UNIT 24 A TIGER FOR MALGUDI

Structure
24.0 Objectives
24.1 Introduction
24.2 The Significance of the Title
24.3 Major characters
24.3.1 Raja, The Tiger
24.3.2 The Captain
24.3.3 The Master
24.4 Minor Characters
24.4.1 Rita
24.4.2 Madan
24.5 Let Us Sum Up
24.6 Answers to Exercises

24.0 OBJECTIVES
After reading this unit, you should be able to:
describe the significance of the title;
analyse the major characters in the no.wi;
explain the role of the minor characters in the novel.

24.1 INTRODUCTION

A successfu~novelist gives an appropriate title to his novel. So it is interesting to

know whether the title is appropriate or significant. In Section 24.2 you will find a
discussion on the significance of the title of the novel by Narayan.
Further, in a novel, characters are persons endowed with qualities that are expressed
in what they say and what they do. While delineating the characters, the author may
present his/ her characters talking and acting and leave the reader infer the motives
and dispositions that lie behind the talk and action of the character, (This technique
is called 'showing') or the author himself or herself may intervene in order to
describe and evaluate the motive and dispositions of his/ her characters. (This
technique is called 'telling'.) In the present novel, Narayan uses the technique of
'showing'. In this unit, we shall also analyse three major characters and two minor
characters. As you know, the three major characters are Raja, The Tiger, the
Captain and the Master. Among the minor characters are Rita and Madan.

24.2 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE

In Narayan's earlier novel, The man-eater of Malgudi, Vasu is metaphorically termed

man-eater because like a man-eater, he endangers the lives of the people of Malgudi.
In Narayan's latest novel, A Tiger for Malgudi, Raja, the tiger, after coming under
the influence of the Master, behaves more humanly than human beings. He listens to
the Master's discourses on The Bhagavad Gita and tries to elevate himself from
mundane level to a higher plane of existence. Here Raja symbolises a soul striving
for perfection.

By giving the present title to the novel, Narayan, seems to suggest that the people of
Malgudi need an exemplary personality like Raja, the tiger to emulate and then
improve themselves. Further, while the Master and the tlger leave Malgudi, they
 t i g r , they disperse quickly-forgetting their quarrels with one another. Then the
Master cries to them :
"If I find yob fighting again, I11 be back to stop it. Take care, you should not need a
riger to keep the peace."
In a similar situation elsewhere. the Master remarks.:

By giving the present title, Narayan, perhaps suggests that the people of Malgudi
need a tiger like Raja to stop mindless quarrels and to discipline them. Don't you
think that the title is justified?

24.3 MAJOR CHARACTERS

A novel's success lies in part in the extent to which the writer has been able to make
his/ her characters come alive. Let us now discuss some of major characters in
A Tiger for Malgudi.

24.3.1 Raja, The Tiger

The title of the novel, as you know, refers to the tiger. The narrator of the story is
the tiger; and the novel is based on the story of the tiger's life. S o we can say that
Raja, the tiger is the, protagonist of the novel.
If you have read the novel carefully, you must have noticed that there are four
- distinct stages in the life of Raja. Let us analyse the growth of Raja's character
through a discussion of these four stages:

himself "the Lord of the Jungle". He always expects the other animals to show
deference to him and to withdraw from his path. He uses the earliest opportunity to
punish the recalcitrants. Thus, the youthful vigour, pride, and carefree behaviour of
Raja are described in the first stage of his life.

cave his home till the day the tigress and the cubs are shot dead by human beings.
After losing his famly, Raja strays into human habitation and carries out regular
raids for cattle till the day he is captured by the Captain, the proprietor of the Grand
Malgudi, Circus. The intelligent tiger learns the tricks of the circus and becomes its
main attraction. The tiger, thus, wins the admiration of the Captain.
Later, Madan, a film producer plans to make a film on Raja and the Captain agrees
to lend the tiger for the shooting of the film. On the film set when the pain inflicted
by the electric metal gadget becomes unbearable, the loyal tiger warns the captain to
keep himself away from him. But, as the greedy Captain persists in subduing the
tiger with the dreadful weapon to perform the act of standing on his hind legs, the tiger
kills him in an act of defence, while trying to knock the metal out off his hand.

