Published Paper Details:

Published in 2008, Aravind Adiga's Man-Booker Prize winning debut novel The White Tiger, has garnered critical acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of contemporary India.This paper will showcase how factors like caste, class, social Identity and education intertwine to create a complex web of emotions and motivations that shape the very foundation of existential crisis. As we delve deeper into Balram's story, we can examine how he grapples with these societal limitations, how they influence his choices, and whether he finds a way to navigate the weight of the world on his shoulders, or if he succumbs to the despair it breeds. Employing a post-colonial framework, exploring the existentialist philosophy, the role of social influences like caste, class and education, this research examines how Adiga's narrative critiques the corruption of India's social institutions that have crushed an individual's self-esteem. The analysis reveals that Adiga's protagonist, Balram Halwai, embodies the contradictions of India's rapid modernization and the persistence of deep-seated existential crises.This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how The White Tiger challenges the uncomfortable truths about marginalization in contemporary India and the ongoing struggles of the underclass.