The tiger king explanation Question answer MP Board Solution

 The tiger king explanation MP Board Solution

 

The Tiger King by Kalki INTRODUCTION 

Kalki takes his readers to the days of autocratic and eccentric kings. These kings lived under the thumb rule of Britishers, hence they fear them. In order to make the story mysterious Kalki has added supernatural element in the story. The haughty king disapproved the prophecy made by the astrologer about his death, but his death from the wooden tiger (100th tiger) approved it. 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 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 echoes the maxim: “Too many slips between a cup and a lip.”

 

Justification of Title

“The Tiger King” is a very appropriate title for the story for several reasons. First of all, the king is crazy about tiger hunting so much that he marries a princess whose father’s kingdom has a sizeable tiger population. He kills one hundred tigers just to fulfil his vow. Secondly, the king with all his frenzy, anger and ruthlessness is as ferocious as a tiger. Thirdly, he dies of a silver prick received from a wooden toy tiger. Finally, the prediction that a tiger would cause the king’s death also comes true. Since the story revolves round the king and the hundred tigers that he kills, it could not be better titled than “The Tiger King”.

 

Irony and Satire in ‘The Tiger King’

 ‘The Tiger King’ is replete with irony that reveals the follies of autocratic and wilful rulers who flout all laws and bend them to suit their selfish interests. The dramatic irony in the story is sharp when the Tiger King alone is unaware that his bullet had not killed the hundredth tiger. The other characters and the readers anticipate his doom as he celebrates his triumph over his destiny. We realize how misplaced the King’s pride at killing the first tiger was. The astrologers had prophesied, “You may kill ninety nine tigers like this, but your death will be brought on by the hundredth tiger.” The King wanted to prove the astrologer wrong and to save his life. Ironically, to avert death he actually invites it. The lofty titles used to introduce the Tiger King, suggesting an invincible ferocity are indeed ironic for he is finally killed by a cheap, crudely made wooden toy tiger which became the tool of Nature’s revenge. He had killed a hundred tigers in vain and must be punished for it. Irony is indeed sharp when the surgeons announce the operation successful and declare the king dead.

Instances of Satire

Satire employs irony, sarcasm, ridicule, etc. in exposing and criticizing follies and vices in men. The story uses humour to criticize self-seeking Kings who wilfully exploit both nature and their subjects for sefish interests. When the Maharaja of Pratibandhpuram was told that he would be killed by a tiger, he could never imagine the twist in fate where a toy tiger could be fatal. Because of his conceit, he was unprepared for such surprises flung by life at him. The grandeur associated with a king’s life proves a mockery. The news of the king’s ailment invited not one, but three surgeons. They got so tied up in technicalities that they declared the operation successful even though the king died

The story also satirizes the corrupting influence of power. Just because the Tiger King had power, he felt he could browbeat his subjects and even defeat fate. He neglected his responsibility as a ruler. He neglected the welfare of his subjects, his family, increased and reduced taxes at will and sacked his officers. They feared him or else he would have learnt the truth.

When we see the king gloating over his bravery after killing the hundredth old, weak tiger, we notice that Kalki is satirizing the notions of cowardice and bravery. There is no heroism in fighting an unequal battle. The King’s cowardice was obvious when he justifies that one may kill even a cow in self defence.

Kalki is also criticizing the King’s men and subjects who pander to his whims out of fear or like the shopkeeper manipulate and fool him.

Light humour in the Tiger King  

· The instance of the Stuka bomber

·  The king’s offer of mouse hunt etc

·  The incoherent blabbering by the Dewan and the Chief Astrologer

·  The Dewan procuring an old tiger from people’s park and its stubborn refusal to get off the car and the

· description of its waiting in humble supplication to be shot.  

·The shopkeeper quoting three hundred rupees for a cheap two annas and a quarter toy tiger

 

Questions/answers

What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the wilfulness of human beings?

Ans. Through this satirical story the author has rightly portrayed how human beings have subjected innocent animals to untold torture and death, merely to fulfill their own whims and fancies. The maharaja’s indiscriminate killing of tigers led to their extinction in some states, but the maharaja was oblivious to the grave consequences his action was leading to. In order to prove an astrologer wrong the maharaja went on a killing spree proving his dominance over the hapless animals.

 

How would you describe the behaviour of the Maharaja’s minions towards him? Do you 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?

 Ans. Maharaja’s minions were subservient and sycophantic. Most of them were scared of Maharaja and tried to keep him in good humour by obeying his orders. They did not dare to disobey him as his displeasure could mean loss of their job or even loss of their lives.

The astrologer was afraid of predicting his death , till Maharaja told him to “ speak without fear”. Dewan who should have advised the king not to kill the tigers did not dare to go against his wishes and aided his marriage to a princess whose father’s kingdom possessed a large number of tigers. Being afraid of losing his job, he presented an old tiger to satisfy the whims of his Maharaja. Likewise , the hunters chose not to inform him of the survival of the 100th tiger and instead killed it themselves fearing that they might lose their jobs. Even the shopkeeper, who sold the king a cheap wooden toy tiger, quoted a higher price lest he should be punished under the rules of emergency. So ,it is evident that the king’s minions were driven by fear rather than any feelings of sincerity towards their ruler. Today’s political order is no different— we know too well that many of the people in power are not there because of their ability but because of their influence and power. Moreover, others pander to them for their own vested interests rather than for the good of the country.

Q1 Why do you think, the author goes into detailed identification of the Tiger King through a variety of titles ? Does he really mean to humour him ?

Answer : Kalki, the author of the story , has no intention of praising the king. In fact, immediately after addressing him with a variety of titles, he brings an anticlimax by telling his readers that his name is shortened to “ Tiger King “

 

Q2 How did the tiger king acquire his name?

Ans. The Tiger King was Maharaja of Pratibandapuram. He came to be known as tiger king as at his birth it was predicted by the royal astrologer that he would be killed by a tiger .And to disprove this prediction he started killing the tigers indiscriminately and killed 99 tigers.. Moreover , he was ferocious like a tiger.

Q3.What do you understand by “threat of a Stuka bomber”?

Ans. Stuka Bomber was a German ground attack aircraft which was known for its high accuracy in hitting its target and terrorizing sound it emitted. Through the reference of Stuka Bomber , the author wants to convey that he intends to tell why Maharaja of Pratibandapuram came to be known as Tiger King and nothing ,not even horrifying Stuka Bomber could compel him to digress from the topic.

 

Q4 What was the miracle that took place in the royal palace?

Ans. When the Maharaja was a 10 day old infant, he spoke and asked intelligent questions about his death. After knowing that he would be killed by a tiger he uttered saying “Let tigers beware.”

Q5 What predictions did the astrologers make at the birth of the tiger king?

Ans: The astrologers predicted that the newly born prince will grow up to become the hero of heroes, brave of the bravest and a great warrior. He also predicted that the baby was born in the hour of the bull. The bull and tiger were enemies. Therefore, he would die because of the tiger.

Q6 What did the State astrologer say he would do ‘if the hundredth tiger were also killed’?

Ans. The State astrologer was so sure of his prediction that he announced that he would cut off his ceremonial tuft, crop his hair short and become an insurance agent in case the king was able to kill the 100th tiger, too. He was sure that the Maharaja’s death would be caused by the 100th tiger.

Q7. What did the high-ranking British officer wish to do? Was his wish fulfilled?

Ans. The high-ranking British officer wanted to kill a tiger. When he was denied the permission for hunting, he sent a word to the king that he would be happy if he was allowed to get photographed with the dead body of a tiger killed by the king. However, his wish remained unfulfilled.

Q8 How did the Maharaja manage to save his throne?

 Ans. The Maharaja had annoyed the visiting senior British officer over the issue of tiger-hunting and ‘stood in danger of losing his kingdom itself’. So, the Maharaja and the Dewan decided to placate and pacify the officer through bribe by sending gifts of expensive diamond rings to the ‘duraisani”, the wife of the British officer. Thus he managed to save his throne.

Q9 How did the ‘duraisani’ behave on receiving the gifts? 

Ans. Some fifty samples of expensive diamond rings were sent to the duraisani and it was expected that she would select one or two and return the rest. But the lady proved to be greedy as she retained all of them and merely sent a letter of thanks.

Q10. What unforeseen hurdle brought the tiger hunt to a standstill?

Ans. Within ten years Maharaja’s tiger hunting had resulted in the killing of seventy tigers. However his tiger killing mission came to a sudden standstill because the tiger population became extinct in the forest of Pratibandapuram.

Q11 Why did the Maharaja suddenly decide to marry?

