Boo investigated and wrote in detail about the cultural influence of western society on the Indian mindset. Many writers reviewed her analysis and also criticized her in a few areas. To support her analysis, Boo referred to the incidents that took place in Annawadi. Annawadi is full of individuals who are fighting their way out of frog eaters and scarcity.
The people of Annawadi were influenced by western culture as they aimed at changing their social and economic state by setting the success of the western culture as an example. The western success influenced them psychologically and attracted them towards the same. This essay involves a thesis and identifies one major influence that the western culture has on Indians is the technical edge.
A famous American anthropology professor Bornstein stated in her review: “Katherine Boo’s work of literary nonfiction, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, is an insightful and tragic account of poverty in India” (Bornstein 53). To discuss it in details, let’s include the explanation that a Sri Lankan American writer and journalist, Ganeshananthan, shared.
As per Ganeshananthan, the economy of any country plays a vital role in not only the progress of that country but also in the establishment of its overall impact and impression at a larger scale (52). Both the US and India are productive and stable in terms of economics. However, the US market is undoubtedly much stronger than the market of India. Economy and other conditions are based on several aspects, including poverty and the provision of available resources for any country.
Boo analyzed Zehrunisa and Abdul thoroughly. Zehrunisa and Abdul can be considered two of Annawadians that Boo monitors unswervingly in her piece of work. Both remained the American dream. Besides, Boo called slum “a host of 2,500 human beings, innumerable number of goats, feral pigs, and water buffalo” (Boo 4).
The slum comes into existence illegitimately and is just close to the Mumbai Airport. It is always exposed to the frequent risk of slum authorization. It is bordered by the new sumptuous restaurants that make it “superbly situated for a trafficker in wealthy individuals’ garbage” (Mishra 127).
An award-winning Indian writer from Uttar Pradesh, Pankaj Mishra, analyzed Boo’s research in 2012 and stated: “Unluckily, this piece of work by Boo offers very little history or context” (Mishra 54).
Mishra criticized and did not agree with Boo’s explanation about the country’s monetary system. Mishra added: “It solitarily creates rare acquaintances amongst the lives in this slum as well as the macro-context” (Mishra 54). However, the persuasive exhibition of individual work and grief provides a throbbing distinction to the cold and the political structures.
Bornstein added her views about the same by stating: “Virtually no one in this slum was said to be poor by any officials of Indian benchmarks” (76), despite the fact that just a few residents have to ensnare rats and frogs in an attempt to fill out their meals.
Coming back to the reviews of different well-known writers, Mishra stated his analysis as follows: “Individuals are misrepresented, vulnerable, and they do not understand until findings like Behind the Beautiful Forevers reveal their lives and the astonishing similarity of those lives with our own” (Mishra 27). Particular connections in Annawadi are so recognizable and are related to India.
The example has been quoted as “when Rahul and Manju are arguing over the skin color, they like the US youngsters to concentrate on the secluded control” (Boo 36). It has been noticed that the color and the body structure are given importance in both the US and India. Boo admits that sometimes the social influences are unavoidable. However, she rejects the concept and believes in social justice.
Boo also discusses human rights, particularly, women’s rights. Boo also discussed an incident where a Muslim girl Kehkashan expressed her thoughts about the situation she came across. After Kehkashan saw photos of another woman in her husband’s phone, it was quite unfortunate to elaborate that she could not ask or inquire about her husband (Bornstein 42).
Kehkashan had delivered a baby. She was unhappy with her husband’s attitude and character. When she questioned him, her husband asked not to be argued and corrected in any case. In general, such a situation does not predict a good sign for any woman. This actually attacks a person mentally in a marital relationship. As a result, one gets fed up with his/her life.
It is quite annoying to strive with such an irritating spouse who does not like to be questioned and avoids explanation where the confusion arises. However, she emphasized on settling the situation with any expected outcome instead of just letting it go (Boo and Malhotra 36).
Boo also discussed the influence of color in addition to a festivity of a perfect body type that dominates folks in India as well as the US. She claims that Mirchi and Rahul’s friendship does go above the religious divisions (Boo 36).
In Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Ganeshananthan identified that Boo shows clearly that there exists no practical and moral rationalization for government and businesses in order to disregard the desires of society’s utmost susceptible individuals, and that the most of the cultural practices are derived from the West (Ganeshananthan 76).
One will realize that, if Abdul had the cash, he would have been moved to purchase an iPod, failing to consider his family. As Boo says: “had the family funds been at his disposal, Abdul would have, with no doubt, purchased an iPod” (Boo 49). This is after Mirchi informed him of the iPod, and whilst Abdul had been delighted by the perception. Abdul interprets this as “a small machine that let you catch only what you required to catch. A machine to go down out your neighbors” (Boo 49).
Boo has also discussed in depth the adoption of western education by the Indians. She states that the most intelligent student in the slum, Annawadi, a 21-year-old Prakash was four gates down the temple (Bornstein 65).
Prakash was worried about his final assessments to qualify his college graduation (Boo 36). He was from a family that was not financially strong. However, somehow, he studied in a good school. He worked in sales for a bank to make some money as his father had an accident and could not earn. The spirit and efforts of Prakash enabled him to survive and progress well.
This essay is based on a thesis. It highlights the technical influence that the western culture has on Indians mindset. To support the thesis statement, the individuals discussed by Boo are reviewed and referred to in this essay. It further refers to the fiscal and communal systems from the West, which forms their forecasts.
All republics should clarify and control the persistent poverty and intimidating disparity accompanying the progress and wealth. The market and perception of various products in each country may also differ from the other. It is only fair to conclude that the western culture has successfully managed to influence the Indian culture both in education and cultural beliefs.
Works Cited
Boo, Katherine, and Malhotra, Sunil. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Death, Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Under-city. The New York: Random House, 2012. Print.
Boo, Katherine. Behind the Beautiful Forevers. New York: Random House, 2012. Print.
Bornstein, Erica. “Stories of poverty in India: An ethnographer reviews Katherine Boo’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers.” American Ethnologist. 41.1 (2014): 180-186. Print.
Ganeshananthan, Vasugi. “Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity.” Columbia Journalism Review. 50.6 (2012): 59-60. Print.
Mishra, Pankaj. “Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Under city.”New York Times Book Review. 117.7 (2012): 1. Print.