NCERT Textbook - The Tiger King | English Class 12 PDF Download

 Page 1


8 Vistas
2 2 2 2 2
The Tiger King
Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki
I
Before you read
What is the general attitude of human beings towards
wild animals?
THE Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the
hero of this story. He may be identified
as His Highness Jamedar-General,
Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari,
Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana
Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur,
M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K. But this
name is often shortened to the Tiger
King.
I have come forward to tell you why
he came to be known as Tiger King. I
have no intention of pretending to advance only to end in a
strategic withdrawal. Even the threat of a Stuka bomber
will not throw me off track. The Stuka, if it likes, can beat
a hasty retreat from my story.
Right at the start, it is imperative to disclose a matter
of vital importance about the Tiger King. Everyone who
reads of him will experience the natural desire to meet a
man of his indomitable courage face-to-face. But there is
no chance of its fulfilment. As Bharata said to Rama about
Who is the Tiger
King? Why does
he get that
name?
Reprint 2024-25
Page 2


8 Vistas
2 2 2 2 2
The Tiger King
Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki
I
Before you read
What is the general attitude of human beings towards
wild animals?
THE Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the
hero of this story. He may be identified
as His Highness Jamedar-General,
Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari,
Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana
Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur,
M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K. But this
name is often shortened to the Tiger
King.
I have come forward to tell you why
he came to be known as Tiger King. I
have no intention of pretending to advance only to end in a
strategic withdrawal. Even the threat of a Stuka bomber
will not throw me off track. The Stuka, if it likes, can beat
a hasty retreat from my story.
Right at the start, it is imperative to disclose a matter
of vital importance about the Tiger King. Everyone who
reads of him will experience the natural desire to meet a
man of his indomitable courage face-to-face. But there is
no chance of its fulfilment. As Bharata said to Rama about
Who is the Tiger
King? Why does
he get that
name?
Reprint 2024-25
9 The Tiger King
Dasaratha, the Tiger King has reached that final abode of
all living creatures. In other words, the Tiger King is dead.
The manner of his death is a matter of extraordinary
interest. It can be revealed only at the end of the tale. The
most fantastic aspect of his demise was that as soon as he
was born, astrologers had foretold that one day the Tiger
King would actually have to die.
“The child will grow up to become the warrior of
warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions. But...”
they bit their lips and swallowed hard. When compelled to
continue, the astrologers came out with it. “This is a secret
which should not be revealed at all. And yet we are forced
to speak out. The child born under this star will one day
have to meet its death.”
At that very moment a great miracle took place. An
astonishing phrase emerged from the lips of the ten-day-
old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, “O wise prophets!’’
Everyone stood transfixed in stupefaction. They looked
wildly at each other and blinked.
‘‘O wise prophets! It was I who spoke.’’
This time there were no grounds for doubt. It was the
infant born just ten days ago who had enunciated the words
so clearly.
The chief astrologer took off his spectacles and gazed
intently at the baby.
‘‘All those who are born will one day have to die. We
don’t need your predictions to know that. There would be
some sense in it if you could tell us the manner of that
death,’’ the royal infant uttered these words in his little
squeaky voice.
The chief astrologer placed his finger on his nose in
wonder. A baby barely ten days old opens its lips in speech!
Not only that, it also raises intelligent questions! Incredible!
Rather like the bulletins issued by the war office, than facts.
The chief astrologer took his finger off his nose and
fixed his eyes upon the little prince.
‘‘The prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull
and the Tiger are enemies, therefore, death comes from
the Tiger,’’ he explained.
Reprint 2024-25
Page 3


8 Vistas
2 2 2 2 2
The Tiger King
Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki
I
Before you read
What is the general attitude of human beings towards
wild animals?
THE Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the
hero of this story. He may be identified
as His Highness Jamedar-General,
Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari,
Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana
Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur,
M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K. But this
name is often shortened to the Tiger
King.
