THE TIGER KING Kalki SHER SHAH SURI An

THE TIGER KING -Kalki

SHER SHAH SURI Ø An afghan, named Farid Khan by birth, also known as Sher. Khan (The Lion King) Ø Founder of the Short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi. (1486 - 1545)

Why was he called the tiger king ? Ø because the tiger is considered as the "King of the Jungle“, when Sher Shah Suri killed a tiger he was considered to be powerful like the tiger

THE TIGER KING When Maharaja Jilani Jung Bahadur was born, the astrologers foretold that one day the king would actually have to die. The child will grow up to become the warrior of warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions. But…. This is a secret which should not be revealed at all. And yet we’re forced to speak out. The child born under this star will one day have to meet its death

At that very moment, a miracle took place The ten day old Jilani Jung Bahadur started speaking. All those who are born will one day have to die. We don’t need your predictions to know that. There would be some sense in it if you could tell us the manner of that Death

Everyone stood stunned. An infant born just ten days ago was talking in such a manner. The chief astrologer told the Prince that he was born in hour of the bull. As bull and tiger were enemies therefore his death would come from the tiger.

As soon as the prince heard it pronounced, the crown prince gave a deep growl. Terrifying words emerged from his lips. ‘‘Let tigers beware!’’ This account is only a rumour rife in Pratibandapuram. But with hindsight we may conclude it was based on some truth.

The Maharaja grew stronger and took to tiger hunting. He was overjoyed when he killed the first tiger. When he told the chief astrologer about this, he said: Your majesty may kill ninety nine tigers in exactly the same manner. But… But what? Speak without fear But you must be very careful with the hundredth tiger

What if the hundredth tiger were also killed ? Then I will tear up all my books on astrology, set fire to them, and I shall cut off my tuft, crop my hair short and become an insurance agent…

From that day, he banned killing of tigers by anyone in Pratibandhpuram except himself. Initially the king seemed well set to realise his ambition. There were times when the bullet missed its mark, the tiger leapt upon him and he fought the beast with his bare hands. Each time it was the Maharaja who won.

Once a high-ranking British officer visited Pratibandapuram. He was very fond of hunting tigers. But the Maharaja refused to give permission for the officer to hunt in Pratibandhapuram. Even though, the officer only wanted a photograph of himself standing over the tiger’s carcass holding a gun, the king refused.

In the end, he had to bribe the British officer’s good lady with many expensive diamond rings and waste almost 3 lakh rupees just to retain his kingdom!

Soon, the tiger population became extinct at Pratibandhpuram. • Maharaja got married to a royal family • There tiger population was rich • He killed 99 tigers. • There was no sign of tigers anywhere • He raised the land tax and dismissed some.

In mere desperation, a tiger was brought later for the Maharaja. • He took men for hunting • He shot the tiger but missed it • Maharaja’s men knew it but they feared to tell • They killed the tiger themselves

After he’d finally killed the 100 th tiger, the ecstatic Maharaja said I have killed the hundredth tiger. My vow has been fulfilled

A few days later, the Maharaja had to attend his 3 year old son’s birthday. He gifted him a wooden tiger Wooden tiger Maharaja and his son

The toy tiger was made by an unskilled man. A sliver pierced Maharaja’s hand. Infection spread into his whole hand. Famous surgeons from Madras performed operation. Yete Maharaja died.

Thus the fateful hundredth tiger, though a wooden one, was the cause of the Maharaja’s death and proved the prediction of the astrologer correct.

thank you …