Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine BooMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is on my list of best books read in 2014
Based on truth about life in one of Mumbai's slums that borders Mumbai's sumptuous new airport and the Hyatt Hotel, this book is humbling. Life in these slums could be on Mars, it's hardly believable that humans still live like this (the book is set from 2008 to 2010) amid the clear corruption, inefficiency and sheer cruelty of the Mumbai police, the gangs and politicians.
I laughed at the ironic scene when one of the inhabitants is investigated for cruelty to his horses and the slum is visited by the Protection for Animals league who set up a protest, while the people of the slum watch in bewilderment since the horses had received better treatment than they ever had.
I cried at the lack of humanity and kindness or sympathy shown to the slum dwellers who do not even seem to be regarded as part of the human race and therefore the brutal murders of young people or the suicides of those with no hope are of no concern to the rich and those in power. How do we turn our backs on this otherworld of strife and despair where the only hope to improve is by begging?
Beautifully portrayed by the author, this book will hit every emotion you have.
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