Paper short abstract:

Adiga provides a scintillating portrait of India's class struggle in globalized world and portrays Indian landscape with the concern for the outcast and the despised. The caste system in India as an offshoot of socio-cultural set up bears a testimony to radical changes in society and culture.

Paper long abstract:

The scenario in The White Tiger is dominated by the globalized world dominated by sudden splurge of technology and the presence of an American atmosphere in India and highlights the strife between the 'global' and 'rural' India, the upper and lower classes and the resultant dichotomy and points to the offshoots of democracy-booth rigging, murders, sabotage, political deterioration. The paper discusses Adiga's approach towards certain important social and political issues and their ultimate connotations with the cultural framework of contemporary India. The protagonist, Balram Halwai, as an omniscient narrator, narrates the story of his life in a letter addressed to the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao and stands out truly as a symbol of white tiger signifying power, freedom and 'individuality' as he works his way out of his low social caste and overcomes the social obstacles and eludes the 'rooster coop'.The caste system though mild in the urban India has strong roots in rural India beside traditional caste system and two more castes of the haves and have-nots. Balram educates the Chinese Premier about the corruption and immoral ways of India's caste system and its economic gap. Written in the dark tone and devoid of pangs of Balram's guilt over committing a gruesome crime,Adiga subtly dramatizes conflict resulting from the individual interest and social commitments. Indian culture acclaimed for ethical and moral values succumbs to materialism and rampant corruption that has taken its toll and morality has taken a deep plunge