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Behind The Beautiful Forevers By Annawadi Summary

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How has Behind the Beautiful Forevers challenged my perception of overcoming poverty both in the Annawadi slum and globally?

Behind the Beautiful Forevers was written by the american journalist Katherine Boo in 2006. It takes place in the Indian Slum Annawadi situated behind a wall advertising Italian tiles with the slogan ‘Beautiful Forevers’ this became the novel title and summarises the hope of the people within. Katherine Boo spent 5 years reporting from Annawadi to create this factual story, using political documents, interviews and observations with various inhabitants of Annawadi. Annawadi is a slum who’s specialisation is garbage waste collection at times this could even be described as ludicrous, however, the government demanded money off the successful families to put a stop to any hope of a different future. Behind the Beautiful Forevers challenged my perception of overcoming poverty by describing the range of challenges, the stamina and hope needed to survive. The ingenuity of individuals to make money, form views and live under these circumstances was incredible. I personally define overcoming poverty as when the person has access to clean water, …show more content…

As the story is taken from many factual documents and realise stories it enhances the seriousness and unfairness of the situation. The story begins with the Hussein family, an insight of an easier life. This influences the reader to believe the story may be one of great hope and the overcoming of poverty, however, instead it showed one of hope and stigmatisation of the survivors. Katherine Boo used this to emphasise hope throughout the story of what could have been and lead the reader into the Mumbai undercity where the audience must confront their decisions and life under the conditions of Annawadi slum. Living in the slum there was no safe place to turn

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