The author has used the device of irony in order to highlight the satire on the conceit of those who are in power. An irony is a technical device used by the authors to highten the fact that provides the result which is quite opposite in nature. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram tries his utmost best to falsify the prediction of the astrologers, since his state astrologer has foretold the Maharaja's death by a tiger. He has been further bewared to be more careful from the hundredth tiger.

Consequently, the king banned the hunting of all the tigers on his state. Within a span of ten years, the king was able to kill seventy tigers. He became restless to kill the rest since he was to realise his ambition of killing the hundred tigers. Even he married a royal daughter whose father's state had a large tiger population. Thus, he could kill only ninety-nine tigers and his father-in-law's state too became extinct with tigers. Here the king thought himself safe only after killing the hundredth tiger. His dewan managed it and the Maharaja aimed at the tiger but it fainted with the bullet. It survived but later on it was killed by the guards.

The irony lies in the point that the tiger which caused the death of the Tiger King, was a wooden tiger. One of its tiny slivers pierced into the right hand of the king. Infection flared and a suppurating sore all over the arm. The king was operated and the operation was successful but the doctors declared, “The Maharaja is dead.” Thus the hundredth tiger of wood took its revenge upon the Tiger King.

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V. Imp.

Our mother earth is under constant threat for vitiation due to cutting of forests, ugliness, degradation of environment, pollution, industrial and other wastes as well as noises, etc. We are vacating the forest lands and killing the wild animals for inhabiting a large number of increasing population. The global warming, gases, ammunition, bombs, atomic energy, deforestation, invention of fatal weapons and so many innumerable innovations have put in danger not only the human beings but also the nature.

It has become necessary to evolve a new system to save the ecology. We all are alive because of the balance in nature. Once it gets imbalanced, the survival of the living beings will come in danger. It is the relationship between the biological and non-biological factors that maintains the life on the earth. To maintain this balance, man should keep in view the importance of every factor of ecology before causing any harm to it. The indiscriminate killing of animals and cutting of plants and exploitation of other natural resources will endanger the existence of man itself. Therefore, such activities like hunting, deforestation, wastage of water, etc. which can cause the imbalance in the nature should be made a punishable offence.

Even in the present time one can see many examples of game-hunting among the rich and the powerful people around the world. In India affluent people kill innocent animals for fun, frolic and egoistic pleasure. In the state of Rajasthan, the hunting of the black bustard has been banned under the law and these animals are on the verge of extinction. But none bothers for the law and cases of hunting the black bustards in Rajasthan are very much available by Sheikhs. We cannot remain unknown about the killing of rare black bustards by Salmam Khan. Even the news of the greater cricketer Mansur Ali Pataudi is known for all who kills innocent animals in Haryana for his sportive ego.

Still one can glance at the news of illegal poachers and dealers who are engaged in animal skins and their bones business. The illegal killing of tigers in Ranthambore and other tiger reserves go unabated. These illegal killings need strictest type of punishment.

The minions of the Maharaja try to remain most obedient, faithful and sincere towards him. They want to keep the Maharaja in good humour. Everyone is in a rat race to please the king. They show flattery and express their docile submission before the king. Even the Chief Astrologer is scared to tell the truth. He bites his lips and swallows hard.He cautions the king from the hundredth tiger. Simultaneously he challenges the Tiger King to tear up all his books on astrology in case the prediction proves wrong.

His dewan is also a faithful servant and shudders before the gun of the Maharaja. He is confused and babbles under pressure. The dewan follows the orders word by word and finds the right girl for the king. When the king shows his utmost anger for a tiger, the dewan arranges for a tiger. Even the shop-keeper is a perfect blend of flattery, cunningness, cleverness and faithfulness. Though the wooden tiger has a bare cost of two annas only but he bargains for three hundred rupees since he has the fear of being punished under emergency rules. Thus, one can find a series of people who try their best to please the king in all possible ways.

Same is true with today's political order. People remain bowed before them without keeping in view the requisite rules and regulations. A mere word from their month is taken to be completed at any cost. They do not have the courage to follow and advise the truth. They have become selfish and so they flatter their seniors.

In this lesson we do not find any direct comment about the indiscriminate killing of the innocent animals for our pleasure or sport. If we deeply peep into the lesson one can get his hidden sympathy for the animals. The Maharaja has killed ninety-nine tigers to ensure his safety but it is ironical that merely a wooden tiger becomes the cause of his death.

The author highlights that both the states of the Maharaja and his father-in-law have become extinct due to killing of tigers. Thus he has killed ninety-nine tigers but he is restless for the hundredth tiger. At last his dewan arranges for an old tiger that stands dumbly before the king. He takes a careful aim and fires. The tiger faints and falls but it has not died. Thus the author brings out the cruelty and heartlessness on the part of human beings. His wild behaviour stands exposed towards the innocent animals though none of the tigers has done any harm either to the king or any other person in his kingdom. But the king chooses to kill the tigers mercilessly.