The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

After reading a few pages, it looked as though Aravind Adiga had a list of dark issues about India that he wanted to bring to light. So, he has weaved an excellent story that encompasses all issues. The novel is about a smart villager (White Tiger) who moves to city to become a smart entrepreneur.

Adiga’s grouse list, to name a few:

-36,000,004 Gods in India
-Lack of doctors and facilities at government hospitals in rural areas
-Water buffaloes that rule few rural homes
-Lack of water and electricity in many village paradises – but they have mobile phones
-Drunken driving that kills unclaimed children on the roads
-Rural masters who kill the whole family of an erring servant
-Muslims who had to change to Hindu names to get employment
-Foreign whor*s at high-class hotels
-Aspiring entrepreneurs who will even kill to make it big
-(Mis)Use of zoos by lovers
-The holy river Ganges stinking with dead bodies
-Loyal Servants who are forced to go to jail instead of their Masters
-Bribe to politicians and policemen to wipe the vices born off quick money and quick business
-Rickshaws pulling middle-class flesh
-Ripe guava colored giant size lizards and snoozing teachers in schools

The White Tiger is a very interesting read with spine-chilling surprises and bold portrayals. It’s no wonder that Aravind Adiga won the Man Booker Prize for this novel for the year 2008.