Paper - 13 Assignment
Name : Makwana Daksha D.
Course : M.A
Sem : 4 Roll no : 5
Enrollment no : 2069108420180034
Paper : 13 : The New literature
Topic : Representation of India in " The White Tiger "
Submitted to : Department of English MKBU
Makwnadaksha9@gmail.com
Introduction:
White Tiger is a novel written by Arvind Adiga. It was first published in 2008 and won 40th Man booker prize in the same year. He wrote the white Tiger as Flash back novel. Arvind Adiga was born in Madras in 23th Octobers1974. The novel provides a darkly humorous perspective of India’s class struggle in a globalized world as told through a retrospective narration from Balram Halwai, a village boy. In detailing Balram's journey first to Delhi, where he works as a chauffeur to a rich landlord, and then to Bangalore, the place to which he flees after killing his master and stealing his money, the novel examines issues of religion, caste, loyalty, corruption and poverty in India.
An India of light :
1) Globalization :
Throughout the novel Adiga has portrayed the effects of globalization in the indiIn scenario. Incresement in technology lead the globalization of the world. In the novel we find Americanization and its effect on characters. Pinky madam wife of Ashok Sharma , very fond of American culture. That's why Balram , Ashok and Pinky madam moves in Delhi. Ashok justifies that Microsoft and all big companies have office there. Shopping malls and cinema well developed and if Pinky madam wants American culture that she would get here.
Throughout the novel Adiga has portrayed the effects of globalization in the indiIn scenario. Incresement in technology lead the globalization of the world. In the novel we find Americanization and its effect on characters. Pinky madam wife of Ashok Sharma , very fond of American culture. That's why Balram , Ashok and Pinky madam moves in Delhi. Ashok justifies that Microsoft and all big companies have office there. Shopping malls and cinema well developed and if Pinky madam wants American culture that she would get here.
Balram plans to keep up with the pace of globalization and change his trade when need be : " I am always a man who sees ' Tomorrow ' when other sees ' Today '. Balram ' s recognition of the increasing competition resulting from globalization contributes to his corruption. Globalization replaces the native cultures by consumerist culture. Globalization as term of westernization accepted as part of civilization. The term " panopticism " associated with globalization. It defines servant - master relationship . Master have power and contrlco servant. Balram have to follow master Ashok and have no freedom.
2) Individualism :
Balram grew up very different then his home environment. He choose his individual path for success. While in primary school inspection police named him as " White Tiger " creature in jungle. He named him for his talents and skills. Balram choose his way out of Darkness ways into light. By following individuality Balram becomes successful entrepreneur at all. Indian family follows traditional ways of lifestyle that also presents darkness. Balram ' s individuality demands the sacrifice of his family and has not hesitation for it.
Balram grew up very different then his home environment. He choose his individual path for success. While in primary school inspection police named him as " White Tiger " creature in jungle. He named him for his talents and skills. Balram choose his way out of Darkness ways into light. By following individuality Balram becomes successful entrepreneur at all. Indian family follows traditional ways of lifestyle that also presents darkness. Balram ' s individuality demands the sacrifice of his family and has not hesitation for it.
3) Freedom :
Throughout the novel , we find protagonist Balram ' s quest for freedom. He worked in his way out of his low social caste and overcome the social obstacles that limited his family in the past. The novel is somewhat of a memory of his journey to finding his freedom in India ' s modern day capitalist society. Balram wants freedom from the tradition of society which always binds him in coop. Balram also refers Muslim poet Iqbal,
" They remain slaves because they can't see what is beautiful in this world . "
Throughout the novel , we find protagonist Balram ' s quest for freedom. He worked in his way out of his low social caste and overcome the social obstacles that limited his family in the past. The novel is somewhat of a memory of his journey to finding his freedom in India ' s modern day capitalist society. Balram wants freedom from the tradition of society which always binds him in coop. Balram also refers Muslim poet Iqbal,
" They remain slaves because they can't see what is beautiful in this world . "
4) Social caste / class :
Adiga in the novel depicts Indian social structure and it's effect on the lives of people. There is pure distribution of higher and lower class in the society. Adiga also explain different attitude of higher class people towards lower. The novel based on disparities of two worlds : darkness , inhabited by poors and underprivileged who can't even meettheir bare minimums. And of the lighten world , inhabited by Zamindar , politician and businessman etc. They become more rich by exploiting poor for their granduer. This is how class structure makes poor more poor and rich more rich. In India there are just two castes , men with big bellies & men with small bellies. And only two destinies - eat or get eaten up .
