The Tiger King

The Tiger King is Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram. At his birth, astrologers predicted his death would come from a tiger. The ten-day-old prince miraculously spoke, challenging the prediction with, “Let tigers beware!” He grew up obsessed with defying this prophecy by killing tigers. After killing ninety-nine tigers, he earned the moniker “The Tiger King.”

The royal infant grew up to be the strong and determined King of Pratibandapuram. His life’s sole ambition became killing one hundred tigers to disprove the prophecy of his death. He banned tiger hunting in his state for everyone except himself and even married a princess from a state with a large tiger population to facilitate his mission.

After killing all seventy tigers in Pratibandapuram, the population became extinct. To continue his tally, the Maharaja instructed his dewan to find a girl from a royal family in a neighboring state with a large tiger population. He married her, and every time he visited his father-in-law, he would kill five or six tigers, eventually reaching ninety-nine.

The Maharaja became extremely anxious and cautious about the hundredth tiger, as the prophecy stated it would be the cause of his death. When the hundredth tiger was finally located, he aimed carefully. Overjoyed when the beast fell, he left the forest in triumph, ordering a grand procession, unaware that the bullet had actually missed.

The astrologer died before the King could kill a hundred tigers. The King believed he had disproved the prophecy after “killing” the hundredth tiger. However, the prophecy was not disproved. The King was indeed killed by a tiger—not a real one, but a crude wooden toy tiger. A sliver from the toy pierced his hand, leading to a fatal infection. Thus, the hundredth tiger (the toy) took its final revenge.

Dramatic Irony occurs when the audience knows something the character does not.

• The King believes he has killed the 100th tiger, but the reader knows the bullet missed and the tiger only fainted from shock.
• The King spends his life hunting fierce beasts to avoid death, yet ironically, he is killed by a harmless, clumsy wooden toy tiger.
• The astrologer predicted death by a tiger, which the King mocked, yet the prediction came true in the most unexpected, non-heroic way.

Through satire, the author condemns the wanton destruction of wildlife by humans for ego and power. The Maharaja kills 99 tigers not for protection or food, but solely to satisfy his vanity and prove a point. The story highlights how humans subject innocent animals to suffering (extinction in two states) just to defy fate, showcasing the selfish conceit of those in power.

The minions (Dewan, hunters, shopkeepers) were driven purely by fear, not sincerity.

• The Dewan arranged an old tiger from Madras to stop the King’s anger.
• The hunters didn’t tell the King he missed the shot because they feared losing their jobs.
• The shopkeeper quoted a high price for a cheap toy to avoid punishment under emergency rules.

This mirrors modern political orders where sycophancy prevails, and subordinates pander to leaders’ whims out of fear rather than offering honest counsel.

Despite strict laws, the rich and powerful often display callousness toward wildlife. Notable examples include high-profile poaching cases involving Blackbucks (an endangered species) by Bollywood actors or hunting incidents involving rare antelopes by influential figures. These instances show that for some, wildlife is still seen as a trophy or sport rather than a vital part of the ecosystem that needs protection.

• Detailed Analysis: Explains the complex use of satire and irony in Kalki’s writing.
• Theme Clarity: Breaks down the theme of “Fate vs. Free Will” and ecological concern.
• Exam Prep: Provides structured answers for both short factual questions and long analytical ones.
• Self-Assessment: Helps students identify the nuances of the plot twists (like the wooden tiger).