The White Tiger

The White Tiger

A Novel

Aravind Adiga

Free Press

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A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products

of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or

locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2008 by Aravind Adiga

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any

form whatsoever. For information address Free Press Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230

Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Adiga, Aravind.

The white tiger: a novel / Aravind Adiga.

p. cm.

1. Chauffeurs—India—Bangalore—Fiction. 2. Poor—India—

Bangalore—Fiction. 3. Ambition—Fiction. 4. Business people—

India—Bangalore—Fiction. 5. Bangalore (India)—Fiction.

I. Title.

PR9619.4.A35W47 2008 2007045527

823'.92—dc22

ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-6273-3

ISBN-10: 1-4165-6273-7

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The First Night

For the Desk of:

His Excellency Wen Jiabao

The Premier's Office

Beijing

Capital of the Freedom-loving Nation of China

From the Desk of:

"The White Tiger"

A Thinking Man

And an Entrepreneur

Living in the world's center of Technology and Outsourcing

Electronics City Phase 1 (just off Hosur Main Road)

Bangalore, India

Mr. Premier,

Sir.

Neither you nor I speak English, but there are some things that can be said only in English.

My ex-employer the late Mr. Ashok's ex-wife, Pinky Madam, taught me one of these

things; and at 11:32 p.m. today, which was about ten minutes ago, when the lady on All

India Radio announced, "Premier Jiabao is coming to Bangalore next week," I said that

thing at once.

In fact, each time when great men like you visit our country I say it. Not that I have

anything against great men. In my way, sir, I consider myself one of your kind. But

whenever I see our prime minister and his distinguished sidekicks drive to the airport in

black cars and get out and do namastes before you in front of a TV camera and tell you

about how moral and saintly India is, I have to say that thing in English.

Now, you are visiting us this week, Your Excellency, aren't you? All India Radio is usually

reliable in these matters.

That was a joke, sir.

Ha!

That's why I want to ask you directly if you really are coming to Bangalore. Because if you

are, I have something important to tell you. See, the lady on the radio said, "Mr. Jiabao is

on