Vistas Chapter-2 The Tiger King
“The Tiger King” is a story of an arrogant King who
disproved the prophecy of the astrologer, but destiny proved to be powerful and
the prediction which was made when the king was ten days old comes out to be
true. The Maharaja Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur was called “Tiger King”. When
he was just 10 days old he asked intelligent questions to the astrologers and
was told that he would be killed by a tiger. He uttered “Let tigers beware!” No
other miracle took place, the child grew like any other Royal child drinking
white cow’s milk, taught by an English tutor, looked after by an English nanny
and watched English films.
When he turned 20, he was crowned as the king. It was
then the prediction of his death by the tiger reached the Maharaja’s ear and he
in turn to safe guard himself killed a tiger and being thrilled he told the
astrologer who replied that he can kill 99 tigers but should be careful with
the 100th. From then on, he started killing tiger and none was allowed to hunt
tigers.
A high-ranking British officer visited the state. He was
fond of hunting tiger but his wish was declined. The officer requested for
getting a photograph with a tiger killed by Maharaja and this request too was
rejected. So, to please the officer’s wife he sent 50 diamond rings expecting
that she would take 1 or 2 instead she kept all the rings costing 3 lakh rupees
and sent ‘thanks’ to the Maharaja. But his state was secured.
In 10 years, he killed 70 tiger and didn’t find any in
his own region so he decided to marry a girl from royal state which had more
tigers to complete his target. Whenever he visited his in-laws he killed 5-6
tigers. So, he killed 99 tigers and was feverishly anxious to kill the 100th
but couldn’t find. News about the presence of a tiger near a village proved
disappointing. Now the Dewan was warned of this danger so he visited ‘People’s
Park in Madras’ and brought an old tiger and placed it in the forest and
informed the Maharaja. The Maharaja took great care and shot the tiger and left
the place with great triumph. The bullet did not hit the tiger but out of fear
the tiger had collapsed. Now the staff killed the tiger and brought it in grand
procession.
It was the 3rd birthday of the Maharaja’s son and he
wanted to buy a present from the toy shop. He bought a wooden tiger which was
poorly carved. While the maharaja was playing with the prince, a tiny sliver of
the wooden tiger pierces his right hand which later on causes his death. Thus,
the hundredth tiger takes his final revenge upon the “Tiger King”.
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