How Does Balram Illuminates India's Life

The Dark Tiger In Aravind Adiga’s novel, The White Tiger, Adiga reveals the troubled life of the protagonist, Balram Halwai, a servant, driver, philosopher, and entrepreneur trying to survive in the Indian caste system, during the late twentieth century. Over the course of seven days Balram tells his eventful story through a series of letters written to Wen Jiabao, the premier of China. Balram writes to the premier to explain the Indian culture of entrepreneurship, specifically through his journey to his position. Adiga illuminates India’s corruption through Balram experiences, initially displayed in adolescence through his families necessities, he then witnesses corruption while working for Mr. Ashok, and finally becomes an even more corrupt
As a child, Balram first account of this corruption occurs in his school when he discovers that his own teacher, Mr. Krishna, has been stealing money from his school. An inspector of the Great socialist states, “There is no duster in this class; there are no chairs; there are no uniforms for the boys. How much money have stolen from the school funds”(Adiga 29), this being ironic because The Great Socialist steals from all people who live in the Darkness. Balram reveals that the school has not paid Mr. Krishna in six months, the teacher continues the corruption cycle, robbing children just as the government robbed him. As Balram describes the atmosphere at school, he uncovers that he is very smart, being able to both read and write. His opportunity was spoiled by the corruption of society, and the desperate need for money throughout the town. He was then pulled out of school, because the Stork, a powerful landlord, needing his loan back. Balram explains, “He wanted all member of the family working for him…so they had to hand me to him”(Adiga 31), this illuminates the function of Balram’s corrupt society, being forced to work to ensure that oneself and family will survive. In every job he has, whether it is breaking coal pouring tea or driving, he is expected to send back a share of his makings to his
Ashok and Balram live completely opposite lifestyles they both are eventually significantly influenced by corruption. Balram expands his life as an entrepreneur, and ironically creates his life to shape similarly to Mr. Ashok, “What would Mr. Ashok do?”(Adiga 256), basing his ideas and even chaining his name to Ashok Sharma. Balram shows his real identity when he murders Mr. Ashok, revealing that he is no different from the corruption and evil he had witnessed his entire life. All he wants is power and money. Corruption also become very beneficial for Balram when he bribes the police to shut down all the other driving companies forming a system of horizontal integration. Later Balram acts as a hero claiming he took the balm for one of his drivers, who hit and killed a boy, but Balram really bribed the police and kept the story quit. “We’ll say it was a hit-and-run…we keep battered car’s here for this purpose here”(Adiga 265) Balram has completely flip sides, moving from the good to the evil, partaking in the corruption he coursed while working for Mr. Ashok. This very Similar to Pinky Madam’s car accident and the cover up, this makes Balram no different from his former masters. Through all of his success, Balram has become comfortable with the power he holds, he specifically relates this to his trip to the Zoo, “Then the thing behind the bamboo stopped moving. It turned its face to my face. The Tiger’s eyes met my eyes, like my masters eyes have met mine so often