How is Mumbai presented through the perspectives of Abdul, Asha and Sunil?

Behind the Beautiful Forever’s is a compelling true story written by Katherine Boo, following the lives of several people in from 2007 to 2011, in a deprived Mumbai slum, Annawadi, which resides between the developed parts of New India and the modern international airport.

It follows the restless lifestyles of three protagonists, Abdul, Asha and Sunil.

An enterprising and resourceful Muslim teenager, Abdul is a scrap recycled waste collector who sells the content to wealthy people in need of it. He works relentlessly, caving through days of hard labour, causing neither a nuisance nor an asset to anyone.

Asha, is the unofficial slumlord of the Annawadi slum, and sees a business opportunity in anything and everything. She has become excessively avaricious and immune to other’s heartache when they come to her in need.

A small, streetwise, twelve year old boy, Sunil lives with his alcoholic father and younger sister, working as a scavenger to provide for himself and his sister. Sunil is a very intelligent boy compared to other children his age in the community; he is perceptive for his age and maturely understands many of the unfair things that happen daily in the slums.

This essay will explore how Mumbai is presented through the perspectives of Abdul, Asha and Sunil.

Sunil was described as “rarely [being] angry when he discovered the secret reasons behind the ways people behaved.” From this very quote, we learn that Annawadi’s society was so corrupt, and this was so common and normal, that at such a young age, Sunil is essentially immune to the injustice he sees on a daily basis. For example, when he discovered how the nuns in the local orphanage would ask for donations proclaiming it would go towards the orphans, but in truth, they would keep the money for themselves; or how they would only give the children ice cream when media would come to report, the novel is silent regarding Sunil displaying any form of distress for the orphan’s misfortune. We can truly assume Sunil’s perspective of Annawadi as a place of lies, false propaganda and greed from this very quote.

Asha’s perspective of Mumbai brought to light when the novel says “She had now seen past the obvious truth – that Mumbai was a hive of hope and ambition – a profitable corollary.” The use of a metaphor, describing Mumbai as a hive, draws imagery of a real hive where bees are continuously producing honey. Likewise, Mumbai is a city of lucrative revenue. Used wisely, or corruptly in Asha’s case, it is an immensely ‘profitable corollary’. Asha really was an opportunist entrepreneur. The reason why she finds Mumbai as a hive of ‘hope and ambition’ was because of the possibilities for her, and this statement does not apply for all others who live in Annawadi, they have scarcely a hope to climb out of poverty. Asha’s perspective of Annawadi was of a profitable source of finance, reputation and power, unlike the other characters. Nevertheless, there are examples that provide justification for her perspective. For example, “Her long term goal was to become not just slumlord but the Corporator of Ward 76.” (Ward 76 was a collection of slums in Mumbai). This example shows that she is power hungry, desiring more power than she already has; displaying her ambitious nature. Also, Asha was involved in scams where a government anti-poverty scheme would loan money to poor entrepreneurs hoping to start an employment generating business. However, these blueprints would be fictions. The bank manager, whom Asha had befriended would grant the loan, though discreetly taking a cut for himself and Asha. She truly had a burning eagerness to essentially, generate cash.

Abdul was working once and he describes the atmosphere, “Even goats eyes were heavy with sleep.” From this quote, we can tell that people in Mumbai were extremely fatigued, and reinforcing this inference is the hyperbole that even the goats were stricken with overwhelming tiredness, distinct because of their eyes. All who are honest workers, such as most of the garbage collectors, even the cattle, are ridden with fatigue, only to make a poor wage. We could infer that Abdul is indirectly making a statement to the injustice of how the poor relentlessly work only to tire themselves and gain a meagre wage.

Abdul’s general opinion and approach to society was “the better I know you, the more I will dislike you, and the more you will dislike me, so let us keep to ourselves.” Abdul finds that it is better to remain reserved in an environment like Annawadi. Maybe this is because he is a Muslim while the greater part of Annawadi is Hindu. This could mean that the environment in Annawadi is hostile, thus Abdul wisely prefers not to involve himself with others, insightfully recognising that really bad things could happen as a result of people getting to know him. An example of a terrible happening due to this rivalry is the political party Shiv Sena who’s tool to hoard in voters is to promote their burning hatred for the Muslims. This appeals to the vast Hindu population who also dislike them as well. (I remember this happening in the book JP but I don’t have the book so I hope I don’t lose grades here for under developing the point). Abdul really does have valid reason to have this perspective of Annawadi – as an unsafe, hostile place.

Asha once said to her children with her hands ‘fluttering like two birds taking flight’, “corruption, it’s all corruption”. From this quote we know that Asha does recognise the corruption that takes place. In fact, she knows exactly what she’s doing. However, I personally infer that the statement is cynical due to the fluttering of the hands, an action unlikely for a dominatrix like Asha, and that she is only saying this to ease the suspicion of her children noticing her callous nature. Nevertheless the point is that Asha does recognise that Annawadi is a corrupt slum and we notice a common perspective among all three characters: that Mumbai is a corrupt city.

Katherine Boo observes Sunil and notices that Sunil looks for pity to gain profit. Sunil doesn’t have the resources nor the capability to rise out poverty, so he relies on others, here, woman would give him money as a result of their empathy for him. “Sunil refused to beg for rupees, instead he’d harboured the idea that a woman might single him out and reward him restraint”. From this quote, we can tell that Sunil’s perspective of Mumbai as a place where he can survive and get by through pity felt by others upon him.

To conclude Katherine Boo shows that each characters perspective depends on their hierarchy. Abdul’s position in the hierarchy is very low as a scavenger and as a Muslim in a majority Hindu population he finds that maintaining introverted and quiet is the best way and sees Annawadi with little opportunity. Sunil is immune to the injustice he observes in Annawadi due to so much taking place so commonly. And finally Asha finds Annawadi as a lucrative corollary used corruptly.