The Depiction of Contemporary Social and Political Issues in Arvind Adiga’s Novel The White Tiger: A Thematic Study

Peer-Reviewed
The Criterion

The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN: 0976-8165

Open Access

Indian Literature

The Depiction of Contemporary Social and Political Issues in Arvind Adiga’s Novel The White Tiger: A Thematic Study

Dr. Asim
Volume / Issue
Vol. 17, Issue 1 · February 2026

Pages
316-326

Article ID
2026V17N1089

Abstract

– Literature is the mirror of society. Literature reveals the social, economic and political problems of the society. The novel ‘The White Tiger’ shows a clear picture of contemporary society; and highlights the struggle and exploitation of the poor and the low class people. The Brooker Prize-winner ‘The White Tiger’ reflects the burning issues of class, caste, and religion in the society. Arvind Adiga is a contemporary novelist who has given a new orientation to Indian Fiction in English by creating a new idiom in the fiction ‘The White Tiger’. He discussed various issues in his novels. He deals major socio-cultural issues such as hunger, poverty, corruption, anti-religion texts and violence. He accepted art as the best means of portraying life. He never believed in art of propaganda. He sacrifices the nation for the narration. The narration opens the hidden rotten parts which he puts on the Western table as dishes. Adiga did write ‘The White Tiger’ with the intention of reformation but it is not acceptable. The novel deals with the word ‘dark’ to depict the current situation in India, where the poor are trying to attain a dual goal. The narrator shows the lives of the poor In India in a realistic manner. Adiga classifies India into two parts-The dark part and the light part. The land of Darkness is the cow belt states of North India-Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and MP. The land of Light is the states of the south.

Keywords

The White TigerDemocratic valuescorruptionpovertyhomo-sexualityprostitutionfreedomcaste-discriminationinjusticeanti-religion texts

Article History

Received
30-01-2026
Accepted
19 February 2026
Published Online
3 February 2026

How to Cite

Dr. Asim. “The Depiction of Contemporary Social and Political Issues in Arvind Adiga’s Novel The White Tiger: A Thematic Study.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 316-326. ISSN: 0976-8165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.66376/criterion.v17.n1.23

Back to Vol. 17, Issue 1 · February 2026 The Criterion · ISSN 0976-8165

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