Author: Aravind Adiga
If i have to describe the book in just two words its would be Savagingly brilliant!
Published in 2008, the book provides a satirical perspective of the caste bias in India in the backdrop of influx of globalization. It not just anatomizes the desperation-led struggle of the dirt-poor but also provides a delightful and humorous detail of the idiosyncrasies and cravings of the rich. The in-depth analysis especially since the entire story is in a first person account is lucidly portrayed and while some of the aspects make you cringe, the narrative keeps you on the edge.
The metaphorical take on the life of the protagonist is splendid throughout the narrative and doesn’t fail to intrigue the reader.
The story belongs to Balaram Halwai a village boy who embarks on a journey from his tiny lesser known home to Dhanbad, and then to Delhi as a chauffeur for the landlord. He eventually kills his employer an escaped to Bangalore with the stolen money. From there he rises up to become a successful entrepreneur… and lives true to his nick name ‘the white tiger’… a rare find, stronger and more aggressive!
Flipside: the author has attempted an non glamorous portrayal of the developed new India… which is needlessly extra. Also the language used is a combination of rural slang which suddenly blends into linguistics extraordinaire and though it appeals to the reader most of the time, it could have done with a bit of uniformity.
The novel has been adapted into a motion picture and though i am yet to see the movie, the trailer by far doesn’t seem to do the needed justice. I hope to be proved wrong here though.
The book is available on Amazon, both in paperback and Kindle formats.
