INTRODUCTION:

Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger is a critically acclaimed novel that provides a sharp critique of the sociopolitical and economic systems in contemporary India. He is known for his insightful and critically acclaimed works that often explore social and political issues in contemporary India. Adiga's writings often feature themes of poverty, inequality, corruption, and the struggle for survival in modern Indian society. His debut novel, The White Tiger, won the Man Booker Prize in 2008 that is darkly humorous and satirical novel which exposes the social and economic disparities in India through the story of a rural servant who becomes a successful entrepreneur. The novel tells the story of Balram Halwai, a young man born into a poor family in the Chamar caste.

The Chamars are considered to be "untouchables" in India, and they are often discriminated against. Balram is denied an education and is forced to work as a servant for a wealthy family. He witnesses the poverty and inequality that exists in India, and he begins to question the caste system.Balram eventually kills his master and flees to Delhi. He becomes a successful businessman, but he never forgets the caste system and the poverty he witnessed. The novelist expose the injustice of the caste system and calls for change.

The novel has been equally praised and criticised for its moving portrayal of the caste system negative portrayal of the upper class in India. However, there is no doubt that the novel acts as a powerful spokesperson of complex and important issue of caste in India.

Some of the specific ways in which it acts as a socio-commentary on the caste system in India is as follows.

· The novel shows how the caste system limits opportunities for people born into lower castes. Balram is denied an education and is forced to work as a servant. He is unable to get a good job or to improve his social status.

· The novel shows how the caste system perpetuates poverty and inequality. Balram's family is poor because they are members of the Chamar caste. They are unable to get ahead in life because of their caste status.

· The novel shows how the caste system can lead to violence. Balram kills his master because he is tired of being treated as an inferior. He believes that violence is the only way to change the caste system.

· The novel shows how the caste system can damage individuals and society as a whole. Balram is traumatized by his experiences with the caste system. He becomes cynical and distrustful of others. He also believes that the caste system is holding India back from progress.

The novel delves deep into the problems of caste system that has been in place in India for centuries which divides people into four main groups, or castes, based on their birth. The Brahmins are the highest caste, followed by the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras. The Dalits, or "untouchables," are at the bottom of the caste system. Due to this feature he is categorized into the category of committed writers who do not adhere to the principle of ‘art for art’s sake’ rather ‘art for life’s sake." Singh and Das, in their article, confirmed the same notion as they wrote, "Adiga presents a scathing critique of India's political and economic system through the portrayal of Balram Halwai, the protagonist of 'The White Tiger'" (Singh and Das 148).

The novel is primarily focused on the story of Balram Halwai, a poor Indian boy who rises from his humble beginnings to become a successful entrepreneur by adopting unethical means. Adiga uses Balram's story as a tool to shed light on the systemic corruption and oppression that is pervasive in Indian society. The author uses novel as a sociopolitical commentary and Balram’s story to critique the Indian social and economic systems. In a way author does not write in vacuum but with a purpose of exposing the foils and foibles of society thus qualifying in a category of what Wilbur Scott in the book Five Approaches of Literary Criticism conveys“... art’s relations to the society are vitally important, and …. Art is not created in a vacuum; it is the work not simply of a person, but of an author fixed in time and space, answering to a community ...” (123).

One of the central themes in novel is the caste system in India. Adiga uses Balram's character to illustrate how the caste system perpetuates inequality and oppression in Indian society. In their analysis of the novel, Ahmed and Islam argue that "Balram's character is a metaphor for the oppressed masses in India who are forced to resort to violence in order to survive" (5). Balram is born into the lowest caste, known as the 'Halwai' caste. He is denied access to education and other opportunities that are reserved for the upper castes, the suffering of economic disparity which the lower castes faced could be summed up in the words of Balram, “I was born into a family of Chamars, the lowest caste in India. My parents were poor farmers, and they could not afford to send me to school." The notion is seconded M. K. Asante who says, "...The White Tiger presents a scathing critique of India's social and economic systems" (Asante 19). A study conducted in 2018 by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights revealed that 53% of lower caste children in India had experienced some form of caste-based discrimination within the school environment. Furthermore, the study highlighted that lower caste children were more likely to drop out of school compared to their peers from higher castes.

Adiga portrays how Balram is forced to work as a servant for a wealthy family, known as the 'Storks,' for most of his life. His experiences as a servant expose the brutal reality of the caste system in India. For example, Balram's employers view him as nothing more than a tool to be used and discarded at their convenience. Adiga writes, "The Stork's family owned a lot of land and businesses, and had over a hundred servants...they never looked at [him] in the eye because they were afraid to see what was there" (12). Moreover; his master demeaned him multiply times as Balram says, “When I was 12 years old, I went to work as a servant for a wealthy family in Delhi. The family's children went to school, but I was not allowed to go. My master said that I was too stupid to learn." Discrimination based on caste is also prevalent in the employment sector. Lower caste individuals frequently face job denials or are offered lower wages compared to individuals belonging to higher castes. Furthermore, they may encounter verbal abuse and physical violence from employers and colleagues. A study conducted in 2019 by the Centre for Social Development found that 40% of lower caste workers in India had experienced some form of caste-based discrimination in the workplace. The study also indicated that lower caste workers were more prone to unemployment compared to individuals from higher castes.