 Whom did he wish to marry? Ans. The Maharaja suddenly decided to marry because firstly, he was of marriageable age and secondly, he wanted to kill thirty more tigers in his father-in-law’s state in order to complete the tally of hundred tigers .For this reason he wished to marry a girl in the royal family of a state with a large tiger population.

Q12 Why did Maharaja order the dewan to double the tax?

 Ans. The Maharaja called the dewan and ordered him to immediately double the tax of the villagers who had informed him of a tiger in the forest because despite his best efforts he was unable to locate the beast. This infuriated the Maharaja.

Q13.Why did the Dewan decide to give up his own tiger to be killed by the Maharaja?

Answer : The dewan had hidden in his house an old tiger which had been brought from the People’s Park in Madras . He feared that if the Maharaja did not get a tiger to hunt, the result would be catastrophic and he would lose his job.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS The tiger king

1. How did the Tiger King meet his end?

 What is ironical about his death? The wooden toy tiger the king had got as a birthday present for his son had been carved by an unskilled carpenter. It had a rough surface with tiny slivers of wood standing up like quills all over it. One of those slivers pierced the Maharaja’s right hand and although the king pulled it, his arm got infected. In four days, it developed into a suppurating sore and spread all over the arm. The king died while being operated upon. The king’s death is ironical but not surprising for the reader who is, in fact, looking forward to it. Having ‘killed’ the 100th tiger, the king is jubilant for he has fulfilled his vow and disproved the prediction of the royal astrologer. He is now at ease for he thinks he cannot die of a tiger’s attack. No wonder, he orders the ‘dead’ tiger to be taken in a procession through the town and gets a tomb erected over it. All this while he does not know that the 100th victim was not killed by him but by other hunters. That is indeed quite ironical. Death is lurking around him and the king is unaware of it. Again, it is ironical that a king who has killed 99 tigers and is bold and fearless dies of a mere ‘sliver’ on the body of a wooden tiger. Thus, ironically death does come to him from a tiger.

Q2 “The operation is successful. The maharaja is dead.” Comment on the irony of the situation. 

The three famous surgeons were called from Madras to treat the Maharaja. The whole incident is a satire on the life of rich and people in power. Everything in their life should be grand be it a disease, purchases or treatment. So when the Maharaja got hurt by a wooden splinter, specialist from Madras were called The surgeons discussed and debated for some time and decided to operate At the end of the operation they said the operation was successful but theMaharaja was dead. As if the procedure was important to them but life had no meaning for them. The job of doctors is to save people and not highlight the technicalities of the treatment. But here it was just that, poor Maharaja was relegated to a nonentity whose life was not of much consequences to them.

Q3 . Discuss the title of the story ‘The Tiger King’.

Ans. The Tiger King is an appropriate title for the story for several reasons. First of all, the king is very involved with tiger hunting so much so that he marries a princess whose father’s kingdom has a sizable population. He kills hundred tigers just to fulfill his vows. Secondly, the king with all his frenzy, anger and ruthlessness is as ferocious as a tiger. Thirdly, he dies of a silver prick received from a wooden tiger toy. Finally the prediction that a tiger would cause the king’s death also comes true. Since the story revolves round the king and the hundred tigers he kills, the title could not be more apt

The tiger king explanation MP Board Solution 

THE Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the hero of this story. He may be identified as His Highness Jamedar-General, Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari, Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K. But this name is often shortened to the Tiger King

 

The writer introduces the main character of the story – the king of Pratibandapuram. The king is a hero due to his bravery. He is given a list of titles to emphasize on his greatness. To sum up all the titles in one, the king is called “The Tiger King”. The reason for him being called so shall be revealed in the lesson ahead.

I

have come forward to tell you why he came to be known as Tiger King. I have no intention of pretending to advance only to end in a strategic withdrawal. Even the threat of a Stuka bomber will not throw me off track. The Stuka, if it likes, can beat a hasty retreat from my story.

Pretending: behaving so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not 

Strategic: calculated 

Stuka bomber: a German bomber aircraft that was used in the second world war

The writer tells us that he would let us know why the king was called ‘The Tiger King’. He further promises the reader that he will not go back on his promise even if he is under the threat of an attack by a Stuka Bomber aircraft. Instead, he says that the Stuka bomber aircraft can go back because he is not scared of it and he will tell the reader why the king was called the tiger king.

Right at the start, it is imperative to disclose a matter of vital importance about the Tiger King. Everyone who reads of him will experience the natural desire to meet a man of his indomitable courage face-to-face. But there is no chance of its fulfillment. As Bharata said to Rama about Dasaratha, the Tiger King has reached that final abode of all living creatures. In other words, the Tiger King is dead.

Indomitable: undefeatable 

Final abode: refers to the final residence of the soul – the heaven.

 

The writer says that before elaborating about the tiger king one important thing about him was that any person who read about the tiger king would be very excited to meet a man of such undefeatable courage. But he says that there is no chance of meeting the tiger king as the tiger king is already dead and he has reached heaven.

The manner of his death is a matter of extraordinary interest. It can be revealed only at the end of the tale. The most fantastic aspect of his demise was that as soon as he was born, astrologers had foretold that one day the Tiger King would actually have to die.

Demise: death 

Foretold: predicted

The manner in which the tiger king died was very interesting. The writer could tell us about it only at the end of the story but he adds that a very interesting fact about the tiger king’s death was that when the tiger king was born, astrologers had predicted at that time that one day the tiger king would die. This prediction is meaningless because as a matter of fact everyone has to die one day

 

“The child will grow up to become the warrior of warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions. But...” they bit their lips and swallowed hard. When compelled to continue, the astrologers came out with it. “This is a secret which should not be revealed at all. And yet we are forced to speak out. The child born under this star will one day have to meet its death.”

Compelled: forced 

The writer gives an elaborate description of what the astrologers predicted at the time of the birth of the tiger king. They said that the child would grow up to become a brave warrior, a hero and a champion but after that they stopped and bit their lips in order to show their reluctance to speak. When the astrologers were forced to continue, they said that what they would reveal just now was a secret. They said that the child that is the tiger king was born under such a star (that means when he was born the star which was up there in the sky was such) that any person who was born at that time had to meet his death one day. Again, this prediction is meaningless because as a fact everyone has to meet his death one day.

At that very moment a great miracle took place. An astonishing phrase emerged from the lips of the ten-day old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, “O wise prophets!’’

Everyone stood transfixed in stupefaction. They looked wildly at each other and blinked. ‘‘O wise prophets! It was I who spoke.’’

This time there were no grounds for doubt. It was the infant born just ten days ago who had enunciated the words so clearly.

The chief astrologer took off his spectacles and gazed intently at the baby.

‘‘All those who are born will one day have to die. We don’t need your predictions to know that. There would be some sense in it if you could tell us the manner of that death,’’ the royal infant uttered these words in his little squeaky voice.

Transfixed: cause (someone) to become motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment.

Stupefaction: shock 

Enunciated: say or pronounce clearly.

As the astrologers reveal their secret prediction, a miracle took place. The 10- day old tiger king whose name was Jilani Jung Jang Bahadur spoke up. All the listeners were surprised to see a 10- day old baby speak. The tiger king called out to the wise astrologers and the main astrologer removed his spectacles and looked intently at the little baby. The tiger king said in its squeaky voice that all those who are born have to die one day and he did not need their predictions to know this fact. He added that if they told him the manner of his death, that would make some sense to him.

The chief astrologer placed his finger on his nose in wonder. A baby barely ten days old opens its lips in speech! Not only that, it also raises intelligent questions! Incredible! Rather like the bulletins issued by the war office, than facts.

The chief astrologer took his finger off his nose and fixed his eyes upon the little prince.

‘‘The prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are enemies, therefore, death comes from the Tiger,’’ he explained.

Incredible: unbelievable

The chief astrologer was amazed to see a 10- day old baby speak and ask intelligent questions. It was unbelievable for him just like the news which came from the wars. He took off his finger from his nose and looked carefully at the little prince. Then he added that as the tiger king was born in the hour of the bull which was an enemy of the tiger, hence, the tiger king would die due to a tiger

You may think that crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur was thrown into a quake when he heard the word ‘Tiger’. That was exactly what did not happen. As soon as he heard it pronounced, the crown prince gave a deep growl. Terrifying words emerged from his lips.

‘‘Let tigers beware!’’

The writer says that the reader may feel that the tiger king trembled upon hearing the name of a tiger but actually that did not happen. On the other hand, as soon as the Crown Prince Jung Jang Bahadur heard the name of a tiger he made a deep growing sound and spoke terrifying words. He said that all the tigers should beware.

