Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger: An Anatomy of Modern India 

By : Amar Nath Prasad

Page No: 23-28

Abstract : 
Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger offers a scathing critique of modern India, exploring the stark contrasts between wealth and poverty, privilege and oppression. This paper examines the novel as an anatomy of contemporary India, dissecting its themes of corruption, social mobility, and the paradox of democracy. Through the protagonist Balram Halwai’s journey—from a village boy to a successful entrepreneur—the novel exposes the deep-seated inequalities of Indian society and challenges the idealistic vision of economic progress. By utilising a bold narrative style and an unfiltered first-person perspective, Adiga foregrounds the tensions within the nation’s social fabric. This study contextualises The White Tiger within postcolonial discourse, analysing its portrayal of class struggle, capitalist ambitions, and the moral dilemmas of survival.

Author:
Dr. Amar Nath Prasad: Professor & Head, P.G.Dept of English, J.P.University, Chapra (Bihar).
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/POET.2025.38.02.3