The White Tiger
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Aravind Adiga’s Booker Prize-winning debut novel "The White Tiger" offers a sharp and biting critique of the corruption, greed, and social inequality still alive in contemporary India. Balram Halwai, a poor Indian villager, brilliantly tells the story of his journey from rickshaw driver to successful entrepreneur, driven by his cunning wit and desire to break free from his caste society. In his letter to the Chinese Premier, Balram provides a revealing reflection on the “darkness” of India’s democracy and the class warfare that extends all the way to the country’s top officials. This darkly comedic and deeply subversive work is a must-read for anyone curious about the modern contours of power and serves as a startling and unforgettable exploration of class and corrupt forces operating in the heart of modern-day India. It is no wonder that critics have likened this novel to the work of Richard Wright's "Native Son" for its vivid depiction of a protagonist grappling with the forces of society and his own sense of agency.