Significance of the Title A Tiger for Malgudi by R.K. Narayan

Exploring the Significance of the Title A Tiger for Malgudi by R.K. Narayan

 
R.K. Narayan's novel A Tiger for Malgudi captures the essence of human nature by juxtaposing the wilderness on the one side and the  civilized on the other.  The setting of Malgudi, can be treated as the microcosm of India. It  symbolizes the complexities of human civilization.

The tiger, Raja, represents primal instincts, untamed wilderness, and the innate desire for freedom. As a majestic and powerful creature, Raja embodies the raw forces of nature that exist outside the confines of human society. His presence in Malgudi disrupts the established order, challenging the town's inhabitants to confront their own vulnerabilities and fears.

The arrival of Raja in Malgudi serves as a metaphor for the collision between civilization and the natural world. His presence disrupts the town's sense of security and exposes the fragility of human dominance over the environment. Through Raja's interactions with the townspeople, Narayan explores the consequences of human encroachment on wildlife habitats.

Raja's journey reflects a search for his place in the world, oscillating between the forest and the town, between instinct and reason. The title underscores the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, highlighting the interconnectedness of all living beings. Raja's presence in Malgudi forces the townspeople to confront their attitudes towards wildlife, conservation, and ecological concerns. Through Raja's perspective, Narayan challenges readers to reevaluate their place within the broader ecosystem and consider the ethical implications of human intervention in nature.

A title expresses the theme of a book in a poetic way. It is part of the overall impression for the literary work.  In the novel A Tiger for Malgudi, Raja, the tiger, after coming under the influence of the Master, behaves more humanly than human beings. He listens to the Master's discourses on The Bhagvad Gita and tries to elevate himself from a mundane level to a higher plane of existence. Here Raja symbolizes a soul striving for perfection.

By giving the present title to the novel, Narayan seems to suggest that the people of Malgudi need an exemplary personality like Raja, the tiger, to emulate and then improve themselves. Further, while the Master and the tiger leave Malgudi, they come across a rioting mob engaged in a bloody strife. When the people notice the tiger, they disperse quickly, forgetting their quarrels with one another. Then the Master cries to them: "If I find you fighting again, I'll be back to stop it. Take care; you should not need a tiger to keep the peace." In a similar situation the Master remarks: "What our country needs most is a tiger for every village and town to keep people disciplined"

Hence, through the title R.K Narayan underscores the importance of having a force like tiger in the place Malgudi. only such force can control the humanity and create a social order. As far as the writer is concerned the presence of raja is highly inevitable everywhere as it can easily get rid of the chaos of the society due to the instinct and primal force of humaanity, as they can sometimes far more dangerous than wild animals.