The White Tiger

White tiger is a story that is presented to the audience through a series of seven letters that the protagonist of the story, Balram Halwai writes to the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to tell him about his life. This is of course a creative approach that the writer has adopted to present his story to the readers.
White Tiger as a book can be read at multiple levels. Some of the questions that the book provokes you to think about are:

• Is violence the only way to break a cycle of poverty?
• Does success eventually redeems all sins?
• And is it the all bearing poor person, who has to bear the brunt of society's conflicts?


Through the character of Balram who calls himself; "half-baked", the writer has painted the other side of the picture of India.

Balram who comes from Darkness (as a metaphor for Bihar) is a character that is portrayed in the most realistic and consistent manner. He is not allowed to finish school. Balram was a smart lad, and that was even recognized by a school inspector, who praised him as a 'white tiger', "the rarest of animals -- the creature that only comes along once in a generation". The school inspector promises to arrange a scholarship and proper schooling for the young boy, but, of course, instead his family takes him out of school and puts him to work at a teashop (to pay for marrying off one of the daughters in the family).

Balram’s story thus begins from the rural India, but entered the light that is Delhi via a job as driver to Mr. Ashok, the son of a rich landlord. Wanting to break the shackles of servitude, Balram kills his boss and later absconds with a good amount of money only to become a big entrepreneur in Bangalore.

The story touches upon various elements: how the riches bribe the govt. officials, how the poor are entangled and blamed for murder/accident committed by their bosses, how the haves exploit the haves-not, how religion has been a dominant factor in the lives of Indians and what all is carried out in the name of God, how caste system has corroded India, is democracy working for our country or only widening the gap between the rich and the poor? Etc. The book bombards the reader with all these questions through the story of Balram’s life.

The philosophy that success eventually redeems all sins is what Balram seemed to believe. Balram also started thinking that even though he committed one murder, in the end, he proved himself; he proved his intelligence and became a successful entrepreneur. It has just proviked me to think and think both ways...Whatever the criticisms that Adiga may have got, it still is a great book...

Novels: Fountainhead by Ayn rand and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Comparative study identifying similarities and differences in the story-pattern, cultural backgrounds, graphs of main characters, style, mood etc.

About Fountainhead: It is a book that has lasted an unforgettable imprint in the minds of millions of people with its theory of objectivism. The story narrates the journey of an intransigent young architect and his battle against conventional standards. The fountainhead deals with the timeless, fundamental, universal values of human existence. It creates and projects an image about the things not as they are, but things as they might be and ought to be. The fountainhead, in its essence, is the projection of an ideal man.

About The Alchemist: The book which has changed the life of millions through a simple yet striking magical story has become the favorite of many across the globe including me. Very few fables have the capacity to have some kind of mystic influence on your life through words that reach your soul and this book is surely one of them. The author Paulo Coelho indeed knows to convey his message to the world and motivate people to follow their dreams in a beautiful and an effective way. The story has some true hidden pearls of wisdom that has helped it achieve the status of a ‘modern classic’.

Similarities and differences in the story pattern:

The underlying idea behind both the novels remain the same that an individual’s dream are most important in his or her life and that no one cant stop him or her from achieving the same. Both the books have strong profound philosophies which are woven under a beautiful structure of story. Both, the Fountainhead as well as the Alchemist are an eye opener about the purpose of our life, our objective of our being and the essence of a dream in our life. The books do not directly preach any didactic moral lessons; however they surely inspire us to follow and tread on to the path of our ambition and will, which we lay for ourself. Both the books make an individual believe in one-self and invigorate our faith in us. The books lay stress on passion and ambition and its upshot in ones life.

However as we consider the differences in the story line, we realize that a complete different treatment is given to the two books. The background, number of characters, the setting etc is quite different. Fountainhead involves a lot of characters in the story and the book makes a reader realize the importance of human’s reasoning mind. It portrays people with diverse personas. The book challenges one to think against the old hackneyed morals and principles created by the society. At the same time Alchemist is a book that edifies us about the basic understanding of listening to our hearts. Alchemist truly reflects on to the old adage ‘work is worship’. He feels that the quest of a dream and its journey gives one that heavenly experience to feel God. What makes Alchemist different as a book is the use of stunning metaphors, striking symbolisms and remarkable imagery to narrate a simple story. Fountainhead is more of a reality book where as Alchemist is book one dreams to be in. Both the books teach us to follow our dreams in such different yet striking manner.

Similarities and differences in cultural backgrounds portrayed in the books:

The cultural background is an important part of a book. Each individual has an identity, and the cultural background is a part of a person's search of their true identity. While fountainhead is typically based in the backdrop of the New York City; Alchemist is a story of a shepherd wandering around the countryside of Andalusia in southern Spain. Hence both the books surely differ in the cultural backgrounds.

Fountainhead is a book that is commonly perceived as rebellious in opposition to cultural practices and moral values of the society. The book preaches the significance of individuality and own creativity. Fountainhead, with the help of a story, lets people know that one does not need to fear society and let its flaws hinder the integrity of a person. That one should not compromise on ones own work for the sake of society. The American culture in the book very much surfaces on the ground when Dominique is ready to sleep with Gail Wynand only if he gives a building project to her husband, Peter Keating. Also the denunciation of the Stoddard temple (it bearing a nude sculpture of Dominique) shows how culture plays an important role in the society.

