A Reflection on National Geographic: The Real Slumdogs

Quincy Bachrodt English 6 1-17-14

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Have you ever heard of a place called Dharavi? Dharavi is right in the middle of Mumbai, India and also is one of India's largest slums. Dharavi only has one toilet and everyone has to share it. The people of the slum are willing to work so hard they are able to succeed at anything. Three examples of success are Laxmi, Zigha, and Shalish. The first example is Laxmi, she is a rag picker she has a daughter who attends school. Laxmi and her daughters life in Dharavi isnt easy. The way Laxmi keeps her daughter in school is rag picking. There are lots of dangers Laxmi has to handle like needles and sharp items. Laxmi and her daughter are still living a life style of hardworking people Laxmi still manages to get her daughter to school. The second example is Jigha, he is a 12 year old boy who works very hard, he studies and now he is learning English. In his life he has to work very hard to become a scientist. Even though Jigha is poor, he wants to be a scientist and he feels that even poor people can succeed. He knows some English. But there are lots more for him to learn. Every child has potential. We
have to give them hope.1

The last example is Shalish; he is a driver kind of like a taxi driver he wants to try to get to the top of Bollywood which is like Hollywood, but Bollywood is in India. He definitely does not have it easy in Dharvi because he has to support his family and still try to make it to Bollywood. Shalish wants to succeed his dream of becoming a star and he is still making his way there. Shalish takes acting classes to help him do what he wants to do. Shalishs acting teacher says Shalish is making progress. In conclusion, even though it is a slum, Dharvi also a place where people can succeed.

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

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Laxmi, Shetal, and Jigha are successful theyre not just a little part of success they are a big part of success because, they work so incredibly hard to accomplish their dream. I think Dharvi is a sad place filled with hopes and dreams for a better future. Dharavi is a city of dreamers.2

Google images- rickshaw driver

Kalpana Sharma. Ibid.

Bachrodt 4 BIBLIOGRAPHY

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