This account is only a rumour rife in Pratibandapuram. But with hindsight we may conclude it was based on some truth.

Rumour: a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth. 

Rife: widespread, prevalent 

Hindsight: to understand an event or situation only after it has happened

Further the writer says that this story is a rumour that was heard by him in Pratibandapuram but if we look at the happenings of the past we could conclude that these rumours were based on true happenings.

 

II 

Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day by day. No other miracle marked his childhood days apart from the event already described.

The Crown Prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger as the days passed by there were no other miracles in his childhood.

The boy drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by an

Englishman, saw nothing but English films — exactly as the crown princes of all the other Indian states did. When he came of age at twenty, the State, which had been with the Court of Wards until then, came into his hands.

Court of wards: The Court of Wards was a legal body created by the East India Company. Its purpose was to protect heirs and their estates when the heir was deemed to be a minor and therefore incapable of acting independently.

As a boy, he drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English governess, got lessons in English by an Englishman and watched English films just like the Crown princes of other Indian states did. When the Crown Prince Jung Jung Bahadur turned twenty years of age, the royal state which had been in the custody of the court of wards was given to him.

But everyone in the kingdom remembered the astrologer’s prediction. Many continued to discuss the matter. Slowly it came to the Maharaja’s ears.

All the people who lived in the kingdom were aware of the astrologer’s prediction. Many of the people discussed these predictions and one day, King Jung Jung Bahadur came to know of it.

There were innumerable forests in the Pratibandapuram State. They had tigers in them. The Maharaja knew the old saying, ‘You may kill even a cow in self-defence’. There could certainly be no objection to killing tigers in self-defence. The Maharaja started out on a tiger hunt.

The Pratibandapuram state had many forests which had a number of tigers in them. The Maharaja was aware of an old saying that you could kill even a cow in order to protect yourself. So, he felt that the cow which was considered to be a holy animal could also be killed by a Hindu in order to save himself, then no one would object if he killed a tiger in order to protect himself. So, Maharaja Jung Jung Bahadur started out on a tiger hunting expedition.

The Maharaja was thrilled beyond measure when he killed his first tiger. He sent for the State astrologer and showed him the dead beast.

He was very excited when he killed the first tiger. He called for the state astrologer and showed him the dead tiger.

What do you say now?’’ he demanded.

‘‘Your majesty may kill ninety-nine tigers in exactly the same manner. But...’’ the astrologer drawled.

‘‘But what? Speak without fear.’’

 “But you must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.’’

‘‘What if the hundredth tiger were also killed?’’

The king asked the astrologer for his comments and The Astrologer replied that the king could kill ninety nine tigers in exactly the same way as he had killed the first one and he stopped speaking. The king encouraged the astrologer to continue without fear. So, the astrologer said that the king had to be very careful with the hundredth Tiger that he hunted. The king asked him that what would happen if he killed the hundredth tiger also. 

‘‘Then I will tear up all my books on astrology, set fire to them, and…’’

‘‘And…’’ ‘

‘I shall cut off my tuft, crop my hair short and become an insurance agent,’’ the astrologer finished on an incoherent note.

Tuft: a bunch or collection of threads, grass, hair, etc., held or growing together at the base. Incoherent: unclear, confused

The Astrologer replied that he would tear all his books of astrology and set them on fire. He continued that he shall cut off his hair and would change his profession from an astrologer to an insurance agent as he would not remain a good astrologer any longer

III 

From that day onwards it was celebration time for all the tigers inhabiting Pratibandapuram.

The State banned tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja. A proclamation was issued to the effect that if anyone dared to fling so much as a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be confiscated.

Proclamation: a public or official announcement 

Fling: throw Confiscated: taken with authority

From that day the tigers in Pratibandapuram had a nice time as the kingdom banned tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja. No one was allowed to kill a tiger other than the Maharaja himself. The law was so strict that an official announcement was made that if anyone was caught killing a tiger or even throwing a stone at a tiger, his wealth and property would be taken away by the kingdom of Pratibandapuram.

The Maharaja vowed he would attend to all other matters only after killing the hundred tigers. Initially the king seemed well set to realise his ambition.

Ambition: a strong desire to do or achieve something.     

The king of Pratibandapuram took an oath that he would attend to all other matters of the kingdom only after he had killed 100 tigers. In the beginning it seems that he would achieve his target very fast.

Not that he faced no dangers. There were times when the bullet missed its mark, the tiger leapt upon him and he fought the beast with his bare hands. Each time it was the Maharaja who won.

Bare: here, unarmed

It was not that he feared the tiger. When the king went on his hunting expeditions, he faced danger many times. At times, his Bullet missed its target and the tiger jumped upon him. The king would fight with the tigers barehanded but each time he won and killed the tiger.

At another time he was in danger of losing his throne. A high-ranking British officer visited Pratibandapuram. He was very fond of hunting tigers. And fonder of being photographed with the tigers he had shot. As usual, he wished to hunt tigers in Pratibandapuram. But the Maharaja was firm in his resolve. He refused permission. ‘‘I can organise any other hunt. You may go on a boar hunt. You may conduct a mouse hunt. We are ready for a mosquito hunt. But tiger hunt! That’s impossible!’’

Firm: determined 

Resolve: decision 

Boar: pig

The writer tells us another instance when King Jung Jung Bahadur was about to lose his throne. A high ranking British officer visited Pratibandapuram. He was fond of hunting tigers and he wanted to get himself photographed with the dead tigers. He wanted to hunt tigers in Pratibandapuram also but as the Maharaja had banned killing tigers by any other person, he did not give permission to this British official also. He offered him to go on any other hunting like mouse or even a mosquito hunt but he refused to arrange a tiger hunting for this British officer.

The British officer’s secretary sent word to the Maharaja through the dewan that the durai himself did not have to kill the tiger. The Maharaja could do the actual killing. What was important to the durai was a photograph of himself holding the gun and standing over the tiger’s carcass. But the Maharaja would not agree even to this proposal. If he relented now, what would he do if other British officers turned up for tiger hunts?

Durai: tamil word meaning chief or leader 

Carcass: the dead body of an animal.

Relented: relaxed his decision

The British official’s secretary send a message to the Maharaja that the Durai that is the official himself did not want to kill the tiger. The king could kill the tiger, he only wanted to get himself photographed with the dead body of a tiger. But the king did not agree to this proposal also. He said that if he relaxed his decision and allowed the official to get himself photographed with the dead tiger, then other British officers would also come to Pratibandapuram in order to fulfill their wish of hunting a tiger.

Because he prevented a British officer from fulfilling his desire, the Maharaja stood in danger of losing his kingdom itself.

The Maharaja and the dewan held deliberations over this issue. As a result, a telegram was despatched forthwith to a famous British company of jewellers in Calcutta. ‘Send samples of expensive diamond rings of different designs.

Deliberations: discussions 

Dispatched: sent

As the king had refused a British officer from fulfilling his wish, he was in danger of losing his kingdom. The king had discussions with his Minister over this issue. The king sent a telegram to a famous British company of Jewellers based in Calcutta. He asked them to send samples of expensive diamond rings of different designs.

Some fifty rings arrived. The Maharaja sent the whole lot to the British officer’s good lady. The king and the minister expected the duraisani to choose one or two rings and send the rest back. Within no time at all the duraisani sent her reply: ‘Thank you very much for your gifts.’ 

 Duraisani: Tamil word for wife of the chief

In two days a bill for three lakh of rupees came from the British jewellers. The Maharaja was happy that though he had lost three lakh of rupees, he had managed to retain his kingdom.

The Jeweller sent fifty rings and the Maharaja sent all of them to the British officer’s wife. He wanted to please her in order to make good the damage that he had done by refusing the official from going on a tiger hunt in his kingdom. The king had expected that the British officer’s wife would choose one or two rings and return the others but she just sent a reply saying thanks for the gifts and she kept all the rings. After two days the British jewelers sent a bill of three lakh rupees for the fifty diamond rings they had sent. The Maharaja was happy that he had saved his kingdom for a sum of three lakh rupees

IV

The Maharaja’s tiger hunts continued to be highly successful. Within ten years he was able to kill seventy tigers. And then, an unforeseen hurdle brought his mission to a standstill. The tiger population became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram. Who knows whether the tigers practised birth control or committed harakiri? Or simply ran away from the State because they desired to be shot by British hands alone?

