The Tiger King

The Tiger King

Q. Why did the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram decide to kill tigers?

Or

What led Maharaja to start out on a tiger hunt? (2010)

Ans. The Maharaja had come to know of the chief astrologer's prediction that his death would come from a tiger. So he vowed to kill all the tigers in his state. The hundredth tiger was predicted to be the cause of his death. He, therefore, killed about hundred tigers.

Q. How did the Tiger King acquire his name?  (2009)

Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram was called Sata Vyaghra Samhari ot the Tiger King because he had killed about hundred tigers. He was warned by an astrologer that he would be killed by a tiger. So he vowed to kill all the tigers in his state. The hundredth tiger was predicted to be the cause of his death. He, therefore, killed about hundred tigers.

Q. What sort of hunts did the Maharaja offer to organize for the high-ranking British officer? What trait of the officer does it reveal? (2013)

Ans. Once, a high ranking British officer visited Pratibandapuram. He wanted to hunt some tigers in the forests of Pratibandapuram. But the Maharaja refused the officer any such permission. However, he offered to organize for the officer some other hunts like - boar hunt, mouse- hunt, mosquito-hunt, etc. This episode reveals the vanity of the persons in high position. It also reveals their love of idle pursuits and frivolous pastimes.

Q. When was the Tiger King in danger of losing his kingdom? (2015)

Or

Why do you think the Maharaja was in danger of losing his throne? (2010)

Ans. OnceA high-ranking British officer came to the state. He wanted to hunt tigers there. He loved to be photographed with the tigers he had shot. But the Maharaja firmly refused any such permission. Thus there could be a danger of his losing the kingdom.

Q. Even though the Maharaja lost 3 lac, he was still happy. Why? (CBSE Sample Paper 2008)

Or

How was the Maharaja able to save his kingdom?

Ans. The Maharaja was in danger of losing his kingdom because he did not give the British Officer permission to hunt in his kingdom. In order to please the officer, the Maharaja sent diamond rings for the officer's wife. These rings cost him 3 lacs rupees. But he was happy because he had averted the danger of losing his kingdom.

Q.Why did the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram wish to marry ?

Or

Why did the Tiger King decide to get married ? (2015)

Ans. The tigers’ population in his state had become extinct. He had yet to shoot down thirty more. In order to solve  this problem he decided to marry a girl in some royal family in whose kingdom there was a large tiger population.

Q. Why was the Maharaja so anxious to kill the hundredth tiger? ((CBSE Foreign 2008, CBSE 2012)

Ans. The Maharaja had killed ninety nine tigers. Now only one more tiger remained to be killed to achieve the tally of a hundred. But he could not find the hundredth one. Therefore, he became anxious to kill the hundredth one so that the danger on his life could be averted.

Q. What was the dewan's tiger like? How did he take it into the forest? (CBSE Delhi, 2008)

Ans. The dewan had a tiger in his house which he had brought from the People's Park in Madras. It was an old tiger. The dewan and his wife the tiger in a car and took the tiger into the forest. He left it where the Maharaja was hunting.

Q. Why did the dewan decide to give up his own tiger to be killed by the Maharaja?

Or

Why did the Dewan decide to give up his own tiger to be killed by the Maharaja ? (CBSE Delhi, 2008)

Or

How did the Dewan try to help two Maharaja achieve his mission ? (CBSE Delhi Comptt. 2008)

Ans. The Maharaja was in a great fury when he failed to find the hundredth tiger. Many officers had to lose their job. The Maharaja asked the dewan also to resign. In order to save his job, the dewan decided to arrange a tiger of his own. He took the tiger into the forest left it where the Maharaja was hunting.

Q. What happened to the tiger provided by the dewan ? (2009)

Or

What happened when the hundredth tiger came into the Maharaja's presence?

Ans. The tiger stood before the Maharaja in humble submission. With boundless joy, the Maharaja took aim and fired. The old tiger fell in a crumpled heap. He was overcome with elation. He ordered his men to bring the tiger in the capital in a grand procession. He also hastened away in his car to celebrate his victory.

Q.What did the hunters do with the hundredth tiger after the Maharaja had left?

Ans. The hunters found that the tiger was not dead as the bullet had missed it. The old tiger had fainted from the sharp sound of the bullet. But they didn't want the Maharaja to know of it. So one of the hunters shot at the tiger and killed him.

Q. How did the Tiger King celebrate his victory over the killing of the hundredth tiger? (CBSE Delhi 2008)

Ans. The Maharaja aimed at the hundredth tiger and it fell in a crumpled heap. He was overcome with elation. He ordered his men to bring the tiger in the capital in a grand procession. He also hastened away in his car to celebrate his victory. The dead tiger was taken in procession through the town and buried. A tomb was erected over it.

Q. How did the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram meet his death?

Or

Q. How did the hundredth tiger take its revenge upon the Tiger King ? (CBSE Foreign 2008)

Ans. The Maharaja got a wooden but rough gift of a tiger from a shop which was made by an unskilled carpenter. It had small slivers of wood on its surface. While playing with his son with the tiger, a sliver got pricked in his right hand. He pulled it out but the infection spread all over the arm. After the operation, the doctors said, “The operation is successful but the Maharaja is dead." Thus, a small toy-tiger caused the death of the Tiger King and took its revenge upon the king.

Q. The manner of the Tiger King's death is a matter of extraordinary interest. Comment (2015)

Års. When the king was born, the astrologer predicted that the king would be killed by the hundredth tiger. The king made every effort to disprove the astrologer’s prophecy and killed a hundred tigers, no doubt. But the prophecy itself proved right as the king was ultimately killed by a tiger, though neither by a real one nor by the hundredth one. The hundredth tiger escaped the Maharaja’s bullet by fainting at the shock of the bullet whizzing past. It was the “tiny little wooden tiger” from the toy shop that caused the death of Tiger King. Hence, the manner of the Tiger King's death is a matter of extraordinary interest.

QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE