The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga

Reviewer’s Note:

I don't remember how did I stumble across this book, but I am glad that I did. This book opens the window wide and lets you leap into a modern India by the narration of a rags-to-riches tale of our protagonist, Balram Halwai, by himself. What happens when a person from the dark side of India works as a driver/servant for someone from the light side of India? You get a cunning, dark-humored, thriller novel.

Book Review/Summary:

This novel is a flashback journey of Balram Halwai and his tale of going from rags-to-riches in the form of a letter written to the Chinese premier, Mr. Jiabao.

This sardonic saga provides an insight into the dark side of the country and the cast system. Balram Halwai climbs up the ladder from being a slum dweller, a chauffeur, a servant, and an entrepreneur while being a murderer. People have to make sacrifices at many points in their life to climb the ladder of success, and here the sacrifice was blood, some else's blood. Balram's excellent listening and eavesdropping skills are what made him 'The White Tiger' of Bangalore.

"The greatest thing to come out of this country... is the rooster coop. The roosters in the coop smell the blood from above. They see the organs of their brothers lying around them. They know they're next. Yet they do not rebel. They do not try to get out of the coop."

This intimidating metaphor by Balram perfectly describes the daunting reality about the inability of India's poor to rebel out from the cage of India's rich! They see the poor's dreams and will get slaughter and the oppression faced by one another, but they are unable to break out of the coop. And, here lies, another dirty secret, as the coop, is guarded not only from the outside but also, from the inside. The likewise and "the Indian family" is the reason for being trapped and tied to the coop says Balram. Balram believes that to break out of the coop, one has to be willing to sacrifice everything, and that's what he did. You ask,'Are you a man or a demon?'

'Neither, I say. I have woken up, and the rest of you are still sleeping, and that is the only difference between us.'

Adiga's 'The White Tiger' is the blunt, brave, and black humourous. The writing style is so witty and brave. This engrossing thriller packed with humor and wit will make this book be glued to your hands. Be ready to witness India from a twisted new perspective.

Happy Reading.