The Tiger King Summary | English Class 12

Summary Note

Chapter overview

Summary

Study Note

The Tiger King overview

The Tiger King, written by Kalki, is a brilliant satire on the arrogance, conceit, and foolishness of those in power. It narrates the fascinating and deeply ironic tale of the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur. When the Maharaja is born, the royal astrologers make a startling prediction: the child will grow up to be a great warrior, but his death will ultimately come from a tiger, specifically the hundredth tiger, as he is born in the hour of the Bull, the tiger's enemy. In a miraculous turn of events, the ten-day-old infant speaks up, declaring, Let tigers beware! As the crown prince grows up, he receives a thoroughly English upbringing, typical of Indian royalty under British influence. At twenty, he takes over the throne and embarks on a relentless mission to kill one hundred tigers to disprove the prophecy. He becomes absolutely obsessed with this single goal, ignoring all his royal duties and the welfare of his subjects. The Maharaja bans everyone else from hunting tigers in his state and even risks losing his kingdom when he denies a high-ranking British officer permission to hunt. To save his throne, he foolishly pays a massive bribe of three lakh rupees in the form of diamond rings to the officer's wife. After killing seventy tigers, the tiger population in his state becomes extinct. Driven by his obsession, he marries a princess solely because her father's state possesses a large tiger population. He eventually reaches a tally of ninety-nine tigers but struggles to find the hundredth. His frustration reaches a boiling point, leading to the dismissal of many officers. Terrified of losing his job, the dewan secretly procures an old, weak tiger from a park in Madras and releases it near the Maharaja's camp. The Maharaja shoots the beast and triumphantly believes he has conquered his fate. However, he actually misses the shot, and the tiger merely faints from the shock of the bullet. The king's hunters, afraid of his wrath, quietly kill the tiger themselves. In a deeply ironic twist of fate, the Maharaja's death is not caused by a real, majestic beast, but by a cheap, poorly carved wooden tiger toy he buys for his son's third birthday. A tiny sliver of rough wood pierces his right hand while playing. The injury quickly develops into a severe, spreading infection. Despite the efforts of three famous surgeons from Madras, the king dies during the operation. Thus, the prophecy is fulfilled in the most unexpected and ridiculous manner, proving that no amount of power, wealth, or arrogance can alter one's inevitable destiny.

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Keywords

Important chapter terms

Keywords

Study Note

The Tiger King keywords

Important Terms

Demise

A person's death.

Example: The most fantastic aspect of his demise was the prophecy surrounding it.

Indomitable

Impossible to subdue, defeat, or conquer.

Example: The king was known throughout the land for his indomitable courage in hunting.

Stupefaction

A state of being completely surprised, shocked, or confused.

Example: Everyone stood transfixed in stupefaction when the ten-day-old baby started speaking clearly.

Transfixed

Made motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment.

Example: The courtiers were transfixed when they heard the infant prince challenge the astrologers.

Enunciated

Pronounced words clearly and distinctly.

Example: It was the infant born just ten days ago who had enunciated the words so perfectly.

Confiscated

Taken or seized by authority as a penalty.

Example: The state threatened that all wealth would be confiscated if anyone harmed a tiger.

Carcass

The dead body of an animal.

Example: The British officer merely wanted a photograph of himself standing over the tiger's carcass.

Deliberations

Long and careful consideration or discussions.

Example: The Maharaja and the dewan held urgent deliberations over the threat of losing the kingdom.

Extinct

Having no living members; no longer in existence.

Example: After ten years of heavy hunting, the tiger population became extinct in the forests.

Bafflement

The condition of being completely confused or perplexed.

Example: The tiger looked back at the hunters, rolling its eyes in complete bafflement.

Suppurating

Undergoing the formation of pus; festering.

Example: The minor scratch quickly developed into a dangerously suppurating sore on his arm.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to expose and criticize people's stupidity.

Example: The story is a brilliant satire on the arrogance and vanity of those in political power.

Conceit

Excessive pride in oneself; unhealthy arrogance.

Example: The Maharaja's tragic downfall was a direct result of his extreme conceit and pride.