I have come forward to tell you why
he came to be known as Tiger King. I
have no intention of pretending to advance only to end in a
strategic withdrawal. Even the threat of a Stuka bomber
will not throw me off track. The Stuka, if it likes, can beat
a hasty retreat from my story.
Right at the start, it is imperative to disclose a matter
of vital importance about the Tiger King. Everyone who
reads of him will experience the natural desire to meet a
man of his indomitable courage face-to-face. But there is
no chance of its fulfilment. As Bharata said to Rama about
Who is the Tiger
King? Why does
he get that
name?
Reprint 2024-25
9 The Tiger King
Dasaratha, the Tiger King has reached that final abode of
all living creatures. In other words, the Tiger King is dead.
The manner of his death is a matter of extraordinary
interest. It can be revealed only at the end of the tale. The
most fantastic aspect of his demise was that as soon as he
was born, astrologers had foretold that one day the Tiger
King would actually have to die.
“The child will grow up to become the warrior of
warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions. But...”
they bit their lips and swallowed hard. When compelled to
continue, the astrologers came out with it. “This is a secret
which should not be revealed at all. And yet we are forced
to speak out. The child born under this star will one day
have to meet its death.”
At that very moment a great miracle took place. An
astonishing phrase emerged from the lips of the ten-day-
old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, “O wise prophets!’’
Everyone stood transfixed in stupefaction. They looked
wildly at each other and blinked.
‘‘O wise prophets! It was I who spoke.’’
This time there were no grounds for doubt. It was the
infant born just ten days ago who had enunciated the words
so clearly.
The chief astrologer took off his spectacles and gazed
intently at the baby.
‘‘All those who are born will one day have to die. We
don’t need your predictions to know that. There would be
some sense in it if you could tell us the manner of that
death,’’ the royal infant uttered these words in his little
squeaky voice.
The chief astrologer placed his finger on his nose in
wonder. A baby barely ten days old opens its lips in speech!
Not only that, it also raises intelligent questions! Incredible!
Rather like the bulletins issued by the war office, than facts.
The chief astrologer took his finger off his nose and
fixed his eyes upon the little prince.
‘‘The prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull
and the Tiger are enemies, therefore, death comes from
the Tiger,’’ he explained.
Reprint 2024-25
10 Vistas
What did the royal
infant grow up
to be?
You may think that crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur
was thrown into a quake when he heard the word ‘Tiger’.
That was exactly what did not happen. As soon as he heard
it pronounced, the crown prince gave a deep growl. Terrifying
words emerged from his lips.
‘‘Let tigers beware!’’
This account is only a rumour rife in Pratibandapuram.
But with hindsight we may conclude it was based on some
truth.
II
Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur
grew taller and stronger day by day. No
other miracle marked his childhood days
apart from the event already described.
The boy drank the milk of an English
cow, was brought up by an English
nanny, tutored in English by an
Englishman, saw nothing but English
films — exactly as the crown princes of
all the other Indian states did. When he
came of age at twenty, the State, which had been with the
Court of Wards until then, came into his hands.
But everyone in the kingdom remembered the
astrologer’s prediction. Many continued to discuss the
matter. Slowly it came to the Maharaja’s ears.
There were innumerable forests in the Pratibandapuram
State. They had tigers in them. The Maharaja knew the old
saying, ‘You may kill even a cow in self-defence’. There could
certainly be no objection to killing tigers in self-defence.
The Maharaja started out on a tiger hunt.
The Maharaja was thrilled beyond measure when he
killed his first tiger. He sent for the State astrologer and
showed him the dead beast.
‘‘What do you say now?’’ he demanded.
‘‘Your majesty may kill ninety-nine tigers in exactly
the same manner. But...’’ the astrologer drawled.
‘‘But what? Speak without fear.’’
“But you must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.’’
Reprint 2024-25
Page 4


8 Vistas
2 2 2 2 2
The Tiger King
Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki
I
Before you read
What is the general attitude of human beings towards
wild animals?
