Poverty & Crime - Slumdogs & Millionaires
The oscar studded movie - Slumdog Millionaire is making its way around the globe.
It is a good movie, with an entertaining story filled with emotion. It shows some of the best and worsts sights in India and it evoked a lot of different reactions from different corners of the world.
Don’t worry - this blog won’t spoil the story for those of you who still haven’t seen the movie. (But seriously it is time to go see it!).
My first “encounter” with Slumdog Millionaire was when I picked up a newspaper while in a plane in India. I saw an “ad” that covered a third of the backpage titled “Don’t go see Slumdog Millionaire”. It was written by an influential columnist in India and he expressed anger about India being “exploited” for the entertainment of the west. As with a lot of things in India - the ad accomplished the opposite of what it intended - it convinced me to go and see the movie (this was long before the Oscars) to find out what the fuss is all about.
So here is my review and critique:
The movie is an enjoyable one and I recommend it. The scenery it shows (including the slums) are not over the top at all and probably quite close to the truth. Nothing in the scenery or background shocked me, on the contrary I felt quite “at home”. The one thing about the movie that did “upset” me a bit is the way in which poor Indian people are portrayed. They are basically shown as dishonest, untrustworthy people that will rob you at the first opportunity. The movie’s concept of a “real Indian experience” irked me a bit… (Maybe I’m putting it a bit strongly, but I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter - please leave comments on this post.)
I have a completely different perception and after living in India for more than a year now, completely different experiences as well. There are exceptions to every rule, but if I had to capture my view on people in India (especially the poor) in a few words - I would say they are friendly, honest people. They will invite you into their homes and share the little food they have without expecting anything in return. I have always felt save, even (/especially) when walking through poor areas with an expensive camera and a full wallet.
Poverty and Crime
So this brings me to another really topical, but philosophical discussion. Is there a link between poverty and crime? This topic surfaces regularly in South Africa. Everyone has an opinion on the matter, but I would like to share my perspective on how this applies to India. (Please note that these are my personal views and not that of my company, country or fellow Stormers supporters)
In India - is there a link between poverty and crime?
Yes, the richer a person in India is the more likely he/she is to commit crime. (No, its not a typo - I really mean that in India rich people are more likely to commit crime than poor people)
A person’s financial wealth and moral wealth seems to be inversely related here.
Now, how do we define poverty? Is a poor person in India richer or poorer than someone who is poor in South Africa? It is hard to measure, but I’ll try to illustrate the living conditions in India graphically.
Here are a few pictures of the slums of Mumbai. (I have borrowed these via Google).
So when I talk about poor - I mean really really poor. (The “I wonder if/when I will eat again” poor).
Also don’t think that these poor people are not faced with what wealth others have. There are thousands of billboards advertising things that the poor masses can hardly dream of. There are luxury cars driving on the roads that border these slums. I have taken this picture close to a slum in Mumbai. (Yes it is a Rolls Royce):
As in South Africa, there are “rich” and “poor” areas in India, but unlike South Africa, a lot of poor people live (squat) in “rich” suburbs and areas, and they form part of the community there. Here are my neighbours in Hyderabad. They live just behind the wall of our house in Hyderabad:
They are the dhobe-wallas (washerman) of my neighbourhood and they are very much a welcome part of the area. So are the vegetable vendors, builders and their families who are scattered in around the block.
In South Africa the perception is generally that when people squat close to your property, your security reduces significantly. In India the opposite is true, because you have more neighbours that will spot any potential uninvited guest trying to slip into your property.
Crime in India
India is however not crime free - not even close. Corruption is a major problem and there are always rumours about which businessman, politicians and cricket players are paid and bought for. Corruption however is not a “sport” that the poor can participate in. It requires you to have authority or wealth, and hence my view that the richer and more powerful someone is in India - the more likely they are to commit a crime. (Please don’t read into this that I am saying that all rich people in India are corrupt - not at all, only the percentage involved in illegal activity is higher than that of the really poor masses).
India is the country with the most complex (and sometimes bizarre) laws that I have ever encountered. And it is also the country where the law is ignored the most that I have seen. Laws are seen as guidelines, rather than hard or fast rules. (To understand what I mean, just drive or walk down the road to understand how traffic laws are interpreted). Even though there are many laws, it is not the laws that keeps the poor people from becoming involved in crime, nor is it the police force, justice system or potential punishment. (India’s justice system is not the most effective in the world and nor is the punishment that severe).
It seems to be the moral compass of individuals and society that keeps crime at bay. Society does not tolerate or accept criminals (in the most parts of India). Also the only “wealth” that people seem to have is their moral and spiritual wealth. By becoming involved with something illegal they will be giving up their only “possession” that they do treasure.
There are a lot of beggars in India, but percentage wise they are miniscule. My impression is that most people in India believes it is up to them (via hard work) to change their fortunes. They do not waste time longing for what other people have, but rather focus on improving the life of their family (sometimes with a time horizen of two or three generations). People invest a lot in their children’s education to ensure that they can have a better life than their parents.
I believe that South Africa and the world can learn a lot from India. They seem to be able to adapt to a global economy and global trends, without sacrificing what makes India India. They also show us that financial wealth is not a measure of success or happiness. I see many smiling children and people in the slums and villages. They manage to be good and respectable people, even though they have no worldly possessions of any value.
So India, hold up your head high - you are a land of good moral people (even if Oscar-winning movies might leave a different impression).
PS. There is another great (but lessor known) “western” movie set in India called Outsourced. I really recommend watching it as it is very entertaining and gives a good perspective on life in India.
Theo Scheffler
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I saw the movie over the weekend. I was surprised that a movie with so few western actors did so well at the Oscars.
It’s a good movie, but it’s not a multi-Oscar winner for me, like Titanic was way back… Eeeeevery night in my dreeeeammsss… hmmmm
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Nice Site layout for your blog. I am looking forward to reading more from you.
Tom Humes
March 24th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Of topic, but of interest to you.
A video of a news report on the expat vote for SA’s April 22 vote:
http://theleoafricanus.com/2009/03/23/south-africans-voting-abroad/
March 24th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Hi!
I am BILIGIRI RANGA, from Hyderabad, India and am writing an article for a Hyderabad based PRISM , a 10 year old mag, on begging menace in Hyderabad. U can see my earlier articles in http://www.primetimeprism.com - Features link for earlier articles of mine)
I saw your blog and read your impressions about India and was most impressed by the same which was i must say precise. Of course, we Indians all know that foreigners, especially westerners are taken aback by what they see in India.
Could u contact me SOON at brnugget_6@yahoo.com
March 29th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Hello!
Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad english, I’v just started to learn this language
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo
April 27th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Hey, I just watched Outsourced, the movie that you recommended. Definitely a very different angle on India and it made me think a lot about your previous blog posts, like the family watching you eat. Good movie.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Just imagine the households of those poeple living in that area, that circumstances I mean what will the society rates be, hunger; unemployment; and lack of access by the overwhelming majority of the population to its’ basic needs…? The list just goes on!!! Live is taff but lets make a difference 4 our future children, babies and, and, AND. Goverment of India please help out there…