A Reflection on National Geographic: The Real Slumdogs

Alexa White English 6 January 16, 2014

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Dharavi is a small slum in the center of Mumbai, India. Although it is small, over one million people live in one square mile. Even though Dharavi is a slum, people there can succeed because they can make anything possible if they put their mind to it. Kalpana Sharma, author of Rediscovering Dharavi, said, Because the people have a need to survive, they have developed a culture that cooperates with each other.1 Three success stories are about Laxmi a single mom,
Google Images Mumbai India Map

Jigha a twelve-year-old boy, and Shailesh a rickshaw driver. All these people are very determined. First, is Laxmi the determined rag picker. Laxmi is a single mom and makes sure her daughter goes to school and gets a good education. A rag picker is someone who goes through trash for a living. She earns 100 dollars a month. There are many dangers picking through trash
Google Images Rag Picker India

like germs. Since she is a single mom, she has to hire people to help

her sort through the trash. She works hard at work and volunteers at the Acorn Foundation. Even though she volunteers to help other people, she still earns money for her family. Overall, this determined mom preservers every day to provide for her daughter.
Google Images National Geographic Dharavi Video

Second is Jigha the determined little boy. Jigha is a boy who wants to be a scientist. He thinks to become this, he has to learn how to speak English, and study hard. Jigha goes to school

Kalpana Sharma. National Geographic: The Real Slumdogs. CD ROM. Directed by Steve Baker. San Francisco, CA: Independent Television Service, 2010.

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regularly but after school, he goes to a computer school. Not all kids get to go to school though. Some parents do not have enough money to send their kids to school. That is why there are only 12 schools in Dharavi. He feels that poor people can also succeed. He lives in a one-room house with his dad. His dad owns a tailor shop in the middle of a pottery district. Finally, this determined student preservers every day to become a scientist. Third, is Shailesh, the determined rickshaw driver. Shailesh is a dad that wants to become an actor. Even though he wants to become an actor, he is still wants to make time to be with his family. Shailesh attends acting school in the slum. It costs about 35 dollars for a few months. He has to be a rickshaw driver to pay for his family. He
Google Images-Rickshaw Driver

gets paid $60 a week. His motto is "I will never give up." 2In

conclusion, this determined rickshaw driver preservers every day to provide for his family. To conclude, even though Dharavi is a slum, they can succeed at anything together. Laxmi is determined to provide for her daughters education. Jigha is determined to become a scientist. Shailesh is determined to provide for his family. Vinod Shetty, manager of The Dharavi Project, said, Dharavi is built on the determination of its own people a determination to see through everything.
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Dharavi future may not turn out as they want. In 2007, the

Dharavi Redevelopment Plan is a plan to get rid of Dharavi and build middle-class apartments. Although they talked about that happening, it has not happened yet.

Shailesh. Ibid. 3 Vinod Shetty. Ibid.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

National Geographic: The Real Slumdogs. CD ROM. Directed by Steve Baker. San Francisco, CA: Independent Television Service, 2010.