THE Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the
hero of this story. He may be identified
as His Highness Jamedar-General,
Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari,
Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana
Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur,
M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K. But this
name is often shortened to the Tiger
King.
I have come forward to tell you why
he came to be known as Tiger King. I
have no intention of pretending to advance only to end in a
strategic withdrawal. Even the threat of a Stuka bomber
will not throw me off track. The Stuka, if it likes, can beat
a hasty retreat from my story.
Right at the start, it is imperative to disclose a matter
of vital importance about the Tiger King. Everyone who
reads of him will experience the natural desire to meet a
man of his indomitable courage face-to-face. But there is
no chance of its fulfilment. As Bharata said to Rama about
Who is the Tiger
King? Why does
he get that
name?
Reprint 2024-25
9 The Tiger King
Dasaratha, the Tiger King has reached that final abode of
all living creatures. In other words, the Tiger King is dead.
The manner of his death is a matter of extraordinary
interest. It can be revealed only at the end of the tale. The
most fantastic aspect of his demise was that as soon as he
was born, astrologers had foretold that one day the Tiger
King would actually have to die.
“The child will grow up to become the warrior of
warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions. But...”
they bit their lips and swallowed hard. When compelled to
continue, the astrologers came out with it. “This is a secret
which should not be revealed at all. And yet we are forced
to speak out. The child born under this star will one day
have to meet its death.”
At that very moment a great miracle took place. An
astonishing phrase emerged from the lips of the ten-day-
old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, “O wise prophets!’’
Everyone stood transfixed in stupefaction. They looked
wildly at each other and blinked.
‘‘O wise prophets! It was I who spoke.’’
This time there were no grounds for doubt. It was the
infant born just ten days ago who had enunciated the words
so clearly.
The chief astrologer took off his spectacles and gazed
intently at the baby.
‘‘All those who are born will one day have to die. We
don’t need your predictions to know that. There would be
some sense in it if you could tell us the manner of that
death,’’ the royal infant uttered these words in his little
squeaky voice.
The chief astrologer placed his finger on his nose in
wonder. A baby barely ten days old opens its lips in speech!
Not only that, it also raises intelligent questions! Incredible!
Rather like the bulletins issued by the war office, than facts.
The chief astrologer took his finger off his nose and
fixed his eyes upon the little prince.
‘‘The prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull
and the Tiger are enemies, therefore, death comes from
the Tiger,’’ he explained.
Reprint 2024-25
10 Vistas
What did the royal
infant grow up
to be?
You may think that crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur
was thrown into a quake when he heard the word ‘Tiger’.
That was exactly what did not happen. As soon as he heard
it pronounced, the crown prince gave a deep growl. Terrifying
words emerged from his lips.
‘‘Let tigers beware!’’
This account is only a rumour rife in Pratibandapuram.
But with hindsight we may conclude it was based on some
truth.
II
Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur
grew taller and stronger day by day. No
other miracle marked his childhood days
apart from the event already described.
The boy drank the milk of an English
cow, was brought up by an English
nanny, tutored in English by an
Englishman, saw nothing but English
films — exactly as the crown princes of
all the other Indian states did. When he
came of age at twenty, the State, which had been with the
Court of Wards until then, came into his hands.
But everyone in the kingdom remembered the
astrologer’s prediction. Many continued to discuss the
matter. Slowly it came to the Maharaja’s ears.
There were innumerable forests in the Pratibandapuram
State. They had tigers in them. The Maharaja knew the old
saying, ‘You may kill even a cow in self-defence’. There could
certainly be no objection to killing tigers in self-defence.
The Maharaja started out on a tiger hunt.
The Maharaja was thrilled beyond measure when he
killed his first tiger. He sent for the State astrologer and
showed him the dead beast.
‘‘What do you say now?’’ he demanded.
‘‘Your majesty may kill ninety-nine tigers in exactly
the same manner. But...’’ the astrologer drawled.
‘‘But what? Speak without fear.’’
“But you must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.’’