The Maharaja’s tiger hunts continued to be highly successful. Within ten years he was able to kill seventy tigers. And then, an unforeseen hurdle brought his mission to a standstill. The tiger population became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram. Who knows whether the tigers practised birth control or committed harakiri? Or simply ran away from the State because they desired to be shot by British hands alone?

The king was very successful in his tiger hunting missions. In a span of ten years he had killed seventy tigers. An unplanned problem stopped his mission. The problem was that there were no more tigers in Pratibandapuram. The writer creates humour when he says that maybe the tigers practiced birth control activities and did not produce offsprings or maybe they committed suicide. He also adds that it could be that they ran away from Pratibandapuram because they did not want to be killed by an Indian and on the other hand they want it to be killed by a Britisher.     

One day the Maharaja sent for the dewan. ‘‘Dewan saheb, aren’t you aware of the fact that thirty tigers still remain to be shot down by this gun of mine?’’ he asked brandishing his gun.

Brandishing: waving as a threat or in anger or excitement

Shuddering at the sight of the gun, the dewan cried out, ‘‘Your Majesty! I am not a tiger!’’         

Shuddering: tremble with fear

‘‘Which idiot would call you a tiger?’’

“No, and I’m not a gun!’’

“You are neither tiger nor gun. Dewan saheb, I summoned you here for a different purpose. I have decided to get married.’’

Summoned: called

One day the king called his minister and waved his gun towards him. He said that he was yet to kill thirty more tigers. The Minister was scared when he saw the gun and he cried to the king that he was not a tiger as he feared that the king might aim his gun at him. The king said that he was not foolish that he would mistake the minister for a tiger. The Minister was so scared that he added that he was neither a gun. The king said to him that he knew that he was neither a tiger not a gun but on the other hand, the king had called his minister for another work - the king wanted to get married.

The dewan began to babble even more. ‘‘Your Majesty, I have two wives already. If I marry you .

Babble: to talk or say something in a quick, confused, excited, or silly way

‘‘Don’t talk nonsense! Why should I marry you? What I want is a tiger...’’

‘‘Your Majesty! Please think it over. Your ancestors were married to the sword. If you like, marry the gun. A Tiger King is more than enough for this state. It doesn’t need a Tiger Queen as well!’’

The Minister was so confused that he started speaking something in a silly way. He said that the king already had two wives and if the Minister married the king…. the king interrupted the Minister and scolded him for speaking nonsense. He said that he had no reason to marry the Minister and he did not want to marry the Minister. He said that he wanted a tiger so the writer again creates humour when he says that the Minister told the king that he should think over his decision. The minister adds that the king’s ancestors were married to the sword and so, if he wanted he could marry the gun. But marrying a tiger and getting a ‘Tiger Queen’ for the kingdom of Pratibandapuram was not a good thought. He added that a Tiger King was enough for the state and they did not need a Tiger Queen.

The Maharaja gave a loud crack of laughter. ‘‘I’m not thinking of marrying either a tiger or a gun, but a girl from the ranks of human beings. First you may draw up statistics of tiger populations in the different native states. Next you may investigate if there is a girl I can marry in the royal family of a state with a large tiger population.’’

Investigate: find out

This was very hilarious and the Maharaja started laughing. He said that he did not want to marry either a tiger or a gun but he wanted to marry a girl from another Kingdom. He asked his minister to make a list of all the kingdoms and the number of tigers they had. Next, the Minister was supposed to find out if there was a girl worth marrying in the royal family of a state which had a large number of tigers.

The dewan followed his orders. He found the right girl from a state which possessed a large number of tigers.

Maharaja Jung Jung Bahadur killed five or six tigers each time he visited his father-in-law. In this manner, ninety-nine tiger skins adorned the walls of the reception hall in the Pratibandapuram palace.

Maharaja Jung Jung Bahadur killed five or six tigers each time he visited his father-in-law. In this manner, ninety-nine tiger skins adorned the walls of the reception hall in the Pratibandapuram palace.

V 

The Maharaja’s anxiety reached a fever pitch when there remained just one tiger to achieve his tally of a hundred.

Fever pitch: extreme Anxiety: curiosity Tally: count, total

As the Maharaja has killed ninety-nine tigers, he was to kill just one more to complete his total of hundred tigers. He became very anxious and curious to kill the hundredth tiger.

He had this one thought during the day and the same dream at night. By this time the tiger farms had run dry even in his father-in-Iaw’s kingdom. It became impossible to locate tigers anywhere. Yet only one more was needed. If he could kill just that one single beast, the Maharaja would have no fears left. He could give up tiger hunting altogether.

All through the day and night he kept on dreaming of killing the hundredth tiger. The tiger population in the king’s father-in-law’s kingdom had also finished. He could not find a single tiger anywhere. The king was very desperate for one single tiger that he could hunt after which he would give up hunting as he would not fear tigers any longer.

But he had to be extremely careful with that last tiger. What had the late chief astrologer said? “Even after killing ninety-nine tigers the Maharaja should beware of the hundredth...’’ True enough. The tiger was a savage beast after all. One had to be wary of it. But where was that hundredth tiger to be found? It seemed easier to find tiger’s milk than a live tiger

Savage: uncontrolled Wary: be cautious

He was reminded of the late astrologer’s words that he was supposed to be very careful with the hundredth tiger that he hunted and the king agreed that tigers were uncontrolled animals and so he had to be cautious of it. But he was not able to find the hundredth tiger that he could kill. The writer again creates humour by saying that it was easier to find tiger’s milk in the kingdom rather than an alive tiger.

Thus the Maharaja was sunk in gloom. But soon came the happy news which dispelled that gloom. In his own state sheep began to disappear frequently from a hillside village.

Gloom: sadness

Dispelled: removed

It was first ascertained that this was not the work of Khader Mian Saheb or Virasami Naicker, both famed for their ability to swallow sheep whole. Surely, a tiger was at work. The villagers ran to inform the Maharaja. The Maharaja announced a three-year exemption from all taxes for that village and set out on the hunt at once.

Exemption: freedom 

This made the king very sad. He sadness came to an end when he got the news that in a hillside village, sheep was disappearing very fast. There were two people in the kingdomKhader Mian Sahib and Virasami Naicker who could swallow whole sheep. As this was not their job, so it was calculated that there was a tiger at work. The villagers were very excited and they informed the king about it. The Maharaja was so happy that he exempted the villages from all taxes for three years and set out to hunt this tiger.

The tiger was not easily found. It seemed as if it had wantonly hid itself in order to flout the Maharaja’s will.

Wantonly: carelessly Flout: to go against something or someone

The Maharaja was equally determined. He refused to leave the forest until the tiger was found. As the days passed, the Maharaja’s fury and obstinacy mounted alarmingly. Many officers lost their jobs.

Fury: anger Obstinacy: firmness Mounted: increased

The king could not locate the tiger easily and it seemed as if the tiger was hidden in order to go against the king’s desire of killing the tiger. But the king was very determined he did not leave the forest until he would find the tiger. With the passing days he became very angry and was firm to kill the tiger. In his anger he removed many officers from his Kingdom.

One day when his rage was at its height, the Maharaja called the dewan and ordered him to double the land tax forthwith.

Rage: anger

‘‘The people will become discontented. Then our state too will fall a prey to the Indian National Congress.

Discontented: unhappy

One day, in his fury he called the Minister and ordered him to increase the land tax to double. He felt that by doing this, the people would become unhappy and his kingdom would become a part of the Indian National Congress.

‘‘In that case you may resign from your post,’’ said the king.

The dewan went home convinced that if the Maharaja did not find the tiger soon, the results could be catastrophic. He felt life returning to him only when he saw the tiger which had been brought from the People’s Park in Madras and kept hidden in his house.

Catastrophic: causing sudden great damage or suffering

By doing so the Minister would also resign from his post. This was the king’s way of threatening the Minister. The Minister realized that the king was very angry and he thought that if the tiger was not found soon, it could lead to destruction. The Minister found that the tiger that had been brought from the People's Park in Madras was hidden in his house, he felt relieved.

At midnight when the town slept in peace, the dewan and his aged wife dragged the tiger to the car and shoved it into the seat. The dewan himself drove the car straight to the forest where the Maharaja was hunting. When they reached the forest the tiger launched its satyagraha and refused to get out of the car. The dewan was thoroughly exhausted in his efforts to haul the beast out of the car and push it down to the ground.

Haul: pull or drag with effort or force

The Minister along with his wife pulled the tiger into his car and drove the car to the forests where the Maharaja was hunting. The tiger did not come out of the car and the Minister had a tough time pushing the tiger out of the car into the forest.

