Chapter 2: The Tiger King

NCERT Solutions Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 2: The Tiger King

Introduction to The Tiger King Chapter

The Tiger King is the second chapter in the Class 12 English Vistas textbook, written by Tamil author and journalist Kalki. The story is a satire that mocks the arrogance of those in power, told through the tale of a Maharaja determined to defy a prophecy about his own death. Beneath its humour, the chapter carries sharp commentary on fate, ego, and the careless exploitation of nature by people who believe authority makes them invincible. Check out NCERT Solutions for Class 12 and NCERT solutions for Class 12 English, NCERT solutions for Class 10 English-Vistas.

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About the Author Kalki

Kalki, whose real name was Krishnamurthy, was a well-known Tamil writer, journalist, and freedom fighter. He is remembered for combining storytelling with social and political commentary, often using irony and wit to expose the foolishness of the powerful. The Tiger King is a fine example of his satirical style, where a serious theme of mortality is presented through comic exaggeration.

Setting and Background of the Story

The story is set in the fictional princely state of Pratibandapuram during the era of British colonial influence over Indian royal states. This setting lets the author comment not only on one ruler's vanity but also on the dynamics between Indian princes and British officials, where favours and flattery often decided political fortunes.

Main Characters in The Tiger King

Plot Summary in Brief

At his birth, astrologers predict that Jung Jung Bahadur will die because of a tiger. The infant is said to have spoken at ten days old, challenging the astrologers to reveal how he would die rather than simply that he would. Once he becomes Maharaja at twenty, he resolves to kill one hundred tigers. He bans all other tiger hunting in his kingdom, marries a princess from a tiger-rich state once his own forests run short, and bribes a British officer with expensive gifts to avoid letting him hunt. After years of hunting he reaches ninety-nine tigers, but the hundredth proves impossible to find. To save face, his Dewan secretly arranges an old, half-dead tiger from a zoo, which the Maharaja shoots, believing he has completed his vow. Later, while playing with his son, a splinter from a wooden toy tiger pierces his hand. The wound turns infected, and despite surgery he dies, making the prophecy come true through an animal that was never alive at all.

Themes Explored in the Chapter

• Irony of fate: All the Maharaja's efforts to escape death by a tiger are undone by a toy tiger, not a real one.

• Abuse of power: The king bans hunting for everyone but himself and exploits his subjects for personal ambition.

• Colonial flattery and politics: The diamond-rings episode shows how Indian rulers appeased British officials to protect their thrones.

• Human disregard for nature: The relentless killing of tigers reflects how authority often treats wildlife as expendable.

Key Literary Devices Used

Important Points for Exam Preparation

Exam answers often ask students to explain how dramatic irony is used throughout, describe the significance of the wooden tiger in the climax, and discuss the story as a critique of those who misuse authority. Questions may also explore the Maharaja-British officer relationship as a reflection of colonial-era power dynamics.

Quick Reference Table

Conclusion

The Tiger King endures as a memorable chapter because it uses humour to deliver a serious message about pride, fate, and the consequences of unchecked power. Its blend of irony and satire makes it a rich text for analysing how authors use comic storytelling to critique real social behaviour.