The word Alchemist refers to a person who practiced alchemy. Alchemy was an early form of discipline of the exploration of nature, philosophy and spiritual sect in a metaphysical manner. Hence the cultural references to the ancient parts of Egypt in olden days are found in the book. The deserts and the pyramids of Egypt and the tribal village are some of the hints to the culture of those places. The Arab that believes in good omens, the gypsy fortune teller, the tribal wars, the reference to Allah (God) etc all these depict the Arabic or the ancient Egyptian culture.

Similarities and differences in graphs of main characters:

The book fountainhead has some very strong characters. In fact the book is divided into four sections each dedicated to a particular character namely; Howard Roark, Peter Keating, Ellsworth Toohey and Gail Wynand. Howard Roark is a character that has impressed and influenced millions of people. The character is idyllic is all sense. Roark is a man that does not compromise on his ideas, creativity and will. He lives his dreams passionately and does not sacrifice them for anyone or anything. Roark is a character with a sense of enormous expectations from self. In the book Alchemist, the main protagonist Santiago too gives up shepherding to follow his dreams very much like Roark. In both the books, the character of Roark and Santiago have many similar traits. Even though Roark is an aspiring architect residing in the west and Santiago is only a small time shepherd living in the far countryside of Andalusia, Both Santiago as well as Roark are not just hardworking towards their goals but they also live life with passion. Both Santiago and Roark enjoy a certain kind of lonliness in their life and yet they remain helpful to people they meet acroos in life. In the case of Roark, he remained helpful to Peter Keating and Santiago helped the crystal merchant.

Similarities and differences in Style:

Both the books differ drastically in the way the story is narrated to the reader. Alchemist is a book that is based on fate, dream, love and spirituality whereas Fountainhead inspires people to follow their ambitions passionately. Alchemist is beautifully written with a lot of metaphors and symbols. For example the good omens play a key role in Santiago’s fate and the philosopher’s stone or the Elixir of life representing the soul of the world. Coelho’s writing indeed is beautifully poetic and soothes to ones senses. On the other hand, Fountainhead is a book written so effectively that its philosophy stays with the reader life long. Fountainhead and its language style is wordy and yet so terse. It tends to answer questions like what is our basic objective, what is rationale behind our existence etc. The way Ayn Rand has presented the book; it has been an eye opener about the purpose of our life and objective of ones being. Fountainhead is truly a celebration to ones senses.

Conclusion:
Even though both the books differ in their narration, plot, setting and style, the essence or the core of following ones dream against all odds remains the same. The Alchemist as well as Fountainhead, both books have had a life enhancing impact on millions of people across the world!

The Alchemist- by Paulo Coelho

The book which has changed the life of millions through a simple yet striking magical story has become the favorite of many across the globe including me. Very few fables have the capacity to have some kind of mystic influence on your life through words that reach your soul and this book is surely one of them. The author Paulo Coelho indeed knows to convey his message to the world and motivate people to follow their dreams in a beautiful and an effective way. The story has some true hidden pearls of wisdom that has helped it achieve the status of a ‘modern classic’.

Though the story essentially edifies us about the basic understanding of listening to our hearts, what makes this book so striking is the distinctive style and weaving of words that have an everlasting dint on your hearts. This book makes us believe in destiny, destiny that you make for yourself. The book does not directly preach any didactic lessons of optimism; it rather inspires us to follow and tread on to the path of our thoughts and wills that we have laid for ourselves through stunning metaphors and striking symbolisms.

“When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true” This statement is the arabesque on which the entire book is decorated. It makes an individual believe in one-self and invigorates our faith in us. Coelho wants people to realize that it is in their hands to make the most of their life and that they should not become a prey to their own fate. The author also points out through the character of old crystal seller that those who do not have courage and are afraid of failure live a mediocre life full of emptiness and misery and that such people find comfort only in dreaming rather than putting an effort to fulfill their dreams…

The author uses imagery with such ease and comfort that the book almost takes you along the arid desert along with Santiago, the central character. Passion and ambition is a big part of his life that has inspired him to search for an extravagant treasure in Egypt. The book makes us see life through the passionate and eager eyes of Santiago who has the courage to sacrifice his life in order to fulfill his dreams. This is what I loved about the character because it inspired me to listen to my heart and understand what my existence is all about. It has taught me to be focused on what I want to achieve in life without worrying much about what other people have to think.

“Every second of your search is an encounter with God” This lines makes us believe that all of us have a road to follow, a mission to achieve, that has been made for us by God and that only few people walk on to search their destiny to experience that heavenly feeling, to know what it is to meet God. The symbolic use of ‘elixir of life’ and ‘philosopher’s stone’ for God is precisely done. It adds on to give the alchemy feel to the book. It is interesting to see that Coelho presents the person who denies following his dreams as the person who denies seeing God. It tells us about the strong faith that the author has in God.


With the meeting of characters Santiago and Fatima, the book instills our feeling and faith in love and it tells us that love it is the hub of subsistence and life. It tells us that love helps us to progress and gives us the strength to fulfill all our dreams. “I love you because the whole universe conspired for me to come close to you.” This is what Santiago says to Fatima in the book. Coelho’s writing indeed is beautifully poetic and soothes to ones senses.

The story indeed has the intensity to make us self- empowered, ambitious and motivates us to strive towards our goal in life. The best thing about the book is the challenge that it poses to the reader to follow the dreams in his/her life. The author’s simplicity of thoughts, the unusual setting, and underlying meanings in the book is what makes it an enjoyable reading experience. The reading of the feeling of fulfillment of ones aspirations is what makes this book so extraordinary. Truly, ‘The Alchemist’ has had a life enhancing impact on millions of people!