On the following day, the same old tiger wandered into the Maharaja’s presence and stood as if in humble supplication, “Master, what do you command of me?’’ It was with boundless joy that the Maharaja took careful aim at the beast. The tiger fell in a crumpled heap.

Supplication: pray

The next day the same tiger was spotted by the Maharaja. He was very happy to see the hundredth tiger and he aimed at the tiger. The tiger fell down as if it had been shot dead by the king. He was overjoyed to have killed the hundredth tiger and had fulfilled his wow.

‘‘I have killed the hundredth tiger. My vow has been fulfilled,’’ the Maharaja was overcome with elation.

Ordering the tiger to be brought to the capital in grand procession, the Maharaja hastened away in his car.

Elation: joy Procession: parade

The king was happy to have killed the hundredth tiger. He ordered that the tiger should be brought to the capital in a grand procession and went away in his car.

After the Maharaja left, the hunters went to take a closer look at the tiger. The tiger looked back at them rolling its eyes in bafflement. The men realised that the tiger was not dead; the bullet had missed it. It had fainted from the shock of the bullet whizzing past. The hunters wondered what they should do. They decided that the Maharaja must not come to know that he had missed his target. If he did, they could lose their jobs. One of the hunters took aim from a distance of one foot and shot the tiger. This time he killed it without missing his mark.

Bafflement: confusion

After the king had left the hunters took a closer look at the tiger and saw that it was alive. They realized that the king’s bullet had missed the tiger. The tiger had nearly fainted due to the shock as the bullet had passed close to it. The hunters were confused what to do and so, one of them aimed at the tiger and shot it dead.      

Then, as commanded by the king, the dead tiger was taken in procession through the town and buried. A tomb was erected over it.

Then the hunters followed the king’s orders and took the dead tiger to the town in a procession. It was buried and a beautiful tomb was erected on the tiger’s grave.

A few days later the Maharaja’s son’s third birthday was celebrated. Until then the Maharaja had given his entire mind over to tiger hunting. He had had no time to spare for the crown prince. But now the king turned his attention to the child. He wished to give him some special gift on his birthday. He went to the shopping centre in Pratibandapuram and searched every shop, but couldn’t find anything suitable. Finally he spotted a wooden tiger in a toyshop and decided it was the perfect gift.

After a few days, the maharaja’s son’s third birthday was celebrated. Till that time the king had been so engrossed in tiger hunting that he had never spent any time with his family. Now, as he had fulfilled his wow of killing hundred tigers, he gave his attention to his child. King Jung Jung Bahadur wanted to give a special gift to his son on his birthday and so he went to the shopping centre in Pratibandapuram. He searched every shop but could not find any suitable gift for his son. Finally, he saw a wooden tiger in a toy shop and considered it to be the perfect gift.

The wooden tiger cost only two annas and a quarter. But the shopkeeper knew that if he quoted such a low price to the Maharaja, he would be punished under the rules of the Emergency. So, he said, ‘‘Your Majesty, this is an extremely rare example of craftsmanship. A bargain at three hundred rupees!’’

Annas: currency used in the olden times. 1 anna = 1/16 rupee. 

The wooden tiger cost only two and a quarter annas but the shopkeeper knew that if he quoted such a low price to the king, he would punish him. So, the shop owner told the king that the wooden tiger was a perfect example of craftsmanship and that it cost a mere three hundred rupees.

The wooden tiger cost only two and a quarter annas but the shopkeeper knew that if he quoted such a low price to the king, he would punish him. So, the shop owner told the king that the wooden tiger was a perfect example of craftsmanship and that it cost a mere three hundred rupees.

Slivers: shavings

The king was very happy and he said that this was the shop owner’s gift to the Crown Prince. He took the tiger with him. The king and his son played with the wooden tiger. The tiger had been made by an unskilled carpenter and it had tiny shavings of wood pricking out of it. One of the shavings pierced the maharaja’s right hand. The Maharaja pulled it out and continue to play with the prince.

The next day, infection flared in the Maharaja’s right hand. In four days, it developed into a suppurating sore which spread all over the arm.

Suppurating: a wound full of pus 

Sore: painful inflammation

The next day, there was a lot of infection in the maharaja’s right hand due to that shaving of wood that had pricked his hand. In a period of four days, the infection turned into a wound full of pus and spread all over the king’s right arm.

Three famous surgeons were brought in from Madras. After holding a consultation they decided to operate. The operation took place.

The three surgeons who performed it came out of the theatre and announced, “The operation was successful. The Maharaja is dead.”

In this manner the hundredth tiger took its final revenge upon the Tiger King.

Three famous surgeons were called from Madras and they decided to operate upon the king. After the operation the surgeons came out of the theater and said that the operation was successful and the Maharaja was dead.         

Here the surgeons’ words are contradictory because if the king died, it meant that the operation was unsuccessful whereas they said that it was successful. Actually, they were supporting the words of the astrologer. The wooden tiger was the hundredth tiger that had killed the king Jung Jung Bahadur and thus, made the astrologer’s prediction true. So, in this manner the hundredth tiger took revenge upon the tiger king and killed him.      

The tiger king explanation Question answer CBSE 

Q1. Who is the Tiger King? Why does he get that name?

Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram was called the Tiger King. At the time of his birth the astrologers declared that the prince would have to die one day. The ten-day-old prince asked the astrologers to reveal the manner of his death. The wise men were baffled at this miracle. The chief astrologer said that his death would come from a tiger. The young prince growled and uttered terrifying words: ‘Let tigers beware!’ He decided to kill one hundred tigers. He, thus, got the name ‘Tiger King’.

 

Q2. What did the royal infant grow up to be?

Ans. Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day-by-day. He was brought up by an English nanny and tutored in English by an Englishman. He got the control of his state when he came of age at twenty. He decided to kill tigers. For him it was an act of self-defence, as the astrologers had predicted his death by a tiger 

 

Q3. What will the Maharaja do to find the required number of tigers to kill?

Ans. Within ten years the Maharaja was able to kill seventy tigers. Then the tiger population became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram. One day the Maharaja sent for the dewan and asked him if he was aware of the fact that thirty tigers still remained to be shot down by his gun. The dewan shuddered with fear. The Maharaja told him that he had decided to get married. He asked the dewan to draw up statistics of tiger populations in different native states. Then he was to investigate if there was a girl he could marry in the royal family of a state with a large tiger population. This plan was put into practice. The dewan found the right girl from a state which possessed a large number of tigers. The Maharaja killed five or six tigers each time he visited his father-in-law. Thus, he was able to find the required number of tigers to kill. He shot ninety-nine tigers. 

 

Q4. How will the Maharaja prepare himself for the hundredth tiger which was supposed to decide his fate?

Ans. Maharaja’s anxiety reached the highest level of excitement when only one tiger remained to be killed. He thought of the hundredth tiger during the day and dreamt of it at night. But tiger farms ran dry even in his father-in-law’s kingdom. It became impossible to locate tigers anywhere. If he could kill just that one single beast, the Maharaja would have no fear left. As the late chief astrologer had said that Maharaja should beware of the hundredth tiger. The Maharaja was sunk in gloom. Then came a happy news. In his own state sheep began to disappear frequently from a hillside village. Surely, a tiger was at work. The villagers ran to inform the Maharaja. The Maharaja announced a three-year exemption from all taxes for that village. He set out on the hunt at once. But the tiger was not easily found. The Maharaja continued camping in the forest and waiting for the tiger. 

 

Q5. What will now happen to the astrologer? Do you think the prophecy was indisputably disproved?

Ans. In order to save his skin, the dewan got an old tiger brought from the People’s Park in Madras. It was kept hidden in his house. One midnight with the help of his aged wife, he dragged the tiger to the car and shoved it into the seat. He himself drove the car straight to the forest where the Maharaja was hunting. The dewan hauled the beast out of the car and pushed it down to the ground. Next day, the same old tiger wandered into the Maharaja’s presence. The Maharaja was overjoyed. He took careful aim at the beast. The tiger fell down in a crumpled heap. The Maharaja was extremely happy that he had killed the hundredth tiger.

The hunters found that the old tiger was not dead. It had only fainted on hearing the sound of the bullet. They did not want the Maharaja to know this fact and lose their jobs. iSo one of them shot at it and killed it. The dead tiger was taken in procession through the town and buried there. A tomb was erected over it.

The prophecy was not disproved as the king met his death with the infection caused by the sliver of a wooden tiger. The astrologer was already dead. He could not be punished or rewarded.

 

The tiger king  READING WITH INSIGHT

Q1. The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. How does the author employ the literary device of dramatic irony in the story?

