Tiger hunting was a favorite pastime of the British (and Indian royals). According to one estimate, there were 40,000 tigers in India at beginning of the 20th century and by 1964 their numbers were reduced to only 4,000. But the sport of tiger hunting is much more complex and layered than just a pastime. It was another way to showcase status, machismo, wealth, and power. It represented the extravagance and might of the British Empire in India. During the Victorian era – when tiger hunting was at its peak – there was a rise of hunting literature devoted to glorifying shikar, and in the process villifying tigers as savage man-eating beasts. In fact, by labeling tigers as "man-eaters" and casting the Indian native as "victim", the British hunter show themselves as the heroic saviour, and thus, a way for the British to justify their attempts to colonize the subcontinent's wilderness regions. This is only the tip of the iceberg. In the latest Brown History Newsletter, Agnij Purushothaman shows tiger hunting as more than just a recreational activity and takes a look at what propelled the demand and hype of shikar. To read the full story, and many others, just tap the link in the bio.