Adiga in the novel depicts Indian social structure and it's effect on the lives of people. There is pure distribution of higher and lower class in the society. Adiga also explain different attitude of higher class people towards lower. The novel based on disparities of two worlds : darkness , inhabited by poors and underprivileged who can't even meettheir bare minimums. And of the lighten world , inhabited by Zamindar , politician and businessman etc. They become more rich by exploiting poor for their granduer. This is how class structure makes poor more poor and rich more rich. In India there are just two castes , men with big bellies & men with small bellies. And only two destinies - eat or get eaten up .
When Balram was asked about his caste before being employed as driver. He knows that his caste would create bias on the decision of his master. Balram also become main driver by revealing true identity of Ram Prasad who is Muslim.
Adiga raises the question about marginal ' s socio- cultural and economic conditions. Adiga rightly gives a message that marginals are still waiting for their rights and betterment.
5) Morality :
In the novel , we find Balram immoral because he did criminal acts like corruption , stealing money of his master , murder of Ashok. That is according to our thinking of Indian society. But he breaks the tradition and choose his own way in life. He wants to free from servitude that's why he choose his own morality. According to Nietzsche's concept of Ubermensch , " Super- man " Balram follows personal morality that is more difficult. Balram rationalize his choice by individual way rather than following social morality. That presents lightness of India.
In the novel , we find Balram immoral because he did criminal acts like corruption , stealing money of his master , murder of Ashok. That is according to our thinking of Indian society. But he breaks the tradition and choose his own way in life. He wants to free from servitude that's why he choose his own morality. According to Nietzsche's concept of Ubermensch , " Super- man " Balram follows personal morality that is more difficult. Balram rationalize his choice by individual way rather than following social morality. That presents lightness of India.
Village life :
In the novel narration of Laxmangarh village . Which is ruled by four landlords. They controls the villagers. For Balram' s cousin ' s marriage they have deb of one of the landlord . And for payment of it they become servant of them . Balram have to left the school and have to work in teashop or coal business of landlord.
Educational Backwardness :
In Laxmangarh village only one teacher for poor children. Teacher ' s interest in stealing money from school food programme and selling the uniform means for the students. No one blames for this . They believed lame excuse of not being paid for the last six months.
Family don't even get bother of naming the children. They live or die without a name or identity. Because of poverty children have to left studies and have to labour , Balram have also left education because of poverty . He have to worked in teashop or coal business.
Corruption :
Indian political system , judiciary , police , administrative officer all have different standards for the elite and different one for the economically deprived. In the novel , corruption in education system , then in village , Ashok ' s corruption , then Balram ' s corruption , bribes police for business and all represents corruption in every system of India. Balram says,
" I was looking for the key for years ,
But the door was always open. "
Master - servant relationship also represent the darkness. Balram is servant of Ashok. When Pinky madam makes an accident , then Balram takes blame of accident on him. That reflects servitude. Balram kills his master. Which represents Rooster croop idea. This idea is vision of enslaved indian.
That don't even attempted to escape from the servitude.
" Amazing how much money they have
And yet they treat us like animals ."
Election system also presents darkness of India. Balram ' s father have voted twelve times but never himself. This election gave birth date to Balram. All are very deep concerns. Balram states , " I am India ' s most faithful voter and I still have not seen the inside of a voting booth ."
Marriage in India also represents darkness , because of cousin ' s marriage and dowry , Balram deprived of education.
Conclusion : throughout the novel Adiga presents lightness and darkness of India very effectively . Which raises the question on darkside of India on economy , politocs , social and cultural traditions. According to Adiga, the exigence for The White Tiger was to capture the unspoken voice of people from "the Darkness" – the impoverished areas of rural India, and he "wanted to do so without sentimentality or portraying them as mirthless humorless weaklings as they are usually.
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