Ans. On surface level, ‘The Tiger King’ seems to be a simple story about a royal prince, his growth and exploits as a king. The prophecies at his birth about the manner of his death make the story interesting by introducing the element of surprise and suspense.

On a deeper level, the story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. It is usually seen that those in power have too much pride in themselves and what they do. Two such specimens in the story are the Tiger King and the British officer. The author employs dramatic irony and humour to show their faults and weaknesses. The words of these characters carry an extra meaning. They do not know what is going to happen. The Tiger King resolves to hunt a hundred tigers to disprove the prediction of the astrologer. In his stubbornness, he falls prey to a wooden tiger. The high-ranking British officer is equally vain. He is more interested in photograph with carcass than hunting itself. The Tiger King offers to organise any other hunt except tiger-hunt. It may be a boar-hunt, mouse- hunt or a mosquito-hunt. He has to lose three lakh of rupees for his refusal. The ego of the British officer is satisfied when his wife is pleased to get diamond rings sent by the Maharaja. 

 

Q2. What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the willfulness of human beings?

Ans. For centuries innocent animals have been subjected to the wilfulness of human beings. Man has been killing animals for sport, meat or organs of body. The author does not make any direct comment about it in the story. Man advances strange logic to defend even his unlawful and cruel acts. The Maharaja quotes an old saying, “You may kill even a cow in self-defence”. Hence, he finds no objection to kill tigers in self-defence. It reveals not only the callousness of human beings towards wildlife but their disregard for maintaining ecological balance. The extinction of tiger species in Pratibandapuram state and the state ruled by the Maharaja’s father-in-law amply illustrates the result of man’s cruelty towards wild animals. An old tiger has to be brought from the People’s Park in Madras to satisfy the king’s whim to kill one hundred tigers.

 

Q3. How would you describe the behaviour of the Maharaja’s minions towards him? Do you 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?

Ans. A minion is an unimportant person in an organisation who has to obey orders. The Maharaja has many minions or servants. Most of them fear the Maharaja and obey his orders faithfully. They dare not disobey him or contradict him. The Maharaja’s displeasure means loss of job or even loss of life. Only a few of them are truly sincere towards him. One such person is the chief astrologer. He is willing to bum his books of astrology, cut off his tuft and crop his hair short if his prediction proves untrue. The others try to keep the Maharaja in good humour. Even the dewan is no exception. Many officers lose their jobs when the Maharaja’s fury and obstinacy mount higher. The king’s bullet misses the hundredth tiger. It faints from the shock and falls as a crumpled heap. The hunters realise the truth, but they decide not to reveal it to the king. They fear that they might lose their jobs.

In today’s political order, subordinates serve their superior bosses as deaf and dumb creatures who see only what their masters want them to see. Their self-interests and fear of elimination make them faithful servants. 

 

Q4. Gan you relate instances of game-hunting among the rich and the powerful in the present times that illustrate the callousness of human beings towards wildlife?

Ans. In our times, big game-hunting has been banned by law as so many species of wildlife have been declared endangered species. Sanctuaries, national parks and games reserves have been established to preserve wildlife from extinction and maintain ecological balance in nature. Even then sporadic cases of game-hunting are reported in newspapers now and then. It is generally noticed that the erstwhile rulers—kings or nawabs or the rich and powerful persons or famous film stars indulge in game-hunting. The cases against late M.A.K. Pataudi and Salman Khan are still pending in courts. Poachers and smugglers too destroy wildlife for skin, meat or for various organs of body and escape scot-free.

 

Q5. We need a new system for the age of ecology—a system which is embedded in the care of all people and also in the care of the Earth and all life upon it. Discuss.

Ans. Modem age is the age of ecology. A new consciousness has arisen among human beings. Animals and birds are as much part of nature as human beings. The destruction or haphazard killing of one species may not only lead to its extinction, but it will adversely affect the ecological balance. Those animals which serve as food for the wild animals will increase in large number, if the beasts of prey are wiped out. Each species, howsoever fierce, deadly, ferocious or poisonous has its own role in the scheme of things. We must devise a new system. It must focus on the care of all living beings on the Earth as well as the Earth itself and all life—vegetative or animal living on it. Steps have to be taken to preserve ecological balance in nature and prevent environmental pollution. Unpolluted air, water and food can make all living beings healthy and enable them to enjoy longer fives.

The tiger king  SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1.Who is the hero of the story ‘The Tiger King’ ? How may he be identified?

Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the hero of this story. He may be identified as His Highness Jamedar-General, Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari, Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K. This name is often shortened to the Tiger King.

 

Q2.What does the author consider imperative right at the start?

Ans. Author considers it imperative to disclose a matter of vital importance about the Tiger King. He was a man of indomitable courage. Eveiyone who reads of him will have a natural desire to meet him face-to-face. But there is no chance of its fulfilment as the Tiger King is dead.

 

Q3. Which matter about the Tiger King is of extraordinary interest?

Ans. The manner of the death of the Tiger King is of extraordinary interest. The most fantastic aspect of his demise was that as soon as he was bom, astrologers had foretold that one day the Tiger King would actually have to die.

 

Q4. What was the great miracle that took place? What was its result?

Ans. The astrologers said the child bom under that particular star would one day have to meet its death. At that very moment a great miracle took place. An astonishing phrase emerged from the lips of the ten-day-old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, “O wise prophets!” Everyone stood motionless with astonishment and stupidity. 

Q5. What did the infant born just ten days ago tell the wise astrologers?

Ans. The infant said that all those who are bom will one day have to die. So he did not need their predictions to know that. He further said that there would be some sense in it if they could tell him the manner of his death.

 

Q6. Why did the Maharaja order the dewan to double the land tax? 

Ans. Maharaja went out on an expedition to find the hundredth tiger. The tiger could not be found. That is why in anger he ordered the dewan to double the land tax.

 

Q7. How did the chief astrologer react to the infant prince’s observation ?

Ans. The chief astrologer was surprised. He placed his finger on his nose in wonder. It was incredible that the ten-day-old infant raised intelligent questions. He said that the prince was bom in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are enemies. Therefore, death comes from the Tiger.

 

Q8. How did the crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grow up?

Ans. The infant had an uneventful childhood. He grew up just like other royal princes of Indian states during the British rule. The prince grew taller and stronger day by day. The boy drank the milk of an English cow. He was brought up by an English nanny and tutored in English by an Englishman. He saw nothing but English films. 

 

Q9. How does the author satirise the upbringing and education of crown princes of Indian states?

Ans. The author makes us laugh by pointing out the excessive love of the Indian kings and queens for English education and English way of fife. They seemed so enamoured of everything English that the crown princes drank the milk of English cows, were brought up by English nannies and tutored in English by Englishmen. They saw only English films. Thus, they were Indians only in flesh and blood, but aped Englishmen in culture and manners.

 

Q10. Why did the Maharaja ban tiger hunting in the state? 

Ans. Maharaja banned the tiger hunting in the state. Because he wanted to prove the predictions of state astrologer wrong that he would be killed by the hundredth tiger. That is why he put a ban on the hunting of tigers on all the tiger-rich forest of Pratibandapuram.

 

Q11. Why, do you think, did the Maharaja send for the State astrologer?

Ans. The Maharaja was excited beyond measure when he killed his first tiger. He felt proud of his feat. He wanted to show the dead beast to the State astrologer. So, he sent for him and wanted to know what he said then.

 

Q12. Sum up in your own words the interview between the Maharaja and the State astrologer.

Ans. On the orders of the Maharaja, the State astrologer said that his majesty might kill ninety- nine tigers in exactly the same manner. But he must be careful with the hundredth tiger. The Maharaja observed that the hundredth tiger might also be killed. What will happen then? The astrologer said that then he would tear up all his books on astrology and set fire to them. Moreover, he would cut off his tuft, crop his hair short and become an insurance agent.

 

Q13.Point out the irony in the statement: “From that day onwards it was celebration time for all the tigers inhabiting Pratibandapuram.”

Ans. The state banned tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja. An official statement was issued. If anyone dared to harm a tiger even by flinging a stone at him, all his wealth and property would be confiscated. The tigers could rejoice that they would not be killed by the riff-raff. The irony is that they were set to die at the hands of the Maharaja. The bullets of his gun awaited them.

 

Q14.Hew did the Maharaja devote himself to realise his ambition? How far did he succeed?

Ans. The Maharaja pursued his ambition with single minded devotion. He vowed that he would attend to all other matters only after killing the hundred tigers. He bravely faced many dangers to his life from tigers in achieving his mission. Sometimes he had to fight a tiger with his bare hands. But each time the Maharaja proved victorious by killing the beast. 

