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The Tiger King (By Kalki)Summary and Important Questions for Board Examination ( CBSE ENGLISH CLASS 12)


The Tiger King (By Kalki)
Summary and Important Questions for Board Examination ( CBSE ENGLISH CLASS 12)

Kalki’s "The Tiger King" is a brilliant, biting satire that pokes fun at the massive egos and ridiculous whims of those in power. The story centers on Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram. At his birth, royal astrologers made a wild claim: the prince would grow into a legendary warrior, but a tiger would eventually kill him—specifically, the 100th tiger he faced.

Determined to prove fate wrong, the King went on a lifelong killing spree. He abandoned his royal duties and banned anyone else from hunting tigers. He even picked a bride based on how many tigers her father had in his kingdom. After killing 99 tigers, the last one became his obsession. When he couldn't find it, his terrified Dewan snuck an old, half-dead circus tiger into the forest. The King shot it, but the bullet missed; the tiger just fainted from the noise. To keep their jobs, the King's hunters killed the beast themselves.

The ultimate twist? The King’s "100th tiger" was actually a cheap, poorly-made wooden toy he bought for his son. A tiny wood sliver from the toy pierced his hand, caused a massive infection, and killed him. In the end, fate had the last laugh, proving that no amount of power can outrun destiny.

A. Short Answer Questions
1. What exactly did the astrologers predict when the King was born?
ANS: They foretold that the prince would be a hero of heroes but was destined to die because of a tiger. This was because he was born in the "Hour of the Bull," and since Bulls and Tigers are natural enemies, his end would come from a tiger.

2. What was the "miracle" that occurred when the prince was only 10 days old?
ANS: In an unbelievable moment, the 10-day-old infant began to speak. He didn't just make sounds; he challenged the astrologers, stating that everyone who is born must die. He demanded to know the specific manner of his death.

3. Why did the Maharaja put a total ban on tiger hunting in his state?
ANS: The King was incredibly possessive of his "prey." He wanted every single tiger in Pratibandapuram reserved for his own gun so he could reach his target of 100 and disprove the prophecy.

4. How did a British officer almost cost the Maharaja his throne?
ANS: A British officer wanted to hunt tigers in the state, but the King refused, fearing others would want the same. To avoid a political disaster and keep his kingdom, the King had to bribe the officer’s wife with 50 expensive diamond rings.

5. What was the real reason behind the Maharaja's marriage choice?
ANS: After killing 70 tigers in his own land, the population went extinct. He told his Dewan to find a princess from a kingdom with a huge tiger population so he could hunt during his "in-law" visits to reach his goal.

6. What was the hilarious reality of the 100th tiger hunt?
ANS: The King took his shot at the 100th tiger, but he actually missed. The tiger was so old and weak that it simply fainted from the terrifying sound of the bullet. The King walked away thinking he had conquered fate.

7. Why did the King's hunters kill the 100th tiger themselves?
ANS: When the hunters realized the tiger was still breathing, they were terrified. They knew that if the Maharaja found out he had missed his shot, they would all lose their jobs instantly. So, they finished the job and kept the secret.

8. What did the King buy for his son’s third birthday?
ANS: Searching for a special gift, he settled on a wooden toy tiger from a local shop. It wasn't a luxury item; it was a rough, "cheap" toy carved by an unskilled carpenter.

9. How did a tiny toy tiger lead to the King’s death?
ANS: The toy was covered in tiny, sharp wood slivers. One of these "quills" pierced the King’s right hand while he was playing with his son. The wound turned into a localized infection that quickly spread through his entire arm.

10. What is the ultimate irony of this story?
ANS: The irony is that the King spent his life slaughtering 99 fierce, living predators to stay safe, only to be taken down by a small, inanimate "hundredth tiger" made of wood.