Adiga also uses Balram's character to critique the corruption that is rampant in Indian society which has been echoed by Jyoti Yadav's article "Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger: A Socio-Political Critique of Contemporary India," as she says that the novel "critiques the socio-political issues like corruption, poverty, social inequality, oppression and injustice in the Indian society through the character of Balram Halwai" (Yadav 100).

Balram's experiences as a servant expose him to the corruption and bribery that is pervasive in every aspect of Indian society. For example, Balram's employers force him to forge documents and commit other illegal acts to cover up their own corruption. As Balram confesses, "They made me forge signatures on cheques, invent false bills and letters of credit, and copy out other people's handwriting...I became an expert forger and a fluent liar" (Adiga 49). Adiga uses

Balram's story to show how corruption is so deeply ingrained in Indian society that it is virtually impossible to escape it.

Moreover, the novel provides a useful framework for understanding the political commentary of the novel. The author highlights the ways in which the novel exposes the flaws of the postcolonial Indian state and its political and economic systems. His analysis adds depth to our understanding of the novel's critique of contemporary India and its political and economic structures. According to Singh, "The White Tiger critiques the neoliberal economic policies that have exacerbated inequality in India" (10).

In conclusion, Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger’ is a powerful critique of the sociopolitical and economic systems in contemporary India. Adiga uses Balram's character to illustrate how the caste system perpetuates inequality and oppression and how corruption is endemic in Indian society. Overall, Aravind Adiga's writings provide a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary Indian society and its various challenges, often with a blend of wit, social commentary, and engaging storytelling. Thus, Adiga's novel is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex realities of modern India.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:

· To examine the sociopolitical commentary in Aravind Adiga's novel 'The White Tiger' and analyze its portrayal of the Indian society and political landscape.

· To explore the thematic elements and symbols used in the novel to critique various aspects of Indian society, such as class, corruption, poverty, and inequality.

· To investigate the character development in 'The White Tiger' and analyze how the protagonists' personal experiences reflect the larger sociopolitical issues discussed in the novel.

· To assess the impact of Adiga's sociopolitical commentary on readers' understanding and perception of contemporary India, and its relevance to the global audience.

METHODOLOGY:

1. Literature Review:

Conduct an extensive review of relevant scholarly articles, books, and critical analyses of 'The White Tiger' to gain a comprehensive understanding of the novel's sociopolitical themes and character development.

2. Textual Analysis:

Perform a close reading of the novel, focusing on key scenes, dialogues, and literary devices employed by Adiga to convey his sociopolitical commentary. Identify recurring motifs, symbols, and themes within the text.

3. Sociopolitical Contextualization:

Investigate the social, economic, and political context of India during the time period the novel is set in, as well as the contemporary context. Analyze how Adiga's portrayal of Indian society in 'The White Tiger' aligns with or critiques the prevailing sociopolitical conditions.

4. Character Analysis:

Conduct an in-depth analysis of the main characters in the novel, particularly Balram Halwai, the protagonist. Examine their motivations, relationships, and personal growth, and relate them to the broader sociopolitical themes explored in the novel.

5. Reader Response Analysis:

Employ qualitative research methods such as surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather feedback and opinions from readers who have engaged with 'The White Tiger.' Explore how readers perceive and interpret the sociopolitical commentary and character analysis presented in the novel.

6. Comparative Analysis:

Compare Adiga's sociopolitical commentary in 'The White Tiger' with other literary works or cultural representations that address similar themes and issues, both within and outside the Indian context, to assess its distinctiveness and significance.

7. Critical Interpretation:

Apply theoretical frameworks, such as postcolonial theory or sociopolitical criticism, to critically analyze Adiga's sociopolitical commentary and character analysis in 'The White Tiger' and explore the implications of his narrative choices.

8. Conclusion and Implications:

Synthesize the findings from the textual analysis, sociopolitical contextualization, character analysis, and reader response analysis to draw conclusions about the novel's sociopolitical commentary and its impact. Discuss the broader implications of Adiga's work in terms of understanding contemporary India and its sociopolitical landscape.

Works Cited:

1. Adiga, Aravind. The White Tiger. Harper Collins, 2008.

2. Singh, Nirmal, and Pramod K. Das. "Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger: A Socio-Political Perspective." Language in India, vol. 11, no. 9, Sept. 2011, pp. 148-158

3. Scott, Wilbur. Five Approaches of Literary Criticism.Collier Books, 1962

4. Ahmad and Islam. The White Tiger': Balram Halwai as an Atypical Character. A Socio-Political Perspective." Language in India, vol. 11, no. 9, Sept. 2011, pp. 148-159

5. M. K. Asante. The White Tiger: A Social Critique. The journal of humanistic Study, vol. 11, no. 9, Sept. 2012, 19

6. Yadav, Jyoti. "Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger: A Socio-Political Critique of Contemporary India Nawale, A. International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Literature.

7. Singh, Kumar. A Sociological Study of Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 16(5), 27-29. doi: 10.9790/0837- 1652729

Received on 12.08.2023 Modified on 17.10.2023

Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2023; 14(4):233-236.

DOI: 10.52711/2321-5828.2023.00046