UNDERSTANDING THE RECONCEPTUALIZATION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALISM IN ARAVIND ADIGA’S THE WHITE TIGER

Abstract

Aravind Adiga is one of the leading Indian novelists who responded to the problems of social realism on the canvass of Indian literatures. This research paper aims to explore the study of socio classism and discrimination in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger. The novel provides a darkly humorous perspective of India's class struggle in a globalized world as told through a retrospective narration from the protagonist Balram Halwai, a village boy. In detailing Balram's journey first to Delhi, where he works as a chauffeur to a rich landlord, and then to Bangalore, the place to which he flees after killing his master and stealing his money, the novel examines issues of the Hindu religion, caste, loyalty, corruption and India. Ultimately, Balram transcends his sweet-maker caste and becomes a successful entrepreneur, establishing his own taxi service. The novel portrays India's society as very negative towards the lower social caste. This paper examine how the protagonist has been psychologically and socially affected and discriminated in our society, Aravind Adiga’ has discussed disparities of two worlds: darkness, inhabited by poor and underprivileged who cannot even meet their bare minimums; and the lighted world, inhabited by zamindari, politicians, businessmen etc. who shamelessly exploits the ones from darkness, making them even poorer and grows their own grandeur.