Behind The Beautiful Forevers By Annawadian

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Recommended: Media as a factor influencing public perception

Summer Reading Assignment 1. Throughout the book Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Annawadians tell stories of the rich Indians, and their lavish lifestyles are seen almost exclusively through their eyes. Many of them dream of being that wealthy. Take for example Manju. Even though she was born in the Mumbai slums, she still strives to be the first female from Annawadi to graduate from college, which in turn could lead to her becoming wealthy. I do not believe she is resentful of the wealthy. Maybe a little envious, but then again who isn’t in Annawadi? As another example, take Abdul. He sorts through garbage to provide for his family, yet he is not envious of the rich. He takes pride in his garbage sorting business, and how he can provide for …show more content…

I do agree that Asha has a point in saying that something isn’t wrong if powerful people say it isn’t, however I still don’t think it’s right. She has a point because many of the people in Annawadi, and slums in general, dream of being rich and powerful. To them, these wealthy people are like role models. Whatever they say is alright, is seen as alright in the eyes of the slum dwellers. The more a person is exposed to corruption, the more jaded they become to it, and the more normal it seems to them. Take for example the slum dwellers of Annawadi. To children born into poverty it is very normal to them, just as corruption to get what she wants is very normal to Asha. Asha does not see it as a problem to use her power to extort money from people, take bribes, and influence official decisions to get her way, simply because she sees more power people do the same thing, so to her it must be “okay”. I believe that is how most corruption starts. One person sees someone else doing something bad, and they think to themselves, “Oh it must be okay if he was doing it”, and so they do it themselves and so on down the line until everyone is corrupt. On the other hand, I don’t believe it is at all right, even if people in a higher position of authority say it is. All kinds of corruption is bad and eventually everything and everyone involved in said corruption will come toppling down. With Asha as a powerful slumlord especially, her corruption will end

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