the indian caste system and the novel the white tiger
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The Indian Caste system and the novel The White Tiger. Mrs. YooRee Sathyamoorthy St. John’s Prep. The Indian Caste system and the novel The White Tiger. The story of Balram Halwai , a sweet maker and a white tiger. … what would happen if a man - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Mrs. YooRee SathyamoorthySt. John’s Prep
“Sweet-makers,” the old driver said, shaking his head. “That’s what you people do. You make sweets. How can you learn to drive?
That’s like getting coals to make ice. Mastering a car” – he moved the stick of an invisible gearbox – “it’s like taming a wild
stallion- only a boy from the warrior caste can manage that. You need to have aggression in your blood. Muslims, Sikhs, they’re fighters. They can become drivers. You think sweet-makers can last long in fourth gear? Why
don’t you stick to sweets and tea.”
Brahmin: priests/educators Khastriya: [Shutrya] military/warriors Vaishya: farmers, herders, merchants Sudra: [Shudra] artisans, laborers Dalit (Untouchables): servants, butchers
The White TigerThe White Tiger
OBJECTIVE: TWBAT (teachers will be able to) examine the role of religion, family, economics and politics in modern India and its impact on the caste system
… as portrayed in…
Introduction: An introduction to castes according to Balram Halwai(Structure of novel: series of letters Balram writes to
Premier Wen Jiabao of China. )
Balram’s evaluation of the caste system? Zoo analogy:
In past , when animals were encaged (caste boundaries enforced) ORDER
Post 1947 “liberalization,” cages are open, animals attack each other CHAOS
Shift from thousands of castes to just two…
1.Men with Big Bellies
2.Men with Small Bellies
Only two destinies: Eat or get eaten.
Reading 1: ReligionThe Ganga, Hanuman, Sacred Cows
Reading 2: Family Lizards, Money & Marriage, Personal Hygiene
Reading 3: EconomicsThe Mall, Exercise, the Rooster Coop
Reading 4: PoliticsEducation, justice & health care
Reading selections: River Ganga: memory from childhoodHanuman: description of a Hindu godSacred Cows: Balram’s dream after
contemplating abandoning his entire family to pursue a selfish goal
Action plan: Read, share readings, share reflections &
analysis
Kusum – Balram’s grandmotherMr. Jiabao – Wen JiabaoSadhus: holy menHardwar: holy city on the River GangaBenaras: holy city on the River GangaGhat: steps leading down to water Buffalo: equivalent to cow in India
1. What are the author’s impressions of the role of religion?
2. What is the author’s impression of the god, Hanuman?
3. What is the author’s impression of the sacred River Ganga? (India of Light vs. India of Darkness)
4. What is the real “god” of the Ganga?5. What is the role of religion with respect
to the caste system?
Reading selections: Lizard: memory from youthMoney & Marriage: coming home as a
successful driverPersonal Hygiene: an epiphany moment
for Balram, the successful driver
Action plan: Read, share readings, share reflections &
analysis
Kishan: Balram’s older brotherKusum: Balram’s grandmotherThe Great Socialist: pseudonym for
local Member of Parliament Naxal: militant communist groups in
IndiaPinky Madam: Balram’s employer (when
he becomes a driver)Paan: equivalent to Indian chewing
tobacco
1. Explain the expectations Balram’s father has of him.
2. What does Balram believe his family is doing to his brother ,Kishan?
3. To what extent does Balram resent his family and his background?
4. What are one’s responsibilities to his family?
5. What is the role families play with respect to the caste system?
Reading selections: The mall: The “have” and “have not” of IndiaExercise: poor dream of being rich, rich dream
of being poorThe Rooster Coop:
Action plan: Read, share readings, share reflections & analysis
New India: wealthy & modern IndiaGurgaon: suburb of Delhi aka Beverly
Hills of IndiaVitiligo –Lips: a driver who works and
lives in Balram’s apartment compoundMr. Ashok: Balram’s employer, who
recently divorcedJama Masjid: largest, best-known
mosque in IndiaGoa: India’s smallest but wealthiest
state renowned for beaches
1. What does Balram realize at the mall when a common person is rejected from entry?
2. Explain the lifestyle of the “have” compared to the “have not.”
3. What is the “rooster coop?”4. Explain the perpetual culture of servitude
and the factors that make it possible. 5. What is the role of economics in
maintaining the caste system?
