The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

Book: The White Tiger
Author: Aravind Adiga
Paperback: 304 pages
Fame: Man Booker Prize Winner
Challenge: OT Challenge 2009 (India)

The backdrop of the book is one long letter written by a driver called Balram Halwai to the Premier of China over 7 long nights. On learning through news channels that the Premier of China is going to visit India, Balram sets out to educate him on Indian's entrepreneur abilities. It is a very dark humorous novel that describes Balram journey from the son of a rickshaw puller in Laxmanbargh to a driver in Delhi to an entrepreneur in Bangalore. It drives home the differences between the rich and the poor in India. The gulf between the two has widened with India's growth in the global economy.

If I'd read this book 2 years ago while I was still living in USA, my opinion would have been that the author is trying to cash in with portrayal of India when the country is trying to make its presence felt in the world. But now, I feel most of what he has written is true. The rich aka Light do live a very privileged life and the poor aka Darkness do actually live in the dark. They do have the 'rooster coop' mentality of wanting to stay that way as well. There are more than a few 'White Tigers' who do break out it though (not by killing their masters as how Balram does it though). But I do disagree on some points the author makes but I can understand that he has used his writer's privilege to exaggerate a little to drive his point home.

Back to the book, it essays Balram's journey as a kid who is bright in school but is pulled out because his family owns money to the landlords and they need an additional worker in the tea shop. He is deeply affected by his father's death due to TB (Tuber colosis) and his death due to negligence which he believes only the poor have to endure, in fact he later tells his boss that he has a skin disease and its the kind of disease that only the poor get. He progresses from a tea boy to a driver and somehow wheedles in a job as a driver to the village landlord and deviously blackmails to land the job of a driver to the landlord's son to Delhi (the capital of India). Delhi is set as a backdrop to drive home the differences between the Light and the Darkness. Where the rich urban elite live in satellite cities like Gurgaon and the poor Buffalo market in Old Delhi.

In Delhi, Balram transforms from a country-mouse to a city driver, learning all the devious ways from other fellow drivers but stays outside their camp, 'rooster coop'. He is driven mad by his life inside the cage and decides to drive his own destiny by murdering his boss and fleeing to Bangalore to become and entrepreneur , knowing full well that his family will not be spared by the landlords in his village. Balaram is unapologetically selfish and he believes it is the only way to break out of the shackles. But also portrays sensitivity 'when it suits him' by giving money to the family of the boy who dies at the hand of his taxi driver.

According to Aravind Adiga "At a time when India is going through great changes and, with China, is likely to inherit the world from the West, it is important that writers like me try to highlight the brutal injustices of society (Indian). That's what I'm trying to do -- it is not an attack on the country, it's about the greater process of self-examination.".

Bottom Line: I personally do not believe the urban elite of India is that arrogant nor the poor that naive as portrayed. But the exaggeration aside, this book is a very good read. Easy prose that keeps the reader captive through Balaram's journey. Even though certain crude text does cause repulsion, the narrative keeps you going.