Reprint 2024-25
11 The Tiger King
‘‘What if the hundredth tiger were also killed?’’
‘‘Then I will tear up all my books on astrology, set fire
to them, and…’’
‘‘And…’’
‘‘I shall cut off my tuft, crop my hair short and become
an insurance agent,’’ the astrologer finished on an
incoherent note.
III
From that day onwards it was celebration time for all
the tigers inhabiting Pratibandapuram.
The State banned tiger hunting by anyone except the
Maharaja. A proclamation was issued to the effect that if
anyone dared to fling so much as a stone at a tiger, all his
wealth and property would be confiscated.
The Maharaja vowed he would attend to all other
matters only after killing the hundred tigers. Initially the
king seemed well set to realise his ambition.
Not that he faced no dangers. There were times when
the bullet missed its mark, the tiger leapt upon him and
he fought the beast with his bare hands. Each time it was
the Maharaja who won.
Reprint 2024-25
Page 5


8 Vistas
2 2 2 2 2
The Tiger King
Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki Kalki
I
Before you read
What is the general attitude of human beings towards
wild animals?
THE Maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the
hero of this story. He may be identified
as His Highness Jamedar-General,
Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari,
Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana
Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur,
M.A.D., A.C.T.C., or C.R.C.K. But this
name is often shortened to the Tiger
King.
I have come forward to tell you why
he came to be known as Tiger King. I
have no intention of pretending to advance only to end in a
strategic withdrawal. Even the threat of a Stuka bomber
will not throw me off track. The Stuka, if it likes, can beat
a hasty retreat from my story.
Right at the start, it is imperative to disclose a matter
of vital importance about the Tiger King. Everyone who
reads of him will experience the natural desire to meet a
man of his indomitable courage face-to-face. But there is
no chance of its fulfilment. As Bharata said to Rama about
Who is the Tiger
King? Why does
he get that
name?
Reprint 2024-25
9 The Tiger King
Dasaratha, the Tiger King has reached that final abode of
all living creatures. In other words, the Tiger King is dead.
The manner of his death is a matter of extraordinary
interest. It can be revealed only at the end of the tale. The
most fantastic aspect of his demise was that as soon as he
was born, astrologers had foretold that one day the Tiger
King would actually have to die.
“The child will grow up to become the warrior of
warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions. But...”
they bit their lips and swallowed hard. When compelled to
continue, the astrologers came out with it. “This is a secret
which should not be revealed at all. And yet we are forced
to speak out. The child born under this star will one day
have to meet its death.”
At that very moment a great miracle took place. An
astonishing phrase emerged from the lips of the ten-day-
old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, “O wise prophets!’’
Everyone stood transfixed in stupefaction. They looked
wildly at each other and blinked.
‘‘O wise prophets! It was I who spoke.’’
This time there were no grounds for doubt. It was the
infant born just ten days ago who had enunciated the words
so clearly.
The chief astrologer took off his spectacles and gazed
intently at the baby.
‘‘All those who are born will one day have to die. We
don’t need your predictions to know that. There would be
some sense in it if you could tell us the manner of that
death,’’ the royal infant uttered these words in his little
squeaky voice.
The chief astrologer placed his finger on his nose in
wonder. A baby barely ten days old opens its lips in speech!
Not only that, it also raises intelligent questions! Incredible!
Rather like the bulletins issued by the war office, than facts.
The chief astrologer took his finger off his nose and
fixed his eyes upon the little prince.
‘‘The prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull
and the Tiger are enemies, therefore, death comes from
the Tiger,’’ he explained.
Reprint 2024-25
10 Vistas
What did the royal
infant grow up
to be?
You may think that crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur
was thrown into a quake when he heard the word ‘Tiger’.
That was exactly what did not happen. As soon as he heard
it pronounced, the crown prince gave a deep growl. Terrifying
words emerged from his lips.
‘‘Let tigers beware!’’
This account is only a rumour rife in Pratibandapuram.