Thus the major events in the life of the tiger during Stage 2 are: the happiness of
family life, the pangs of separation from his family, the trials and travails of day-to-
day existence for making a living, etc. This phase also highlights the intelligence, the
dignity, and the loyalty of Raja.

: It is during this period that the spiritual transformation of Raja takes place:
:. Unaware of the spiritual powers of the Yogi, the ferocious tiger tries to resist his

influence but later surrenders himself completely and follows him like a disciple. The
 he Novel : A Tlw Having recognised a kindred soul in Raja, the Master discusses difficult concepts l ~ k e
for Mslpdl (Sam Guide)
God, Karma, etc. with him and gives discourses on the Bhagavad Gita. The presence
of the Master and the discourses on philosophical matters transform the tiger slowly.
The transformation is described by Narayan convincingly:
"Nowadays the keenness of my hunger was all gone, and I slipped away into the
jungle, not too often, only when I felt I could not stand hunger anymore". (p. 158)

Further,
"I tried to attain some kind of purification by reducing the frequency of seeking
food. Nor did I kill ruthlessly as I used to in my jungle days .....

I suffered hunger for consecutive days before seeking food again, but felt nobler
for it. 1 felt I had attained merit through penance, making myself worthy of my
Master's grace."

Thus the main events in the life of the tiger during stage 3 are: to be in the company
of a noble person; t o listen t o philosophical discourses; and to meditate on
supramundane matters. This phase also highlights the discipline. the receptiveness,
and the concentration of Raja:

Stage 4
During this period, the tiger's spiritual evolution is described in the following words:
"This phase of life I found elevating: the change churning internally was still felt
by me."
Further,
"One morning I was lying a t the feet of my Master; he was sitting in
meditation ...At such moments a profound silence prevailed; and the sublime state
to which he had raised his mind carried mine also along."

After Raja becomes old, the Master entrusts him to the authorities of a zoo and
parts company with him for attaining Samadhi. The ~ a s i e r before
, taking leave,
predicts that Raja will make the hundreds of visitors to the zoo happy; During stage
4, Raja reaches a sublime state with the help of the Master.

T o recapitulate: In stage I, Raja is ferocious and proud; in stage 2, his intelligence,

discipl~neand loyalty are high-lighted; in stage 3, he is receptive to higher ideals and
consciously makes efforts to elevate himself; in stage 4: he attains humane qualities.

24.3.2 The Captain

The Captain*hails from Abu Lane in Malgudi town. By dint of hard work he rises to
the ownership of the Grand Malgudi Circus. The Captain is diligent, persevering and
innovative. We is meticulous in attending t o the needs of every animal and is e' :ient
in managing the circus troupe consisting of hundreds of men, women, al,d animals.
T hough he is strict during the training period, he has deep concern for his animals
,11111 regu!.ltes the hours of work and rest for them.
1he Captam has special consideration for Raja as the latter is the main attraction of
thi: Grand Malgudi Circus. The Captain's consideration for the tiger's dignity is so
great that he first refuses to pull out-Raja's claws or t o use the electric shock t o
subdue Kaja while the film shooting is on. But, overpowered by greed for money, the
Captain finally uses the electric weapon on the tiger and gets killed by the tiger. It is
not that the Captain is entirely devoid of feelings but his feelings are subordinated t o
his business interests.

T o recapitulate: the Captain is diligent and innovative. He is meticulous in handling

his circus troupe. He has special consideration for the dignity of Raja. His greed for
money finally brings him death.

