Class 12 English Core Notes based on the Chapter “The Tiger King” given in the Textbook ‘Vistas’ for Class 12 English. The Notes include summary in English and Hindi, themes, message and key points etc. These notes are a great help in revising the lesson ‘The Tiger King’.
About The Author ‘Kalki’
Kalki, born Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy (1899–1954), was a prominent Tamil writer, journalist, and freedom fighter from Tamil Nadu, India. Known for his versatility, he wrote under the pen name “Kalki,” inspired by the mythical tenth avatar of Vishnu. His works span historical fiction, social novels, and short stories, deeply rooted in Tamil culture and history. Kalki’s most famous novels include Ponniyin Selvan, a sprawling historical epic about the Chola dynasty, and Sivagamiyin Sabatham, both celebrated for their rich storytelling and historical accuracy. He also penned Parthiban Kanavu.
Beyond fiction, Kalki was a prolific journalist, co-founding the magazine Kalki and contributing to Ananda Vikatan. A staunch advocate for Indian independence, he used his writings to inspire patriotism. His style blended humour, wit, and social commentary, making complex historical narratives accessible. Kalki’s legacy endures through his timeless works, still widely read and adapted into films, TV series, and plays.
Summary of – The Tiger King
“The Tiger King” is a satirical short story by Kalki that mocks the arrogance and foolishness of those in power. It follows the life and death of the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, who is known as the Tiger King.
Prophecy at Birth:
When the Maharaja is born, astrologers predict that he will grow up to be a brave warrior, but he is destined to die because of a tiger. Surprisingly, the infant prince speaks and challenges the prophecy.
His Mission to Kill Tigers:
As he grows up and becomes king, he takes the prophecy seriously. Determined to escape death, he starts hunting and killing tigers, believing that killing 100 tigers will break the curse.
Dealing with British Officer:
A British officer wants to hunt tigers in his kingdom, but the Maharaja refuses to let him, even at the risk of losing his throne. To save the kingdom, he bribes the officer’s wife with diamond rings worth three lakh rupees.
The Tiger Shortage and Marriage:
After killing 70 tigers, there are no tigers left in his kingdom. So, the Maharaja marries a princess from a state with a large tiger population. On every visit, he hunts more tigers and reaches a total of 99 kills.
The Search for the 100th Tiger:
He becomes obsessed with finding the last tiger, but none are found. The Dewan secretly arranges a tame tiger from the zoo and places it in the forest. The Maharaja shoots at it and thinks he has killed it. But the bullet misses, and the tiger only faints. The hunters kill it later, hiding the truth from the king.
Irony of Fate:
Later, on his son’s third birthday, the Maharaja gifts him a wooden toy tiger. A sharp wooden piece from the toy pricks his hand. The wound gets infected, and he dies after surgery.
Message of the Story:
The story shows the foolish pride of rulers, the blind following of fate, and how man’s arrogance towards nature can lead to unexpected results. The prophecy does come true, but in a strange and ironic way.
हिंदी में सारांश – “टाइगर किंग”
“टाइगर किंग” लेखक कल्कि द्वारा लिखी गई एक व्यंग्यात्मक कहानी है जो सत्ता में बैठे लोगों के अहंकार और मूर्खता पर तंज करती है। यह प्रतिबंधपुरम के महाराजा की कहानी है, जिन्हें लोग टाइगर किंग कहते हैं।
जन्म पर भविष्यवाणी:
जब महाराजा का जन्म होता है, तो ज्योतिषी भविष्यवाणी करते हैं कि वह बहुत साहसी योद्धा बनेगा, लेकिन उसकी मृत्यु एक बाघ के कारण होगी। आश्चर्यजनक रूप से, नवजात शिशु खुद बोल उठता है और भविष्यवाणी को चुनौती देता है।
बाघों का शिकार:
बड़ा होकर महाराजा उस भविष्यवाणी को गंभीरता से लेता है। वह यह सोचता है कि अगर वह 100 बाघों को मार देगा, तो उसकी मौत नहीं होगी। इसीलिए वह बाघों का शिकार शुरू करता है।
अंग्रेज अधिकारी की घटना:
एक अंग्रेज अफसर बाघ का शिकार करना चाहता है, लेकिन महाराजा उसे मना कर देता है। अपनी गद्दी बचाने के लिए, वह उसकी पत्नी को तीन लाख रुपये की हीरों की अंगूठियाँ भेंट करता है।
बाघों की कमी और विवाह:
70 बाघ मारने के बाद राज्य में बाघ खत्म हो जाते हैं। तब महाराजा ऐसे राज्य की राजकुमारी से शादी करता है जहाँ बाघ ज्यादा हों। हर यात्रा में वह और बाघ मारता है और 99 का आंकड़ा पूरा कर लेता है।
100वें बाघ की तलाश:
अब उसे सिर्फ एक बाघ और मारना है, लेकिन कोई बाघ नहीं मिलता। दीवान एक पालतू बाघ को चुपचाप जंगल में छोड़ देता है। महाराजा उस पर गोली चलाता है लेकिन गोली चूक जाती है। बाघ सिर्फ बेहोश होता है, जिसे बाद में शिकारियों द्वारा मार दिया जाता है और सच छिपा लिया जाता है।
किस्मत का खेल:
बाद में, अपने बेटे के जन्मदिन पर महाराजा उसे लकड़ी का बाघ उपहार में देता है। उस बाघ की एक नुकीली लकड़ी महाराजा के हाथ में चुभ जाती है, जिससे संक्रमण फैलता है और ऑपरेशन के बाद उनकी मौत हो जाती है।
कहानी का संदेश:
कहानी बताती है कि सत्ता और घमंड में डूबे शासक किस तरह मूर्खतापूर्ण निर्णय लेते हैं। यह कहानी मानव के घमंड, भाग्य पर विश्वास और प्रकृति के साथ खिलवाड़ पर एक तीखा व्यंग्य है।
Theme of “The Tiger King”
1. The Folly of Power and Pride
The story shows how rulers often become proud and foolish because of their power. The Maharaja thinks he can defeat fate just by killing tigers. His ego blinds him, and in trying to avoid death, he walks right into it. The story teaches us that pride and power can lead to destruction.
