The White Tiger

Meet Balram Halwai: Servant, Philosopher, Entrepreneur, Murderer…

This is how we are introduced to this year’s Booker Prize winner. Intriguing, yes? But is it really the best book of the year? My answer is – probably not. But it is well worth a look.

The White Tiger is a sharp and condemnatory look at Indian’s caste system and depicts a fairly likeable character whose awareness and growing dislike of his lot in life leads him to murder. Now this gives nothing away as he tells you himself in the opening chapter.

In a series of letters to the Premier of China (who is about to visit India), Balram unfolds not only his story, but the true story of a modern Metropolis built on the blood, sweat and tears of the disenfranchised.

The family name Halwai denotes “sweet-maker” and it is interesting that this is the life which Balram’s name dooms him too. But he finds himself poorly suited to this profession. His keen intelligence (leading him to be described as the rare white tiger of the title) has him listen in on client’s conversations to pick up tips and information. It is a habit Balram cannot break – either from curiosity or deviousness – throughout the novel. And when Balram turns his back on his family obligations to seek a more highly paid position as a driver, he continues this bad habit, although more surreptitiously.

Although many reviewers call Balram very likeable, I cannot. He is devious and cold – but I can sympathise with him. He is a man who is too self-aware, too in tune with the injustice of his life to simply accept the way things are. But his success comes at the suffering of so many others… admittedly, they are not likeable either! Others call him psychopathic – I’m not sure this is fair either.

For many India is a kind of “land of opportunity”, but Adiga reminds us of the other side of the story. In some ways, Balram’s story is the story of India.

The voice is fresh, the content relevant and interesting. A great first novel. Watch the white tiger escape from the coop.