NCERT Solutions
for Class 12 English Vistas

Chapter 2 The Tiger King by Kalki

Updated
Syllabus for 2024-2025 Exams 

 

Q.1. Who is the Tiger King? Why does he get
that name?

Answer:
The Tiger King is the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, also known as His Highness
Jamedar-General Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari, Maharajadhiraja Visva
Bhuvana Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur. He gets the name “Tiger King”
because of his obsession with killing tigers after an astrologer predicted that
a tiger would be the cause of his death. He sets out to kill a hundred tigers
to prove the prophecy wrong.

Q.2. What did the royal infant grow up to
be?

Answer:
The royal infant, who was foretold to be killed by a tiger, grew up to become
the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram. As an adult, he became obsessed with killing
tigers, driven by his determination to defy the astrologer’s prophecy that he
would die from a tiger.

Q.3. What will the Maharaja do to find the
required number of tigers to kill?

Answer:
To find the required number of tigers to complete his mission of killing a
hundred tigers, the Maharaja marries a princess from a kingdom that has a high
tiger population. Each time he visits his father-in-law’s kingdom, he kills
five or six tigers. When tigers become extinct in his state, he searches other
means to find the last tiger.

Q.4. How will the Maharaja prepare himself
for the hundredth tiger which was supposed to decide his fate?

Answer:
The Maharaja becomes extremely anxious and cautious as the hunt for the
hundredth tiger approaches. He is desperate to find the last tiger to complete
his tally and be free of the astrologer’s prophecy. When he learns about a
tiger causing trouble in a nearby village, he immediately sets out for the
hunt, offering tax exemptions to the villagers who provide information.

Q.5. What will now happen to the
astrologer? Do you think the prophecy was indisputably disproved?

Answer:
The prophecy is not indisputably disproved. Though the Maharaja successfully
kills what he believes to be the hundredth tiger, it turns out the tiger was
not actually killed by his bullet but fainted from the shock. The hunters
secretly kill the tiger afterward to avoid losing their jobs. Ironically, the
prophecy fulfills itself when the Maharaja dies due to an infection from a
sliver of wood from a toy tiger, proving that the hundredth “tiger”
took its final revenge.

Q.1. The story is a satire on the conceit
of those in power. How does the author employ the literary device of dramatic
irony in the story?

Answer:
The author uses dramatic irony throughout the story to highlight the arrogance
and vanity of the Tiger King. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows
something that the characters do not. In this case, we know that the
astrologer’s prophecy about the king’s death due to a tiger will ultimately
come true, despite the king’s best efforts to prevent it. The king’s obsession
with killing tigers, in a bid to avoid his foretold fate, ironically leads to
his demise by a trivial incident involving a toy tiger. This clever use of
irony mocks the king’s hubris and overconfidence in his ability to control his
destiny.

Q.2. What is the author’s indirect comment
on subjecting innocent animals to the willfulness of human beings?

Answer:
The author indirectly criticizes the cruelty and senselessness of hunting
innocent animals for sport, especially when driven by ego and arrogance, as in
the case of the Tiger King. The king’s relentless pursuit of tigers, solely to
defy a prophecy, illustrates the recklessness and disregard for life that
powerful individuals often exhibit. The story underscores the imbalance of
power between humans and animals, emphasizing how innocent creatures are
subjected to human whims and violence, often without any meaningful reason.

Q.3. How would you describe the behavior of
the Maharaja’s minions towards him? Do you find them truly sincere towards him
or are they driven by fear when they obey him? Do we find a similarity in
today’s political order?

Answer:
The Maharaja’s minions are not sincere towards him but are driven by fear of
losing their positions or displeasing him. They follow his orders blindly, even
when they know his actions are irrational, such as when they cover up the truth
about the hundredth tiger to protect their jobs. This behavior reflects the
culture of sycophancy and fear that surrounds many powerful rulers, both in the
past and present. In today’s political order, similar behavior can be observed
when subordinates act out of fear or a desire to curry favor, rather than out
of genuine respect or loyalty.

Q.4. Can you relate instances of
game-hunting among the rich and the powerful in the present times that
illustrate the callousness of human beings towards wildlife?

Answer:
In recent times, there have been several instances of wealthy and powerful
individuals engaging in game-hunting for pleasure, despite the global outcry
against such practices. One notable example is the killing of Cecil the lion by
a trophy hunter in Zimbabwe in 2015, which sparked international outrage. Such
incidents highlight the callousness of human beings who hunt endangered or
protected species, often for sport or prestige, with little regard for the
conservation of wildlife or the moral implications of their actions. These
examples reflect the continued exploitation of wildlife by the rich and
powerful.

Q.5. We need a new system for the age of
ecology — a system which is embedded in the care of all people and also in the
care of the Earth and all life upon it. Discuss.

Answer:
In today’s age of ecological awareness, it is crucial to adopt a system that
prioritizes the well-being of both humanity and the planet. This would involve
sustainable development practices that reduce harm to the environment while
ensuring that all people have access to the resources they need to thrive. The
exploitation of natural resources and wildlife must be curtailed, and policies
must promote conservation, renewable energy, and responsible consumption. Such
a system would require global cooperation and a shift in mindset, recognizing
that the survival of humanity is intricately linked to the health of the Earth
and all its ecosystems.