Thinking Activity On The White Tiger

Thinking Activity On The White Tiger 

Arvind Adiga is an Indo-Auatralian writer and journalist. His debut novel is "The White Tiger". It was published in 2008 and won the 40th Man Booker Prize in the same year. The novel provides a darkly humorous perspective of India's class struggle in a globalized world as told through a retrospective narration from Balram Halwai, a village boy. Click here to get more information about this Thinking Activity.

* Works :-

1. The White Tiger (2008)

2. Last Man in Tower (2011)

3. Selection Day (2016)

4. Between The Assassinations (2008)

(1). What does writer by saying that somethings are better said in English Language?

=> Sometimes through the English language it becomes easy to give critical comments, language is way to express our thoughts and feelings, so language becomes medium to connects with other people. Different people have their own system of language. And they are connected with that language. That's why sometimes some people does not know some Language. That's language becomes weapon to criticises the condition in indirect way. So English language becomes weapon to fight verbally.

(2). Why do lovers go to the Zoo?

=> In many animals and birds are there. So people came and they looks animals and they enjoys. So Zoo becomes a place, it gives excitement.

(3) How far do you agree with the India represented in the novel The White Tiger?

=> Yes, I agree with India represented in the novel The White Tiger. In novel corruption and poverty is shown. Both are major issues. Novel throws on light. There is two side of India is there, one is dark and one is light. Adiga throws light on dark side of India. Balram leaves his school because of poor condition, he works in tea shop. Poor children's works for their family. Because of poor condition. In India most of the children does not go to school because of poor condition, that's why they work at tea shop, leaves their study, stars earning money. And Balram Halwai also leaves his study, and works in tea shop.

(4) Do you believe that Balram's story is the archetype of all stories of 'rags to riches'?

=> Balram Halwai is a character who leaves his study and works in tea shop. He is belongs to poor family. Later on he works as driver and drives car. And then Pinky madam does incident and blame goes on Balram even he is not on driver seat. Because he is poor blame is goes on him. Later on he kills Ashok and he takes his identity, and become reach. He is good observe. He learns through observation. And he fast observer. And his observing power also helps him. He learns new techniques. And becomes reach. So He belongs to the Archetype of 'rags to riches'.

(5) Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique, deconstructive criticism aims to show that any text inevitably undermines its own claims to have a determinate meaning, and licences the reader to produce his own meanings out of it by an activity of semantic 'freeplay' (Derrida, 1978, in Lodge, 1988, p. 108). Is it possible to do deconstructive reading of The White Tiger? How?

=> The White Tiger novel throws light on the darkness of India. He talks about India, through a character of Balram. Adiga narrates story with dark humour. He talks about India and also criticise with the use of dark humour. Ashok and pinky madam talks in English language when they want fun. Balram does not know language. That's why pinky madam and Ashok uses English language to justify their status. So Language becomes Stastus for people. Language creates binaries. They feel superiority and Balram feels inferiority. So through the use of language two different perspectives is generates, Ashok and pinky madam both are in power position, they rich and they also know English language. And Balram is driver, he is in marginalised condition, he has no power, he is powerless. And Balram, In his narrative he has no regret, and he himself confessed his crime. So in the story loose stone is there. Through loose stone we deconstruct the text.

(6) With ref to screening of select scenes of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire in today's class:-

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   About Movie Slumdog Millionaire :-

Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British Crime drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel Q&A (2005) by Indian Author Vikas Swarup, telling the story of 18 year old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. Starring Dev Patel as Jamal, and filmed in India, the flim was directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and produced by Christian Colson, with Loveleen Tandan credited as Co-director. 

     An unassuming teenager from the slums in Mumbai participates in a game show. When he appears to know more than is expected of him, he is arrested. He narrates his life's story to prove his innocence. Movie released in 23 January 2009 in India.

* Write a blog on similarities between The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire. Include following points:- 

1. Narrative structure - Wanted Poster # KBC show

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In The White Tiger Balram is main character. And In Slumdog Millionaire Jamal is main character. In both story flashback sequence are there. In white tiger Balram writes letter to Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao. He tells his story in letter form. He gives his introduction through the Wanted poster. And In movie also, He is introduced in KBC Show, he is in jail, there is a bleam on him. But every question he goes in past and connection is there. So In both, narrator himself narrates his story. Both the chracters are good observer. Both learn through observation. In The White Tiger Balram tells his story through letter. And In movie Jamal tells his story through question - answer. Questions - answers connected with his life. 

