The Tiger in the Tunnel- Ruskin Bond

The Tiger in the Tunnel- Ruskin Bond

“The Tiger in the Tunnel” is a tale of the triumph of an Indian family over their poor and humble reality. It highlights the family values and the commitment to honour, duty and service.

           The story revolves around Tembu, a twelve-year-old boy, and his family. He lived with his father, Baldeo, mother and younger sister. They were poor and lived near a jungle. To earn enough money to keep his family fed, Baldeo worked as a watchman near a railway tunnel. This night job was in addition to his work on the rice fields. Baldeo was responsible for keeping the signal lamp lit and the tunnel free from any obstructions for the train passing through it. He stayed in a hut near the tunnel and his son Tembu accompanied him sometimes.

           The villagers talked about various animals around the tunnel as it was situated near the jungle. There were circulating stories about a tiger, ‘man-eater’ who was often seen near the tunnels. Baldeo knew all the frightening rumours but was confident in his ability to face dangers.

           One night while Tembu was asleep, his father left to check the lamp and asked him to stay in the hut. He went armed with a small axe as a precaution to protect himself from any animal and in particular, the infamous ‘man-eater’. The axe was a gift from his father, and Baldeo felt very confident in his ability to use it. When he reached the lamp, it was out, and so he reignited it and went inside the tunnel to clear out any possible obstruction.

           But soon he found the ground shaking which was due to an oncoming train. While Baldeo was looking in front, a tiger suddenly appeared at the entrance of the tunnel and approached towards Baldeo. Undeterred, Baldeo braced to use his axe and when the tiger attacked he evaded to a side and dug his axe in the tiger’s shoulder. The tiger attacked Baldeo again. He repeated the same move, but this time the axe got stuck in the tiger’s shoulder and made Baldeo weaponless. The tiger snatched at Baldeo with its paws and tore into him.

           After this entire scuffle, the train was almost at the tunnel. The tiger tried to get past it at the entrance but was smeared all across the train’s front side. It was found by the driver when he stopped the train at the next station.

           Back at the tunnel, Tembu found his father’s ripped body. The family had to struggle with the loss for many days to come. After Tembu had mourned his father, he returned to the tunnel and took up his father’s job. Like his father, he ensured that the signal light was always lit and cleared all the obstructions in the tunnel. He also wielded the same axe, a tribute to his late father and the commitment to protect his family. Tembu, unafraid and determined, became the new protector of his family.

           The central theme of the story is the protection of family and society at large. Baldeo was the protector of his family and worked hard to ensure their survival. As a watchman, he protected the tunnel and the overnight mail that ran through it. As Tembu assumed the same responsibilities as his father, he continued his work with the same confidence, determination, and even the same axe. The story also celebrates tradition, strength, and pride. The story portrays the courage of Baldeo while fighting the tiger, the courage Tembu and his mother and sister show after losing Baldeo and the pride Tembu feels when he carries on the tradition and work of his father.

Courtesy: https://englishsummary.com/lesson/tiger-inthe-tunnel-ruskin-bond/