A Reflection on National Geographic: The Real Slumdogs

Sophie Solomon English 6 January 17, 2014

Google Images-Dharavi

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Dharavi is a major slum in Mumbai, India. Dharavi is a major business industry, especially for a slum. As Vinod Shetty says, There is nothing that cant be made in Dharavi.1 Dharavi has dangerous threats, such as open sewers, little water, and unreliable electricity. Dharavi is also very filthy, with trash everywhere. The people of Dharavi live in terrible conditions, but that does not stop them from trying to make their dreams come true. A few of the people who live an everyday life in Dharavi are Laxmi and her daughter, Jigha and his dad, and Shailesh. These people all work hard at making a living, supporting a family, and working towards their goals. First, there is Laxmi. Laxmi is a single mom, who works as a rag picker and sends her daughter to school. Rag picking is a job where you go through trash and sort it out. It is a dangerous job, and making sure to examine everything closely is vital. Laxmi works all day and usually earns $100 a month; she is also a part of the Acorn Foundation. Laxmi also helps her daughter study, because she believes that education is the key to a better life. Laxmi works hard for her daughter, hoping that she will live a better life when she grows up. Laxmi is a good example of success in a slum because of how hard she works every day.

Google Images- rag picking

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

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Second, there is Jigha, a young boy. Twelve-year-old Jigha goes to school and studies hard in hope to become a scientist. Jigha goes to a learning program, which is a charity for people in slums. There he learns how to speak English and use computers, which help him become smarter. His teacher teaches him how to do these things. Jigha studies very hard to fulfill his dream. Jigha believes that he should study and learn to speak English better to fulfill his dream. Last, there is Shailesh. Shailesh is a rickshaw driver with dreams to become a Bollywood actor. Every day, Shailesh goes out on his rickshaw making $60 a week. Shailesh also takes an acting class, which is helping him fulfill his dream. His teacher believes that he has talent and has a very good chance of becoming an actor. To start his career, he made a cheap video of him singing and dancing. Shailesh is a good example of success because he works hard to help his family and fulfill dream at the same time.
Google Images-rickshaw

In conclusion, the dangerous, dirty slum called Dharavi still contains believers that work together to reach their goals. The three everyday families of Laxmi, Jhiga, and Shailesh all have something in common- they all want to succeed and reach their goals. The future for Dharavi is undecided because the people of Mumbai want to demolish the slum. The people also know and realize that Dharavi produces so many things and over one million people live there and would have nowhere to go. Kalpana Sharma said, Because the people have a need to survive, they have developed a culture that cooperates with each other.2

Kalpana Sharma. Ibid

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

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