But with hindsight we may conclude it was based on some
truth.
II
Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur
grew taller and stronger day by day. No
other miracle marked his childhood days
apart from the event already described.
The boy drank the milk of an English
cow, was brought up by an English
nanny, tutored in English by an
Englishman, saw nothing but English
films — exactly as the crown princes of
all the other Indian states did. When he
came of age at twenty, the State, which had been with the
Court of Wards until then, came into his hands.
But everyone in the kingdom remembered the
astrologer’s prediction. Many continued to discuss the
matter. Slowly it came to the Maharaja’s ears.
There were innumerable forests in the Pratibandapuram
State. They had tigers in them. The Maharaja knew the old
saying, ‘You may kill even a cow in self-defence’. There could
certainly be no objection to killing tigers in self-defence.
The Maharaja started out on a tiger hunt.
The Maharaja was thrilled beyond measure when he
killed his first tiger. He sent for the State astrologer and
showed him the dead beast.
‘‘What do you say now?’’ he demanded.
‘‘Your majesty may kill ninety-nine tigers in exactly
the same manner. But...’’ the astrologer drawled.
‘‘But what? Speak without fear.’’
“But you must be very careful with the hundredth tiger.’’
Reprint 2024-25
11 The Tiger King
‘‘What if the hundredth tiger were also killed?’’
‘‘Then I will tear up all my books on astrology, set fire
to them, and…’’
‘‘And…’’
‘‘I shall cut off my tuft, crop my hair short and become
an insurance agent,’’ the astrologer finished on an
incoherent note.
III
From that day onwards it was celebration time for all
the tigers inhabiting Pratibandapuram.
The State banned tiger hunting by anyone except the
Maharaja. A proclamation was issued to the effect that if
anyone dared to fling so much as a stone at a tiger, all his
wealth and property would be confiscated.
The Maharaja vowed he would attend to all other
matters only after killing the hundred tigers. Initially the
king seemed well set to realise his ambition.
Not that he faced no dangers. There were times when
the bullet missed its mark, the tiger leapt upon him and
he fought the beast with his bare hands. Each time it was
the Maharaja who won.
Reprint 2024-25
12 Vistas
At another time he was in danger of losing his throne.
A high-ranking British officer visited Pratibandapuram.
He was very fond of hunting tigers. And fonder of being
photographed with the tigers he had shot. As usual, he
wished to hunt tigers in Pratibandapuram. But the
Maharaja was firm in his resolve. He refused permission.
‘‘I can organise any other hunt. You may go on a boar
hunt. You may conduct a mouse hunt. We are ready for a
mosquito hunt. But tiger hunt! That’s impossible!’’
The British officer’s secretary sent word to the
Maharaja through the dewan that the durai himself did
not have to kill the tiger. The Maharaja could do the actual
killing. What was important to the durai was a photograph
of himself holding the gun and standing over the tiger’s
carcass. But the Maharaja would not agree even to this
proposal. If he relented now, what would he do if other
British officers turned up for tiger hunts?
Because he prevented a British officer from fulfilling
his desire, the Maharaja stood in danger of losing his
kingdom itself.
The Maharaja and the dewan held deliberations over
this issue. As a result, a telegram was despatched forthwith
to a famous British company of jewellers in Calcutta. ‘Send
samples of expensive diamond rings of different designs.’
Some fifty rings arrived. The Maharaja sent the whole
lot to the British officer’s good lady. The king and the minister
expected the duraisani to choose one or two rings and send
the rest back. Within no time at all the duraisani sent her
reply: ‘Thank you very much for your gifts.’
In two days a bill for three lakh of rupees came from
the British jewellers. The Maharaja was happy that though
he had lost three lakh of rupees, he had managed to retain
his kingdom.
IV
The Maharaja’s tiger hunts continued to be highly
successful. Within ten years he was able to kill seventy
tigers. And then, an unforeseen hurdle brought his mission
to a standstill. The tiger population became extinct in the
Reprint 2024-25