Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Musings after reading Aravind Adiga's 'The White Tiger'

I wanted to get back to the habit of reading books and recently took membership from a library. I started with 2008 Man Booker Prize winner - 'The White Tiger'. The book is definitely worth reading and below are some of my thoughts after reading.

  • Rooster Coop - Author uses this word liberally in the book. He uses it to symbolically explain how most Indians don't get out of trap even though they are aware of what lies ahead for them. He also says that others in the Rooster Coop (i guess he means the 'system' here) doesn't allow you to get out even if you want. 
  • Edward Luce in his book 'In spite of The Gods' also uses a similar analogy. He compares with 'crabs in a bucket with out any lid'. The other crabs in the bucket ensure that  no crab can climb out of the bucket.
  • Analogy of this 'crabs in a bucket' or 'rooster coop' fits fine with frog's Well of Ignorance. But I personally feel that we cannot paint all Indians with this view. Many people these days want to get out the coop/well/bucket/rut and others genuinely encourage and feel happy when they come across stories of people who took the 'leap of faith'.
  • Author's view on corruption in government offices also is similar to Edward Luce's view. Both of them say that though most Indians hate the corruption, they would definitely do the same if they are given a government job. Sadly, this is a reality.
  • Protagonist in the novel wants to get out of the rut (though by crooked means) and he comes across a fortune-telling chit from a weight machine. It says:
'Respect for the law is the first command of the gods'.
          Narration here is amazing - usage of words like 'threshold of a man's freedom', 'boarding a train to a   new life', 'sirens of the coop ringing' etc are simply too good. 
          Later the protagonist escapes to Bangalore and there he reads a slogan:
'Government Work is God's Work'.
          This analogy is mind-blowing. Author chose Bangalore as Protagonist's destination because it symbolizes a new India and is different from the NCR (National Capital Region)/Gurgaon he depicted before. But i believe this quote written on Bangalore's Vidhan Soudha and how it's related to that fortune-telling chit above might be another reason. (If Aravid Adiga didn't think about this and  if it is my imagination - Well, now you are reading a future master story-teller :))
  • Above two quotes made me feel that today's politicians are similar to Brahmins of Vedic period who abrogated more powers to themselves. Politicians themselves increasing their own salary is in a way similar to Brahmins writing that they should be respected. Well, this my analogy :)
  • I recommend this book and am waiting to lay my hands on his next book. 
Hopefully i will continue this habit of reading books and will try to post my review comments.


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