Q15.Why, do you think, was the Maharaja in danger of losing his throne ?

Ans. The Maharaja had annoyed a high-ranking British officer by refusing him permission to hunt tigers in Pratibandapuram. The Maharaja did not relent even when the request was toned down that the durai himself did not have to kill the tiger. The Maharaja could do the actual killing. The durai wanted only a photograph of himself holding the gun and standing over the tiger’s carcass. The Maharaja stood in danger of losing his throne because he prevented a British officer from fulfilling his desire.

 

Q16.What traits of the Maharaja and the British officer are exposed and satirised through the episode of refusal of permission for tiger hunt by the British officer?

Ans. It reveals that the Maharaja was wilful, obstinate and adamant. He had a false sense of honour. If he had permitted one British officers, others would also turn up. He is quite unreasonable and shows lack of understanding. Thus, he lacks practical approach. He would sacrifice diamonds to preserve his throne.

The British officer seems publicity conscious. He is more interested in the photographs with the dead-tiger than in the tiger-hunt. The costly gift of diamonds mollifies his hurt ego.

 

Q17. Would it be proper to call the Maharaja ‘penny-wise, pound foolish’? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. The Maharaja insists on restricting tiger-killing in his state to himself. He is unwilling to compromise in this regard. He would not let any other person be even photographed with a dead tiger in his state. He has to send a gift of fifty diamond rings to the British officer’s good lady to placate the injured feelings of the man and to retain his kingdom. It illustrates that he was penny-wise, pound foolish.

 

Q18. What sort of hunts did the Maharaja offer to organise for the high-ranking British officer ? What trait of the persons in high position does it reveal ?

Ans. The Maharaja offered to organise any other hunt in place of the tiger hunt for the high- ranking British officer. He might go on a boar-hunt. A mouse-hunt might be conducted. They were ready even for a’ mosquito-hunt. This shows the vanity and love of idle pursuits and frivolous pastimes by the persons in high position.

 

Q19.Comment on the ‘rings episode’ in the story ‘The Tiger King’.

Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram ordered a famous British company of jewellers in Calcutta to send samples of expensive diamond rings of different designs. Some fifty rings arrived. The Maharaja sent the whole lot to the British officer’s good lady. He expected her to choose one or two rings and send the rest back. But she simply sent a letter of thanks.

The episode reveals human weaknesses such as vanity, pride, greed, cunningness, flattery and appeasement.

 

Q20……. an unforeseen hurdle brought his mission to a standstill”. What was the mission and how did it stop? What do you find amusing in the reasons justifying the ‘hurdle’?

Ans.The Maharaja’s mission was to shoot one hundred tigers. He had killed seventy tigers within ten years. Then the tiger population became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram. The possible reasons for the absence of tigers are quite amusing and even ludicrous. Either the tigers practised birth control or they committed suicide. They might have run away from the state. Perhaps they desired to be shot by the British hands alone.

 

Q21.How did the dewan behave when the Maharaja summoned him and brandished his gun?

Ans. The dewan shuddered at the sight of the gun. He cried out, “Your Majesty! I am not a tiger!” The Maharaja enquired which idiot would call him a tiger. The dewan then declared that he was not a gun. The Maharaja became a bit polite. Addressing him as ‘Dewan Saheb’ he assured him that he was neither tiger nor gun. He was summoned there for a different purpose.

 

Q22. How did the dewan react to the Maharaja’s declaration. “I have decided to get married”?

Ans. The reaction of the dewan is quite funny and amusing. He thinks that the Maharaja wants to marry him. He says that he has already two wives. The Maharaja clarifies that he does not want to marry him. He wants a tiger. The dewan interrupts him saying that his ancestors were married to the sword. He might marry the gun if he liked. He added that a Tiger King was more than enough for that state. It did not need a Tiger Queen as well.

 

Q23. How did the Maharaja make his intentions clear to the dewan ? What, do you think, is his first priority in marriage ?

Ans. The Maharaja said that he was not thinking of marrying either a tiger or a gun. He wanted to marry a girl from the ranks of human beings. He asked the dewan to collect statistics of tiger population in the different native states. Then he should find out if there was a girl he could marry in the royal family of the state with a large tiger population. Evidently, his first priority is the tiger,

 

Q24.How did the Maharaja succeed in raising his tiger tally to ninety-nine?

Ans. The Maharaja married a girl from a state which possessed a large number of tigers. Each time he visited his father-in-law, he killed five or six tigers. In this manner he raised the tally of tigers killed by him from seventy to ninety-nine.

 

Q25.Why was the Maharaja so anxious to kill the hundredth tiger?

Ans. The Maharaja had killed ninety-nine tigers. If he could kill just one more tiger, he would have no fear left. Then he could give up tiger hunting altogether. He thought of the tiger during the day and dreamt of it at night. Moreover, he had to be extremely careful with that last tiger. The late chifef astrologer had already warned him.

 

Q26.“It seemed easier to find tiger’s milk than a live tiger” Why? What does the contradiction imply?

Ans. As the Maharaja reached near the coveted figure of hundred, his difficulties also multiplied. He had already killed ninety-nine tigers, but then the tiger farms ran dry even in his father-in-law’s kingdom. It became impossible to locate tigers anywhere. The hundredth tiger seemed difficult to find. One can’t get tiger’s milk without finding the tigress. Yet it is thought easier than finding a live tiger. The contradiction implies the difficulty in locating a tiger.

 

Q27.Why was the Maharaja sunk in gloom? Was he able to overpower it? How /How not?

Ans. Only one tiger remained to be killed by the Maharaja, but it seemed impossible to locate a tiger. So, the Maharaja was sunk in gloom. Then he got the happy news. In his own state sheep began to disappear frequently from a hillside village. It was found out that this was not the work of Khader Mian Saheb or Virasami Naicker. Both of them could swallow sheep whole. It was then deduced that it was the work of a tiger. The villagers ran to inform the Maharaja about the availability of a tiger.

 

Q28.What aspects of the Maharaja’s nature and conduct does the wait for the hundredth tiger reveal?

Ans. The wait for the hundredth tiger reveals the royal rage, obstinacy and firm determination of the Maharaja. He refused to leave the forest until the tiger was found. Many officers lost their jobs because of his anger. Even the dewan was asked to resign his post. This shows that the Maharaja was insensitive towards his employees.

 

Q29.How, do you think, did the dewan try to help the Maharaja achieve his mission?

Ans. The aged dewan was very wise. He brought an old tiger from the People’s Park in Madras. He kept it hidden in his house. Judging the impatience of the Maharaja to shoot the tiger, he decided to release it near the Maharaja’s camp. So, at midnight he dragged the tiger to the car with the help of his aged wife and shoved it into the seat. He drove the car himself straight to the forest and hauled the beast out of the car and pushed it down to the ground near the Maharaja’s camp.

 

Q30.How does the tiger behave towards the dewan, the Maharaja and the hunters? What does his behaviour show?

Ans. The tiger behaves like a pet animal with the dewan. The dewan and his aged wife drag the tiger to the car and shove it into the seat. In the forest, the tiger launches its satyagraha and refuses to get out of the car. The Dewan tries hard to haul it out of the car and push it down to the ground.

It stands before the Maharaja as if in humble supplication. It falls down in a crumpled heap as the Maharaja fires the gun. It faints from the shock of the bullet whizzing past. It looks back at the hunters rolling its eyes in bafflement. This shows that it is a very old and weak tiger.

 

Q31.“The bullet had missed it.” “This time he killed it without missing his mark.” Whose bullet had missed the tiger? How was the beast killed ultimately? Bring out the irony of the situation.

Ans. The Maharaja’s bullet missed the tiger though he had taken careful aim at the beast. The shock of the sound of the bullet made it faint. One hunter took aim from a distance of one foot and shot the tiger dead.

It is ridiculous that the Tiger King who had killed ninety-nine tigers should miss his aim. It is funny that the hunter takes aim from a hand-shaking distance. The whole situation is ironic.

 

Q32. How does the hundredth tiger take its final revenge upon the Tiger King?

Ans. The Tiger King could not kill the hundredth tiger. It had merely fainted from shock of the sound of the bullet. It is the wooden tiger from the toyshop that becomes the cause of Maharaja’s death. One of the slivers on its body pierces the Maharaja’s right hand. Infection flares up and the prick develops into a suppurating sore. The Maharaja dies during the operation.

 

The tiger king LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. What do you learn about princes and kings of native Indian states during the British rule from the story ‘The Tiger King’?

