Democracy Compromised: A Study of Adiga’s The White Tiger

The paper tries to underscore that how one of the oldest democracies of the world is exposed to corruption.  Corruption has brought India not only to halt but also dragging it backward. Corruption in India stems from the connection between bureaucrats, politicians and criminals. Adiga writes that there are mainly three diseases in India typhoid, cholera and election fever of which election is the worst. Election is the very fountainhead of all types of corruption. Voters casting their votes for money or even for a bottle of liquor are a common practice in many cities of India. Politicians before election make many promises but once government is formed they forget the promises. Balram Halwai, the protagonist, owes his success to the bribe that he gave to political institutions.  In corruption police stands second to none. Taking hefty amount of bribe, they protect the big-wigs from legal proceedings. They harass and arrest mostly the have-nots and the honest. The police are totally rotten in Delhi, the capital of India. “If they see you without a seat belt, you’ll have to bribe them a hundred rupees”, says Balram. The police appointed with a view to control crime and maintain law and order promotes crime by taking bribe. Corruption in education system has crippled the poor. The mid-day meal of the students is taken home by the teacher of the school. Balram’s school teacher sells the uniform of the students in the neighbouring villages to earn profit. He is carried to the hospital, where no doctor is present saved a ward boy. The ward boy tells Balram that the doctor might come in the evening only when Balram gives him ten rupees bribe. Balram asks a person who is beside him “why isn’t a doctor here uncle”. The man answers that the doctor gives a fat amount of bribe to higher officials to get that job and after getting the job the bribes government medical superintendent one third of their salary to mark their attendance. The corruption in health department costs the life of Balram’s father. Blaram’s father has been suffering from tuberculosis. He is carried to the hospital, where no doctor is present saved a ward boy. The ward boy tells Balram that the doctor might come in the evening only when Balram gives him ten rupees bribe. Balram asks a person who is beside him “why isn’t a doctor here uncle”. The man answers that the doctor gives a fat amount of bribe to higher officials to get that job and after getting the job the bribes government medical superintendent one third of their salary to mark their attendance. People lose their confidence in their politicians and civil servants. The largest democracy of the world is being compromised