The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga is the story of how a man from Dhanbad becomes another man in Delhi, and the entire blame, undoubtedly, is on Delhi. As he says, 'The city has corrupted my master (and me)'. Through the story and the brilliant satirical writing of his, Aravind Adiga brings out the harsh reality of the lives of people in smaller towns of the country, and how, even on migration to the cities, their lives don't improve much. The black trio of poverty, illiteracy and corruption is what runs the main theme of the story. The author manages to humor you, paint a vivid image of what he's describing, that is, the real picture of the country through the eyes and experiences of those at the bottom of the social ladder, and unapologetically criticizes the political scenario of the country. No doubt it won the Man Booker Prize in the same year it was published.

nI've read a few reviews where people felt that the author criticized the country a little too much and could have maybe avoided that. I don't agree. At all. It is only through his satirical writing that the author makes us feel angry and sad and guilty about the lives we unquestionably believe to be 'sad and not enough', while those who haven't had even half of our privileges still manage to get by. But what if they snap? What if one day these people, who'd been cleaning and cooking for us till now with nothing but a meagre salary that we don't hesitate to deduct if they miss work for one day, decide to take things in their own hands? What then? And that's what The White Tiger answers for you. It is in no way an easy read, but it is one book you'll be glad you read.