2. Indianness

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In movie real India is shown. Slum area, condition of poor people is shown in the movie. And movie talks about both the side darkness and light. In movie character also grows in a way, he learns many things. He is poor. And In white tiger adiga also satires through the use of Dark humour. And In the movie condition of poor child is shown, they lives in slums, because of poor condition, they leaves their study and starts working. And that's why in early age for them money becomes first priority, earn for family it becomes more important. And they works, and get money also. Some people, takes children, and they harms children, they make them helpless, and they get money through that child. For them it becomes business. So this situation describes in the movie. And In Balram's story also he is poor, because money crisis, he leaves his school, and he works in tea shop. And in the movie when he gives correct answers of questions, he goes in jail. And to prove innocent, he tells the context of the answer. And then story unfolds through the questions - answers. And In both real, dark side of India is there. 

3. List of questions asked in the film. If you have to replace or add a few questions, which questions would you like to add. Remember, questions shall be in-tune with the screenplay of the film. 

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 1. Who was the star in the 1973 hit film "Zanzeer"

(a) Shah Rukh Khan

(b) Salman Khan

 (c) Amitabh Bachhan

(d) Ranbir Kapoor

Answer:- (c) Amitabh Bachhan

2. A picture of three lions is seen in the national emblem of India. What is written underneath it?

  (a) The Truth alone triumphs

   (b) Lies alone triumphs

   (c) Fashion alone triumphs

   ( d) Money alone triumphs

Answer:- (a) The Truth alone triumphs 

3. In depiction of God Rama, he is famously holding what in his right hand?

  (a) A bow and arrow

  (b) A sword

  (C) A child

  (D) A flower

  Answer :- (a) A bow and arrow

4. The song " Darshan Do Ghanshyam" was written by which famous Indian poet?

(a) Surdas

(b) Tulsidas

(c) Mira bai

(d) Kabir

Answer:- (a) Surdas

5. On the American One Hundred Dollar Bill, there is portrait of which American Statesman?

(a) George Washington

(b) Franklin Roosevelt

(c) Benjamin Franklin

(d) Abraham Lincoln

Answer:- (c) Benjamin Franklin

6. Who invented the revolver?

(a) Samuel Colt

(b) Bruce Browning

(c) Dan Wesson

(d) James Revolver

Answer:- (a) Smauel Colt

7. Cambridge Circus is in which UK City?

(a) Oxford

(b) Leeds

(c) Cambridge

(d) London

Answer:- (d) London

8. Which cricketer has scored the most first class centuries in history?

(a) Sachin Tendulkar

(b) Ricky Ponting

(c) Michael Slater

(d) Jack Hobbs

Answer:- (d) Jack Hobbs

9. In Alexander Dumas' book, "The Three Musketeers", two of the musketeers are called Athos and Porthos. What was the name of the third Musketeer?

(a) Aramis

(b) Cardinal Richetieu

(c) D' Artagnan

(d) Planchet

Answer:- (a) Aramis

In this movie question answers becomes central part because every question tells story of Jamal, it unfolds Jamal's life. These questions are enough to, understand the Jamal's life. All questions are in right tune. I don't want to replace any questions, or add any questions. 

4. On what grounds can u deconstruct the film with reference to post colonial tools / theories.

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This movie is directed by Danny Boyle. He is English Director. Through this movie he represents the real picture of India. In movie Jamal's character growing in different circumstances, and it becomes helpful, it shapes his knowledge. Director shows real picture of India. Slum area is in frame in the movie. And poverty, joblessness there in the movie. These are the issues. In the movie when Jamal becomes Tourists Guide, he earns money from that business. And then one day he does his duty, to give information about place, he came with Foreigners , and then car is empty, people steals the parts of the car. Driver knew the truth, that's why he beats him. At that time, that Foreigners stops him, and saves Jamal. They knew that Jamal also part of them. That's why they gives money, to become different from them, they knew the truth but they become superior, because they know the reality, but they then gives money. At that time also difference is created. Maybe he wants to throws on light on western and Indian value. Maybe He wants creates difference through this narrative. And when Jamal sets in Railway Station, at that time camera moves and focuses on one wall, on that wall there is one name is there "Frederick William Stevens", he is English designer. His most notable design was the railway station Victoria Terminus in Bombay. So camera focus on that wall. Maybe he tries remember, his work. So In the movie Danny Boyle, presents the reality of India in form of movie. But In movie some scenes, creates binaries of superiority and inferiority.

5. Compare with Texture and Treatment of subject content in film and novel.

=> Flim and In the movie Texture and Treatment of subject content represents darkness. And In the movie and novel both character Jamal and Balram are good observer. And both leaves their study. But Balram kills Ashok, but he does not catch by police. But In the movie Jamal does not do any wrong thing, then he is goes in the jail. Balram character also match with, another chracter in the movie is Salim. He also tries to kills Maman. But he also does not catch by the police. In both circumstances becomes helpful to create their own character. So Novel and movie, Danny Boyle and Arvind Adiga both are become successful, to look deep, and describes real picture of India. Novel is open ending. And In the movie everything settled down at the end of the movie. Both have starting and ending is different, but when we put in one archetype like poverty, they are connected in some ways.