The film Slumdog Millionaire has been criticized for showing the underbelly of life in Bombay Mumbai. Like Beijing, Mumbai is going through rapid transformation as India’s economy develops and one by one the slums are replaced with skyscrapers.

But Vikas Swarup, author of the book Q&A which inspired the film, insists it is mainly a story of hope and survival.

How can a child of the slums know enough to win a quiz show? This prejudice is the founding premise of the book and film.

In an interview on BBC World (unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be online) Swarup explained that he was surprised to see how Indian slum children have embraced the internet.

Mumbai may have its underbelly – where doesn’t? – but that shouldn’t make us underestimate those who live there.

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About the author

Lucy is English and first ventured out of the UK she was 19. Since then she has lived in 4 different countries and tried to see as much of the world as possible. She loves learning languages, learning about different cultures and hearing different points of view.