Can "Slumdog" be a Millionaire?

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I recently watched this movie called “Slumdog Millionaire” directed by Danny Boyle. The music for the film was composed by our own “Mozart of Madras” A R Rehman. The cast includes British born Dev Patel (Jamal Malik), Indian born Freida Pinto (Lathika), Anil kapoor and others. The plot of the movie was very interesting and tight. The protagonist Jamal Malik is a slum boy from Mumbai and his ladylove is Lathika. He participates in “Who wants to be a Millionaire” because his ladylove loves that show. He makes it to the final question of the show to win 20 million rupees. He is arrested before the final show to interrogate him to understand how could he make it to the final? The movie says it is his coincidence in his life to the questions asked in the show. It is his destiny to win the show.

This movie has poignant screenplay, brilliant acting, soothing music and real India to watch. I started introspecting after watching the movie. Why shouldn’t a slum boy become millionaire by answering those questions? I think the answer is yes, anyone can become millionaire if he/she possesses that knowledge. So what is that stopping slum boy to be a millionaire? I think it is the apparent lack of knowledge. When there is compulsory free education till the age of 14 or so in India. Why don’t these slum boys and girls get their share of needs? The problems are many from the lack of basic amenities in the slum from schools to hospital. Why does such kind of things happening to the slum young people? I think it may be due to orphaned or parents don’t usually care about their children.

What can the government actually do to educate or make these slum kids knowledgeable? I think government should create good basic infrastructure facilities in the slum ranging from schools to hospitals. If state government or central government doesn’t have any money to fund those schools, why not give it to the hands of private? Private can start charter schools to admit these kids to educate the underprivileged sections of our society. Government can issue bonds to charter schools’ management to fund the education of only slum kids. I don’t know whether it will bear fruits but it is the working model of New Orleans schools after devastating Hurricane Katrina.

Good parentage is very important in life of any successful Indian whether he/she is rich or poor. I read an inspiring story a few years back. A story of a slum backward caste dude from Chennai made it to IIM- Ahmadabad. Eventually he became an entrepreneur by starting his own food centre at Ahmadabad. He was all praise for his mother who sacrificed her whole life to spend money on this guy education by selling idlis and washing plates in others’ house. We need this kind of parents to inspire their children and make them realize their responsibility to his/her family and India. Lastly, watch this movie it’s worth the time.