THE TIGER KING

BY KALKI
PRESENTED BY Dr. NEELAM
BHATT
AUTHOR- KALKI
Ramaswamy Aiyer
Krishnamurthy
9 September 1899 – 5
December 1954
Pen name ‘Kalki’
 CENTRAL IDEA OF THE
LESSON
• Pride comes before a fall
 death is the great equalizer.
 • Man should learn to respect life and take care of all the creatures
of the Earth.
It makes an appeal for the protection of the tiger and for all flora
and fauna.
• Man has ravaged nature for his own selfish purposes. However
nature has a way of taking revenge.
• The author believes in the dictum-’Live and let live’. Killing for
pleasure is a grave sin.
 THE MAHARAJA
The story is narrated about the Maharaja of
Pratibandapuram in an ironical and satirical style.
The story is about the foolishness of this king named Jilani
Jung Jung Bahadur or The Tiger King. 
He is comical and eccentric character who behaves like an
autocrat.
He is ruthless, exploits nature and considers it his legacy.
ASTROLOGER’S PREDICTION ON KING’S BIRTH
THE KING WAS JUST 10 DAY OLD BABY.
An astrologer had foretold that one day the king would die.
Suddenly the ten day old Jung Jung Bahadur uttered: “ it
would be better if the manner of my death is disclosed”
The astrologer answered the query that the death of the
warrior of warriors would be by a tiger.
The 10 day old uttered arrogantly , “ Let tigers beware!”
THE ASTROLOGER’S PREDICTION WAS PROVEN WRONG

The tiger king, at 20 killed a tiger and informed the

astrologer.
The astrologer told that harm would come from
100th tiger.
The king took a vow to kill 100 tigers.
Neglected kingdom, his family.
Started the venture of killing 100th tiger.
Faced dangers but kept on killing tigers.
 PROCLAMINATION
 People were prohibited even to pelt a stone on tigers.
 If disobeyed, property would be confiscated.
 In the span of ten years, showing Indomitable courage, he killed 70
tigers.
 BRITISH OFFICER’S REQUEST
requested to hunt tigers.
the maharaja refused.
another request- to be photographed with the
carcass of the tiger killed by the maharaja.
request was again turned down.
British officer was angry.
.
 TO PLEASE THE BRITISH
OFFICER…
a) the maharaja sent fifty diamond rings to
the officer’s wife expecting her to pick
one.
b) The lady kept all and sent her thanks to
the Maharaja.

THE MAHARAJA WAS SUCCESSFUL

IN SAVING HIS KINGDOME !
THE TIGER POPULATION BECAME EXTINCT IN PRATIBANDAPURAM

The maharaja married a girl from a royal family

where tiger population was rich.
Whenever visited his father -in-law, would kill
tigers there.
Marriage helped him kill total 99 tigers.
Only one was to be killed to prove the
astrologer wrong.
 IN THE FURY OF NOT GETTING THE 100TH TIGER…
He doubled the land tax.
he dismissed many officers. 
The Dewan was threaten to find the hundredth tiger or
resign.
 A TIGER FOUND

The Dewan had a tiger hidden in his house.

He had brought it from the People’s Park in Madras.
The Dewan managed to take the old haggard tiger to the spot in
the forest where king was on hunting expedition.
The king shot the tiger.
The dead tiger was brought to his capital in grand procession.
 DRAMATIC IRONY
 One hunter 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.
 They decided not to disclose the matter to the Maharaja.
 Otherwise, they could lose their jobs.
 One of the hunters took aim from a distance and shot the tiger.
 DEATH OF THE MAHARAJA
 Bought a wooden tiger for his son on his birthday- carved by an
unskilled carpenter.
 Maharaja injured his hand.(a sliver pierced his finger)
 The infection flared up and caused his death despite the best
surgeons.
 Destiny took its final revenge on ‘The Tiger King’.
 The arrogance and power of man is crushed by the nature in due
course of time.
 As you sow, so shall you reap.