2. Satire on Royalty and Authority
The story is a satire (funny criticism) on kings and politicians who misuse their power for silly reasons. The Maharaja cares more about killing tigers to prove a prophecy wrong than about his people or duties. This shows how some rulers focus on personal glory instead of real responsibility.
3. Man vs Nature
The story highlights how humans try to control nature, but nature always wins in the end. The Maharaja kills 99 tigers, thinking he can change his destiny. But a simple toy tiger takes revenge, showing that we cannot escape nature or fate.
4. Irony and Fate
There is a strong theme of irony—the opposite of what is expected happens. The king fears tigers but is killed by a harmless wooden toy tiger. This shows that fate finds its own way, no matter how powerful or careful a person is.
Message of the Story: The Tiger King
The main message of “The Tiger King” is that pride and arrogance can lead to one’s downfall. The story satirically shows that those in power often make foolish decisions based on their inflated ego. The Maharaja, determined to defy fate by killing tigers, becomes so obsessed with proving his power that he loses sight of more important matters. Ironically, he is brought down not by a fierce tiger but by a harmless wooden toy—a twist that underlines the futility of trying to control destiny.
In simpler terms, the story teaches us that no matter how hard we try to escape our fate or assert control, nature and destiny always have their own plans. It reminds us to be humble, wise, and respectful of the natural order, rather than being blinded by power and pride.
Message Points:
1. Ego and Power Cannot Control Fate
The story teaches that no matter how powerful or rich a person is, they cannot escape death or fate. The Maharaja tries to fight a prophecy by killing 100 tigers, but he still dies — not by a real tiger, but by a small wooden toy tiger. This shows that ego and pride are useless against destiny.
2. Misuse of Power is Dangerous
The Maharaja uses all his power just to save his own life. He bans others from hunting, wastes money on gifts for the British, and even raises taxes when angry. The message is that misusing power for personal gain can harm others and even backfire.
3. Respect Nature and Animals
The story also gives the message that killing innocent animals for fun or pride is wrong. The Maharaja kills 99 tigers for his own selfish reason. In the end, it’s a tiger (even though a toy one) that causes his death. The message is clear: do not harm nature, or it will harm you back.
4. Blind Belief in Superstition is Foolish
The Maharaja blindly follows a prophecy and makes it his life’s goal. Instead of doing good as a king, he becomes obsessed with proving astrologers wrong. The story shows that superstition and blind belief can lead to foolish actions.
Keynote Points – The Tiger King
1. The Prophecy
- Astrologers predict that the prince (Tiger King) will die because of a tiger.
- The infant prince surprisingly speaks and challenges the prophecy.
2. The Tiger Hunt Begins
- When the prince becomes the Maharaja, he takes the prophecy seriously.
- He decides to kill 100 tigers to avoid his fated death.
3. Strict Rules and Power Display
- Only the Maharaja is allowed to hunt tigers.
- A British officer wants to hunt but is refused.
- To save his kingdom, the king sends 50 diamond rings to the officer’s wife.
4. Marriage for Tigers
- After 70 tigers are killed, no tigers are left in his state.
- The Maharaja marries a princess from another state with many tigers.
5. The 100th Tiger
- After killing 99 tigers, the last tiger cannot be found.
- Dewan arranges a tame tiger from the zoo and places it in the forest.
- The Maharaja shoots it but misses. The tiger only faints.
- Hunters kill the tiger secretly to protect their jobs.
6. The Irony
- The Maharaja gifts a wooden toy tiger to his son.
- A small splinter from the toy pricks his hand.
- Infection spreads, and he dies after surgery.
7. Main Message
- Power can’t defeat fate.
- Misusing authority and harming nature leads to downfall.
- The story is a satire on pride, superstition, and misuse of power.