Ans. The story ‘The Tiger King’ presents a fair glimpse of the young princes and the Maharajas f native Indian states. Their long names with descriptive titles and decorative honours was more a rule than an exception. They considered recognition from the British government and its officers a favour. They aped the Britishers in upbringing, education, manners and behaviour. The Maharajas were autocrats and their words were the law. They could be benevolent as well as stubborn. Their minions as well as ministers feared and respected them. Sometimes their whims proved quite costly to the state coffer. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram spends three lakh of rupees on gift of diamond rings to retain his kingdom. Marriages with princesses of other states are based on considerations other than love or virtues of the girl. In short, the Princes and Maharajas are portrayed as whimsical, stubborn and excitable persons proud of their virtues and valour.

 

Q2. What did the astrologers predict about the infant prince ? What was the miracle that baffled them. ? What did the chief astrologer enlighten the prince about and how ?

Ans. As soon as the prince was bom, astrologers predicted that one day the Tiger King would certainly have to die. It was the influence of the star under which he was bom. At that very moment a great miracle took place. An astonishing phrase emerged from the lips of the ten-day-old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, “O wise prophets!” Everyone stood motionless with astonishment and stupidity. The infant said that all those who are bom will have to die one day. So he did not need their predictions to know that. However, there would be some sense in it if they could tell him the manner of that death.

The astrologers were baffled that a baby barely ten-day-old has not only opened his lips in speech but had also raised intelligent questions. It was quite incredible. The chief astrolo¬ger fixed his eyes upon the little prince. He said that the prince was bom in the hour of the

Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are enemies. Therefore, death comes from the Tiger.

 

Q3. How did the Maharaja try to disprove the prediction of the chief astrologer? What did the state astrologer assert when the Maharaja summoned him to show his first kill?

Ans. Since the astrologers had predicted death from Tiger, the Maharaja decided to kill tigers to defend himself. Hence he started out on a tiger hunt campaign. There were enough tigers in the forests of Pratibandapuram state. The Maharaja was thrilled beyond mea¬sure when he killed his first tiger. He sent for the state astrologer and showed him the dead beast.

The Maharaja asked the astrologer what he said then. The astrologer said that his maj-esty might kill ninety-nine tigers in exactly the same manner, but he must be very careful with the hundredth tiger. Maharaja wanted to know what would happen if the hundredth ; tiger was also killed.

The state astrologer said that in that case he would tear up all his books on astrology and ‘ set fire to them. Moreover, he would cut off his tuft, crop his hair short and become an insurance agent.

 

Q4. What problems did the Maharaja face in pursuit of his mission ? How did he resolve them ?

Ans. The Maharaja started his mission of killing one hundred tigers with single-minded devotion. He focused all his energy and attention to it. He vowed that he would attend to all other matters only after killing one hundred tigers. Initially, the king seemed well set to realise his ambition. Then dangers and difficulties cropped up. There were times when the bullet missed its mark. The tiger would leap upon him and he had to fight the wild beast with his bare hands. Luckily, each time the Maharaja, who had indomitable courage, won.

Once he was in danger of losing his throne because he did not permit a high-ranking British officer to hunt a tiger in the Pratibandapuram forest. The king did not accede to his request for being photographed with a gun on the carcass of a tiger killed by the Maharaja. The Maharaja had to part with a costly gift to placate his injured feelings and save his kingdom.

 

Q5. How does the author satirise the hunting instincts of the persons in authority ?

Ans. The story tells us that big game hunting was considered a royal sport. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram went to the extent of banning tiger-hunt in his own kingdom by all others except himself.

Tiger-hunt became an obsession for him. He thought of tiger during the day and dreamt of it at night. He postponed all affairs of the state and devoted himself only to tiger-hunt. Thus, a pastime or sport became the only aim of his life. He married for the sake of tiger. He chose a princess in whose kingdom there were plenty of tigers. He could undertake any risks for tiger-hunt.

The British officers had also developed a fondness for this royal sport. Perhaps they considered it a status symbol. They were publicity conscious and wanted to be photographed with a gun in hand and the carcass of a tiger at feet. Various other hunts were also prevalent. These included boar-hunt, mouse-hunt and mosquito-hunt. The descending order of risk and resistance from the victims makes us laugh at the whims and craziness of the hunters. Thus, the story exposes the fondness of persons in authority for hunting wild animals.

 

Q6. How did the Maharaja devise a new avenue to fulfil his ambition to kill one hundred tigers? How far did he succeed?

Ans. The Tiger King had resolved to kill one hundred tigers. During ten years he killed seventy tigers in his kingdom. Then the tigers became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram. The Maharaja devised a plan. He decided to get married. He asked the dewan to collect statistics of tiger population in different native states. Then he was assigned the job to find out if there was any girl in the royal household that he could marry. The main criterion for the selection of the princess was that her father’s kingdom should have a large number of tiger population. The dewan complied with the orders of the Maharaja. Then the Maharaja married a girl from a state which possessed a large tiger population. Each time he visited his father-in-law, he killed five or six tigers. In this way he was successful in killing niqety-nine tigers.

 

Q7. Give an account of the Maharaja’s impatience for the hundredth tiger and the actual encounter. What, do you think, caused the death of the Tiger King?

Ans. The Maharaja was keen to kill the hundredth tiger. If he did so, he would have no fears left. It became impossible to locate tigers anywhere. When the villagers informed him of the activities of a tiger near hillside, he went to the forest and waited there. The tiger seemed to have deliberately hid himself to defy the Maharaja’s will.

The wise, aged dewan got an old tiger brought from the People’s Park in Madras. He released it at night in the forest near the Maharaja’s camp. In the morning, the same tiger wandered into the Maharaja’s presence and stood their meekly. The Maharaja took careful aim at the beast. The tiger fell down. Actually the bullet had missed it, The old tiger had fainted with the shock of the bullet passing near him.

The Tiger King died due to an infection from a tiny sliver of a wooden tiger. The prick developed into a sore with pus. A surgical operation was performed on his arm, but he died. The writer comments that the hundredth tiger took its final revenge upon the Tiger King.

 

Q8. Comment on the ending of the story ‘The Tiger King’. Do you find it convincing? Give reasons.

Ans. The ending of the story ‘The Tiger King’ seems tame, unconvincing and rather contrived. It seems unnatural and unrealistic. It is beyond comprehension how a king who has over powered ferocious tigers in single combat with bare hands succumbs to a prick from the sliver of a wooden tiger.

It is amazing to find how the infection flares in the Maharaja’s right hand. In four days, the prick develops into a suppurating sore and spreads all over the arm. The three sur¬geons perform a successful operation but fail to save the Maharaja. How is the operation successful then? It seems that the author wants us to believe that the astrologer was right and the hundredth tiger took its final revenge upon the Tiger King.This ending may satisfy superstitious readers with orthodox beliefs, but for the enlight¬ened minds of the age of computers and rockets it is a bitter pill to swallow.

 

Q9. Comment on the appropriateness of the title ‘The Tiger King’.

Ans. ‘The Tiger King’ is a quite appropriate and suggestive title. It focuses attention on the hero of the story—The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, who is also nick named the Tiger King. The story spans from his birth to death and covers all the landmarks connected with his passion—tiger-hunt. For him human relations and the affairs of the state are second¬ary. He marries a princess for the sake of a tiger. When he celebrates the third birthday of the crown prince, he brings a wooden tiger for him as a gift. It is ironic that the sliver of the wooden tiger causes his death. The overconfidence and false sense of security of the Tiger King on having killed the hundredth tiger leads to his doom. The story which begins with the prediction of death of the Tiger King right at his birth, ends with his death from a tiger. Thus, the title is quite apt.

 

Q10.What devices does the author use to make the story ‘The Tiger King’ humorous and interesting?

Ans. The author uses many literary devices to make this story humorous as well as interest-ing. He introduces the elements of shock and surprise by making the ten-day-old baby open his lips to talk and ask intelligent questions. The predictions of the astrologers convey inevitability of death, but the man of indomitable courage i.e., the Tiger King faces the agent of death i.e., the tiger many times and comes out victorious every time.

The description of the education and upbringing of crown princes of Indian states and their craze for ‘English’ provides lots of fun. The mention of various hunts: tiger-hunt, boar-hunt, mouse-hunt, mosquito-hunt makes us laugh at the pastimes of the people in authority at the cost of innocent animals. The last two hunts seem funny and ridiculous.

The Maharaja’s thought of marrying a girl for the sake of tiger is also amusing. The behaviour of the high-ranking British officer and that of the Maharaja and his dewan at different points in the story provoke laughter and maintain the reader’s interest in the narrative.