B. Long Answer Questions
1. How is "The Tiger King" a satire on the conceit of those in power?
ANS: Kalki uses biting humor to expose how rulers often treat their kingdoms like personal playgrounds. The Maharaja is the perfect example of "conceit"; he neglects his subjects, ignores his family, and even doubles taxes just because he’s in a bad mood during a hunt. His life revolves around a petty grudge against a prophecy. By showing a powerful King almost losing his throne over a "photo op" for a British officer, Kalki mocks how the elite prioritize their ego over their duty. The King’s obsession with killing animals to feel invincible highlights the sheer absurdity of human arrogance.

2. Discuss the role of the Dewan in the story.
ANS: The Dewan represents the classic "yes-man" found in corrupt power structures. He doesn't offer the King wise advice; instead, he operates out of pure survival instinct. He facilitates the King’s ridiculous marriage and even "kidnaps" a circus tiger to satisfy the King's bloodlust. The Dewan’s character highlights the lack of honesty in the palace; he is so terrified of the King’s temper that he prefers to participate in a massive lie rather than tell the truth. His presence shows how absolute power creates a bubble where no one dares to speak sense to the ruler.

3. "Fate is inevitable." Discuss this with reference to the story.
ANS: The story is a classic "man vs. destiny" tale where destiny wins. The King goes to extreme lengths—slaughtering 99 tigers and banning hunting—to ensure he doesn't die. He thinks he has manipulated the universe when he "kills" the 100th tiger. However, fate is portrayed as a persistent force that finds the smallest loophole. In this case, the loophole was a tiny wood sliver from a toy. It suggests that while humans can be powerful and cruel, they cannot outsmart the natural order of life and death. The toy tiger becomes the instrument of a prophecy the King thought he had erased.

4. Describe the King's obsession with the 100th tiger.
ANS: By the time the King reached his 99th kill, he was no longer a ruler; he was a man possessed. His anxiety turned into a "fever." He stayed in the forest for days on end, neglecting his court and family. When the 100th tiger couldn't be found, his frustration boiled over into cruelty; he fired several officers and threatened to double the land tax on his poor subjects. This obsession blinded him to everything around him—even his own incompetence as a marksman. He was so desperate to "win" against the stars that he lost his humanity in the process.

5. What message does the author convey through the end of the story?
ANS: Kalki sends a powerful message about the futility of arrogance and the importance of wildlife conservation. By having the King die from a "wooden" tiger, the author humbles him, showing that his massive hunts were essentially meaningless. The story critiques the "sport" of hunting, suggesting that those who kill for ego will eventually face a symbolic justice. The final line—"The hundredth tiger took its final revenge"—serves as a reminder that nature (or fate) always gets the last word. It's a call for leaders to be more humble and for humanity to respect the life they so easily destroy.

C. MCQs
1. In which 'Hour' was the Tiger King born?
(A) Hour of the Tiger
(B) Hour of the Bull
(C) Hour of the Lion
(D) Hour of the Sun.
ANS: B
2. How many tigers did the King kill in his own kingdom?
(A) 50
 (B) 70
 (C) 99
 (D) 100.
ANS: B
3. The 50 diamond rings sent to the British lady cost:
(A) 1 Lakh (B) 2 Lakhs (C) 3 Lakhs (D) 5 Lakhs.
ANS: C
4. The 100th tiger was brought from:
(A) A deep jungle
(B) People’s Park in Madras
(C) The King's zoo
(D) A neighboring state.
ANS: B
5. The wooden tiger cost ______ annas.
(A) Two and a quarter
(B) Three
(C) Five
(D) Ten.
ANS: A
6. How many surgeons were called from Madras?
(A) Two
 (B) Three
 (C) Five
 (D) Four.
ANS: B
7. What happened to the tigers in the father-in-law's state?
(A) They migrated
(B) They became extinct
(C) They hid
(D) They killed the King.
ANS: B
8. The King doubled the land tax because:
(A) He needed money for guns
(B) He was angry the 100th tiger wasn't found
(C) To pay the British
(D) To build a palace.
ANS: B
9. The surgeons said, "The operation was successful. The King is dead." This is:
(A) A mistake
(B) Irony
(C) A metaphor
(D) A hyperbole.
ANS: B
10. The King's son was how old when he got the toy?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 5.
ANS: C

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