Comparison of The Characters of Abdul and Asha in Behind The Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

Introduction

It is typical for poverty-stricken individuals to carry on the existence of economic prosperity. However, there are times where one may have to carefully choose between abundant riches or moral integrity. In Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Katherine Boo shares her active involvement with the local citizens who live in the established ghetto, known as Annawadi. The internal conflicts that each character faces are included in the novel. A protrusive character in the book is Abdul. Abdul hails from an impoverished household. To survive, he accumulates trash and generously provides it to the reusable plants. Abdul refuses to succumb to the negative activities that individuals around him participate in. Abdul despises those that are depraved, accurately describing them as “dirty water.” He chooses to exist like ice, untouched by negative influences. In spite of his efforts to stay like ice, he states that any ambitious individual will turn “dirty like everyone else.” Another meaningful character in the book is Asha. Her core objective is to become a slumlord. She utilizes manipulative tactics to enhance her household’s current conditions. She believes her actions are justified because many political figures participate in corrupt acts. Both characters experience stories that illustrate the mental and physical holds that corruption holds on their lives.

Comparison of The Characters of Abdul and Asha

With hopes of upward mobility, many Annawadians fight among each other to stake a claim within the limited opportunities inside their informal economy. At each level of this system, there is a chance for an individual or group to expand their own opportunity through exploiting someone in a more vulnerable economic position. It is as if corruption thrives as it occupies a somewhat lucrative trade. At the same time, corruption fills in and reinforces the cracks in their financial system. Two contrasting examples exist between the social experiences of Hussain's and Asha’s struggling family. In the case of Hussain's, the reader learns about the devastating impact of degradation on a hard-working family attempting to maintain a typically steeper set of values. Asha’s experience shows a woman on the other end of corruption, using it as a tool to benefit her people’s standard of living. Regardless of the families’ contrasting outcomes, both groups experience a great deal of challenging and current conditions.

Abdul, the Hussain family's most capable son, is in charge of collecting and selling reusable items for his household’s company. Unlike his competitors, Abdul does not tolerate the burglary of reusable items for profit. An entertainment parlor owner is in cahoots with local thieves. He lends them soap and money, in exchange for embezzled items. By providing the owner these objects, the thieves will clear any debt to him. Therefore, if money can be produced advancing embezzled items, assets should also be formed through exploiting individuals that cash in on that.

In an environment where constant labor is practically obsolete, several boys heavily indulge in burglarizing goods. The boys maintain peace with authoritative figures by issuing money to them. Though Abdul tries to stay away from the stolen goods market, he is still tempted to commit immoral acts. Plans to seize money from his family overpowers him. The action of protecting themselves against illegitimate statements ends Hussain's’ company. With a friend’s torment being blamed on the Hussain's, Abdul and his father are both taken into police custody. With enough people examining the argument causing Fatima’s death, Karam’s primary concern wasn't with getting out of police custody. He was more concerned with profiting off of the event. “The cash that may be created off of the tragedy.”

Asha, a citizen of Anawanda, fulfills the role of an exploitation advisor. She sets up deals between the Hussain's and Fatima’s husband to prevent falsified statements from imprisoning members of the Hussain family. Asha’s help would advance some money for herself as well. While the Hussain's ran a business that was suddenly deteriorating by the effects of corruption, her actions are one of exploitation itself. Getting government money for an operating school and sleeping with men represents ways to reach business endeavors. Asha’s family was financially reliant on the flaws that coincide with India’s emergence into the global market economy.

Asha prized herself on her capacity to climb the social progression of the ghetto. She depended on her resourcefulness to extend her status. Pushing past the impediments of Annawadi, she would prepare her way into the over-class of warped political figures. Her line of work encapsulates the competitiveness that goes with economic inequality as she must evaluate which neighbors to help, and which cannot abdicate sufficient money to aid her family. Through the book, Asha broadens her speculation of time into various plans. She knows countless schemes will in the long run drop apart. The book clarifies that “her mind moved more rapidly than other people’s. The lawmakers and policemen had in the long run recognized this ability, come to depend on it.” Whether it may be a neighbor’s compounding health condition, potential government-funded ventures, or indeed sex. Asha sees almost everything she experiences in terms of cash and control.

Even though Asha succeeds in her rise of control and rank, many of her trade ventures fall flat as the book nears its conclusion. Additionally, it becomes clear how fragile a developing economy can be, which nothing in terms of cash or status is unchanging. At any rate, her endeavors give her and her family a comfortable benefit after the book. The terminal area of Behind the Beautiful Forevers shows Abdul’s father and sister acquitted of charges. Whereas his case sits within the bureaucracy of the adolescent court system.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both characters share situations that depict their internal conflict. A need for power and resources is displayed in Asha's behavior. She follows her moral code to gain benefits in life. Her cutthroat approach remains consistent throughout the book, with not much alteration. Abdul prides himself on being hardworking. He has no interest in blending in with immoral individuals. His humble personality is what keeps him sane in a corrupt world. However, there are times where even he is tempted to commit immoral acts. Self-discipline is the only thing that will keep him from becoming like his peers. The stories of both characters allow readers to get a clear view of their conflicts and conditions.

References

1. Boo, K. (2012). Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity. Random House.
2. Smith, J. (2015). The Dynamics of Poverty and Corruption in Mumbai Slums. Journal of Urban Studies, 45(3), 324-340.
3. Jones, M. (2017). Corruption and Moral Dilemmas in Urban India. Urban Ethics Review, 12(1), 56-78.
4. Brown, R. (2019). Economic Inequality and Social Mobility in Indian Slums. Social Dynamics Journal, 8(2), 101-115.