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A Tiny Ray of Sunshine

By dcmediagirl on July 7, 2009 at 7:05 AM in Current Affairs

In a world full of bitterness, cynicism, cruelty and indifference, it’s nice to see a story that lifts the spirits.

“Slumdog Millionaire” child star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and his mother moved into their new home Tuesday, leaving behind a corrugated metal slum shanty for four solid walls, doors that lock and an indoor toilet.

“I was shocked when I saw this house,” Azhar, 11, said, before turning on one of his favorite Hindi songs and dancing around the living room. “I want to thank Danny Boyle for giving us this flat.”

Boyle, the director of the Oscar-winning hit, and producer Christian Colson will transfer the $50,000 one-bedroom apartment to Azhar’s name when he turns 18, provided he finishes school.

Officials from the trust the filmmakers set up to secure an education, housing and a living allowance for Azhar and his co-star Rubina Ali, 9, is actively searching for a new home for Rubina as well.

At the moment, Azhar has several new challenges to ponder — chief among them, what to put on the walls, and how not to forget one’s house keys.

He held up sparkly “Welcome” posters against the apartment’s cheery yellow walls, considering whether a pink, blue or shining red rendering of Mecca might be best.

The apartment is on the ground floor of a seven story brown concrete apartment building called “Harmony,” which sits on a quiet cul-de-sac in the Santa Cruz West section of Mumbai, not too far from where Azhar attends school.

The windows look out on a leafy courtyard. Outside are the sounds of birds and the occasional passing train.

Azhar’s mother Shameem Ismail said she is looking forward to their first night in the new apartment.

“God has given me so much,” she said. “We will sleep very well tonight. There is no water leaking, no bad environment, no quarreling.”

In Garib Nagar (“City of the Poor”), one of Mumbai’s more wretched slums where they used to live, there were only public toilets, and many people used the train tracks or trash piles instead.

“There we have to give 2 rupees for the bathroom every day,” she said. “My toilet is my own here.”

She and Azhar will share the main room, while Azhar’s brother Irfan Ismail Sheikh, 22, and his wife will sleep on a mattress in the kitchen, she said.

The boy’s father, whom we last saw beating the child like a drum in front of photographers, has not moved into the new apartment.

I’ve read too many comments stating that people who live in the slums remain because they prefer the living conditions, the sense of community and the business opportunities. No doubt some do wish to stay. But generally I’ve found that those who profess the “nobility in poverty” line are trying to make excuses for government, social and societal inaction and neglect.

But for God’s sake, if slumdwellers want a clean, peaceful – and a private toilet – why deny them the chance?

I also hope that this story puts an end to the nonsense that Danny Boyle exploited these children. The cold hard reality is that he cast them in a film and paid them for their services. His obligation to the children would have ended there. It was kind and thoughtful of Boyle to go the extra mile to provide for their futures in this fashion. In a business full of selfish, greedy and grasping egomaniacs Danny Boyle is a mensch in my book.

JMM

Thanks for this post DC, it was just what I needed to read today, some good news.
DAB

I heard that their apartment is only 250 square feet large. This makes their joy at having the bare essentials even more dramatic. I wish them well and hope that Rubina’s apartment is not far behind.