Abstract
Post-colonial India witnessed globalization and urbanization in full bloom, but, like all other aspects there were problems associated with this too. Globalizations and urbanization were directly in hands of businessmen. And often business and corruption go hand in hand. Therefore, the themes of corruption and power lie at the heart of contemporary Indian English literature, reflecting how globalization and urbanization gave birth to socio-economic challenges for common people. Aravind Adiga is a well-known novelist of the 21st century. And the Last Man in Tower is Adiga’s 3rd standalone novel, published in the year 2011. The story unfolds in Mumbai and gives a vibrant picture of how corruption and power mould lives of individuals and communities. The story revolves around the residents of Vishram Cooperative Housing Society. The residents were living in harmony, they were close-knit just like a family, until the entry of Dharmen Shah, an ambitious real estate developer. Shah intends to buy tower A of the society and redevelop it into a high rise, luxury building named Shanghai. He offers a whopping amount of $330,000 to each household. All the residents agreed because this was a huge amount of money, which many of them feared that they won’t be able to see in their lifetime. But, Masterji a retired school teacher refuses to accept this offer because to him that house holds the memories of his late wife and daughter. His refusal to the offer and constant resistance gives birth to a chain of conflicts. This paper explores the three levels of corruption in the novel: economic, social, and moral and throws light on complex power distribution system among the builder, the residents, and the protagonist - Masterji. This paper also includes an in-depth analysis of symbols and themes. It also demonstrates how power is exercised both institutionally and socially. Ultimately, we see how greed degrades morality and how corrupted power forces powerless people to follow blindly whatever is imposed on them.
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