.24.3.3 The Master

The Master is another fascinating character in this novel. In his early life, the Mastel,
14 like any ordinary man, studies in a college, gets a job, marries, begets children,
praspers, and becomes respectable. But, one day, like the Buddha, he leaves A Tiga for M d M
everything behind, and renounces the world because of 'an inner compulsion'. He
attains the spiiitual level of a Sanyasi. He attains serenity and wisdom through Yoga
and meditation. The Master recognises a kindred soul in Raja, the tiger and helps
the latter to transform himself-from the subhuman level to the supramundane level.

Further, the Master, despite his attainments, does not allow people to take "dust
from his feet". He declares :
"You must prostrate only before God. You should seek only God's darshan...the
same god resides within all of us."

The Master's words are always full of wisdom. Beyore handing over Raja to the zoo
authorities, he tells him: "No relationship, human or other, or association of any
kind could last forever. Separation is the law of life right from the mother's womb.
One has to accept it if one has to live in God's plans."

Check Your Progress I

A) i) What is the significance of the title:
A Tiger for Malgudi? (about 1a) words)
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................

ii) What are the traits of Raja during the first stage of his life? (70-80words)
........................................................................................................................
............................................................................. ...........................................
I

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.................................................................................. ....................................
d

........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
iii) What are the major events in Raja's life during the second stage? (70-80

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
iv) What happened in Raja's fife during the fourth stage? (70-80words)
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
The Novel : A TI*
lor Mil@ (Study Guide) .........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
v) How does the transformation of Raja take place during the third stage of his
life? (70-80 words)

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
vi) How did the Captain and the Master help Raja in furthering his growth and
development? (70-80 words)
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................

*
...................................................................................................................... 1
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
B) Match the items in column A with their meanings in column B.
A B
i) deference
ii) recalcitrants sharp feelings of pain
the highest and the greatest

v) inadvertently group of animals born t o the same mother at the

same time
vi) spell resisting authority or discipline
vii) pangs actions done thoughtlessly
viii) sublime words supposed to name magic power.

24.4 MINOR CHARACTERS

Let us now turn our attention t o the minor characters in the novel. Even though
their role may be limited within the scheme of things yet Narayan has made them
come alive.

24.4.1 Rita
Rita also a minor character in the novel, is the head of the trapeze team in her
husband's Grand Malgudi Circus. She is very skilful in doing the trapeze act. But a t
home, she is a nagging wife. She often indulges in altercations with her husband and
teases him for treating the animals better than his family. T h e following piece serves
 "She-muttered, 'He has lost all sense of humour ...only animals seem to befit for A Tiaa f~olrMdgld1
his company. ' "
He told himself, 'Women are impossible worse than twenty untamed jungle creatures
on one's hand at a time.' (pp. 37-38)

If we judge merely by these conversations, we are likely to conclude that Rita and
her husband d o not love each other. At a deeper level, Rita is a devoted wife who
feels uneasy about her husband's safety whenever he is out with the tiger. Finally
.when her husband dies, she commits suicide.Thus her death reveals her intense love
for her husband.

24.4.2 Madan
Madan is a typical representation of his tribe of greedy, ~nscrupulous,pragmatic
film producers. Having been impressed by the tiger's performance in the circus feat,
Madan the film producer, entertains the idea of making a film on the tiger and a
giant. He behaves obsequiously till he gets the permission from the Captain to use
the tiger in his film. Having bought the Captain with his money, he dictates to the
Captain. He does not bother about the dignity of the tiger nor does he hesitate to
ask the Captain t o use the electric shock on the tiger, to make him perform the act
of standing on his hind legs. His unscrupulousness is responsible for the untoward
situation in which the Captain gets killed.

Check Your Progress 11

. i) Sketch the character of' Rita.(about 50 words)

..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
.-............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................

ii) Who is Madan? How did he contribute to the development of the 210t O! the
novel? (about 50 words)
.........................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................

iii) Sketch the character of the Asstt. Head Master. (50-60 words)
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................

24.5 LET US SUM UP

The title of the novel is justifiable: the indisciplined people of Malgudi need a
disciplined personality to emulate. Raja's character develops through four stages. The