The next section of the Boo reading centers around
corruption and the unjustness of the so-called “justice system” in Mumbai.
Officers, doctors, and even other members of the slums use bribes as their form
of justice, and for this reason Abdul’s family sees no justice. Fatima openly
admits to burning herself, but with the help of a government official changes
her statement to say that the Husains beat her, forcing her into burning
herself-something that can only be taken away with the right sum of money, and
ultimately can’t be changed when Fatima dies in the hospital. As this book
becomes more and more engrossing, it becomes more and more horrifying to me.
The feuds of two families become so great that a woman decides to burn herself
for vengeance; this culture is obviously very different. The people in the
slums see these fights, things that could be easily fixed to an outside eye, as
the most important things they have to deal with, while really their biggest
concern should be survival. Irrational problems are created out of boredom and
a need for excitement, and in Boo’s book this only leads to tragedy and
destruction. The police system in Mumbai seems to justify that by not
correcting anyone or attempting to right the wrongs, but by giving peace to
whoever gives them the largest amount of money, a hard task for those who can
barely afford to eat everyday.
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