETHICS AND PERSONALITY - HE HAS TO KILL HIS MASTER AND BETRAY HIS FAMILY. THAT SOCIAL MOBILITY IS A SPECTER CAPTURED ONLY THROUGH SUCH DIFFICULT MEANS IS A COMMENT ON THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY OF A WORLD BUILT MORE ON LIMITATIONS THAN POSSIBILITY.

IDENTITYTHE WHITE TIGERIS LARGELY A STORY OF SELF-FASHIONING, AS BALRAM UNDERGOES A TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY TO CONSTRUCT HIS OWN IDENTITY. INSPIRED BY HIS CHILDHOOD HERO, VIJAY, WHO ALSO ROSE FROM A HUMBLE BACKGROUND TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THE UPPER ECHELONS OF INDIAN SOCIETY, BALRAM DEDICATES HIMSELF TO SELF-IMPROVEMENT, SO MUCH SO THAT HE IS WILLING TO DESTROY WHO HE ONCE WAS. HE SEES IDENTITY AS FLUID AND MALLEABLE, A FACT ARTICULATED THROUGH THE MANY NAME CHANGES HE EMPLOYS THROUGHOUT THE STORY. ULTIMATELY, HE EVEN CHOOSES A NEW IDENTITY FOR HIMSELF IN IMITATION OF HIS MASTER, CALLING HIMSELF ASHOK SHARMA. AND YET THE NOVEL IS FULL OF DRAMATIC IRONY REVEALING THAT BALRAM CANNOT FULLY REPUDIATE THE PERSON HE ONCE WAS. HE REMAINS FULL OF UNRESOLVED GUILT AND PROVINCIAL SUPERSTITIONS, REMINDING US THAT WHILE IDENTITY MIGHT BE ENTIRELY FLUID, IT IS ALSO ENTIRELY IMMOVABLE AS WELL.FAMILYTHE EXTENDED INDIAN FAMILY PLAYS AN INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE IN THE DARKNESS. THE FAMILY IS THE CORE SOCIAL UNIT, SO ALL ITS MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO ACT WITH SELFLESS DEVOTION TO ITS INTERESTS. THOUGH THE POOR OSTENSIBLY VIEW THIS CONSTRUCT AS A STRENGTH, BALRAM COMES TO SEE IT AS ANOTHER WAY THROUGH WHICH THE POOR ARE KEPT IN THE "ROOSTER COOP." FIRSTLY, THE EXPECTATIONS OF FAMILY ENFORCE LIMITATIONS THAT CAN QUASH INDIVIDUAL AMBITION (AS THEY ALMOST DO WITH BALRAM). FURTHER, SINCE A SERVANT'S DISOBEDIENCE IS VISITED UPON HIS FAMILY, SERVANTS REMAIN TRAPPED BY THE WHIMS OF THEIR MASTERS. SOCIAL MOBILITY BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE. IN ORDER TO BREAK FREE AND LIVE THE LIFE OF A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR IN BANGALORE, A CITY REPRESENTING A NEW INDIA, BALRAM MUST SACRIFICE HIS FAMILY. THIS CONUNDRUM SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT IN ORDER TO THRIVE IN THE MODERN WORLD AND EMBRACE THE POTENTIALS OF A NEW INDIA, THIS TRADITIONAL ATTACHMENT TO THE FAMILY MUST BE RELINQUISHED IN FAVOR OF A NEWFOUND EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUALISM.

PAIRS AND DUALITIESTHE WHITE TIGERABOUNDS WITH INSTANCES OF TWINNED PAIRS AND DUALITIES, EACH CORRESPONDING TO ONE HALF OF A CENTRAL DICHOTOMY: THE RICH AND THE POOR HALVES OF INDIA. BALRAM POSES INDIA AS BROKEN UP INTO TWO SECTIONS, THE "DARKNESS" AND THE "LIGHT." EXAMPLES OF TWINNED PAIRS FROM EACH OF THESE TWO HALVES INCLUDE: THE "MEN WITH SMALL BELLIES" AND "MEN WITH BIG BELLIES;" THE HOSPITAL WHERE BALRAM'S FATHER DIES AND THE CITY HOSPITAL VISITED BY THE STORK; THE BEAUTIFUL BLONDE PROSTITUTE VISITED BY ASHOK AND THE UGLIER, FAUX-BLONDE PROSTITUTE HIRED BY BALRAM; THE APARTMENT BUILDING IN DELHI AND ITS SERVANTS QUARTERS BELOW; AND THE TWO VERSIONS OF ALL MARKETS IN INDIA (ONE FOR THE RICH, AND A SMALLER, GRIMIER REPLICA FOR THE SERVANTS). THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE TWINNED PAIRS IS, OF COURSE, ASHOK AND BALRAM THEMSELVES. IT IS TELLING THAT BALRAM, THE NARRATOR, VIEWS THE WORLD AS SPLIT INTO HALVES. IT REVEALS THE EXTENT TO WHICH OPPRESSION HAS RUINED HIS WORLDVIEW.ANOTHER MEANS BY WHICH ADIGA EXPLORES THIS THEME IS THROUGH THE SYMBOLIC REARVIEW MIRROR, WHICH DOUBLES EVERYTHING THROUGH A REFLECTION AND HENCE FUNCTIONS AS A CONDUIT FOR THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN ASHOK AND BALRAM. THIS PARTICULAR IMAGE SUGGESTS THAT IDENTITY CAN BE TRANSFERRED ACROSS THE DIVIDE - ONE CAN MOVE FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER. OTHER INSTANCES OF DUALITIES IN THE TEXT SERVE TO FURTHER HIGHLIGHT THE EXTENT OF BALRAM'S TRANSFORMATION; FOR EXAMPLE, THE TWO CAR ACCIDENTS ( PINKY MADAM'S HIT-AND-RUN AND THE DEATH OF THE BICYCLING BOY) DEMONSTRATE JUST HOW FAR BALRAM HAS COME IN HIS QUEST TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR. BALRAM WAS ONCE A PAWN IN THE GAME, WHEREAS IN THE LATTER CASE HE HAS FOUND THE POWER TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MORE FORTUNATE "LIGHT."

REVIEWMr Aravind adiga showed the black part of India through his story of balram halwai. His hold on the story is very strong and he explained it in superb manner. The whole story is in a form of a letter which is the best part of the entire story. Mr Adiga didn’t put any stone mark of reading of the story. For readers its very easy to understand the feeling and the situation of the protagonist. According to me the character of Balram Halwai is justified but of course unjustified in the eyes of law. He killed a man to achieve his goal which should not be supported. Childhood of the Balram Halwai was tough and poor, when he was told as “THE WHITE TIGER” he owned it and started considering himself as white tiger which is rare and according to him, he can do anything to achieve his goal. He was kind but changed it all. He didn’t regret his family’s death then how could anyone ask for his justification. According to him he was not living his life but surviving, and for his survival he will do anything it takes.

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