Reading selections: Half-baked Indian: education in IndiaForced Confession: commentary on
India’s judicial systemHealth care: commentary on India’s
health care system
Action plan: Read, share readings, share reflections &
analysis
Mr. Ashok/Pinky Madam: Balram’s employers
Honda City: equivalent to Honda AccordKishan: Balram’s brotherUncle: generic, respectful greeting to
any older maleGreat Socialist: pseudonym for Member
of Parliament
*Warning* - some language
1. Who or what is a half-baked Indian?2. What is the role of the Indian justice
system in perpetuating class differences?
3. How would you characterize health care in India?
Billions of Entrepreneurs by Tarun Khanna
Personal and local politics in India
An inefficient Indian judiciary
Indian/Australian journalist & authorIndian/Australian journalist & author Born in Madras, emigrated to Sydney during Born in Madras, emigrated to Sydney during
high schoolhigh school Studied literature at Columbia UniversityStudied literature at Columbia University Work: Work:
Financial/business reporter for Financial/business reporter for Financial Financial TimeTime
South Asia correspondent for South Asia correspondent for TIME TIME Freelance period – wrote Freelance period – wrote White TigerWhite Tiger
White TigerWhite Tiger, debut novel, winner of 2008 Man , debut novel, winner of 2008 Man Booker PrizeBooker Prize
Currently lives in MumbaiCurrently lives in Mumbai
“At a time when India is going through great changes and, with
China, is likely to inherit the world from the West, it is important that writers like me try to highlight the brutal injustices of (Indian) society.
That's what I'm trying to do – it is not an attack on the country, it's about
the greater process of self-examination.”
- Aravind Adiga- Aravind Adiga
“I am India’s most faithful voter, and I still have not seen the inside of a voting booth.” (p. 86)
“There you have it. That was the positive side of the Great Socialist. He humiliated all our masters – that’s why we kept voting him back
in.” (p. 88)
“I was looking for the key for yearsBut the door was always open.” (p. 228)
Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle – The poor in India have as much control over their own fate as the animals slaughtered in Sinclair’s novel.
Richard Wright’s Native son – awakening a nation to the realities of racial divide.
Teaching Guides:http://www.teachingindia.or
g/ South Asia Initiative at
Harvard University Friday, April 29 conference
- Gandhi: Beyond the Legendhttp://spice.stanford.edu/
Global investigation on child labor (case studies: India, Uganda, U.S. )
The Story of India – PBS
http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/
Fiction:A Fine Balance
by Rohinton Mistry
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
Nonfiction:Billions of
Entrepreneurs by Tarun Khanna
In spite of the gods, the rise of modern India by Edward Luce
Points Possible
Points Earned
Research & Writing1. Full TEXT of article on Google docs (NO links) 5
1. Dateline and byline included in article (City/news organization and journalist who wrote the article)
5
1. One-paragraph summary of news article Written in student’s own words Concise summary of entire article (not just the first few
paragraphs!)
10
1. One-paragraph analysis of article Analysis includes SPICE: social, political, intellectual,
cultural or economic Analysis includes why the article is relevant to our
current study
10
Presentation1. Visuals (2-3 good visuals for presentation)
5
1. Presentation: spoke to audience rather than reading from slides or note cards, made eye contact 5
1. Presentation was engaging and interesting 5
1. Presentation made relevant & meaningful connections to classroom instruction 5
TOTAL 50
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