-
Essay / The Two Indian Narratives and the Cost of Globalization in White Tiger and Behind The Beautiful Forevers
In Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger and Katherine Boo's Behind the Beautiful Forevers, a rapidly changing India threatens and deprives those who adhere to a traditional method. of life, like Balram's family in Laxmangarh and the slum-dwelling community of Annawadi. Therefore, these two groups must change to be able to compete in this new world. Both Asha and Balram are negatively affected by India's globalization; however, they plan to escape the constraints of globalized India by sacrificing their morality and justifying their actions with the belief that economic success is more important. Balram justifies his actions by calling them “acts of entrepreneurship” (9). The reality of globalization is either abandoning your morality to achieve economic success or getting stuck in the poor part of India that the other half left behind. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get the original essayAravind Adiga and Katherine Boo vividly evoke the tension between ancient and newly globalized India, indicating that succeeding in the modern world (as Balram does) requires a combination of ethical and personal compromises. The Americanization of India allows Balram to temporarily change his caste. Balram also recognizes the nature of globalization and how to take advantage of it, saying, "I am still a man who sees 'tomorrow' when others see 'today.' » (274). He makes a conscious choice to sacrifice parts of himself and completely alter his identity in order to succeed. He states: “The story of how I was corrupted from a sweet, innocent village fool into a debauched city dweller. , depravity and wickedness” (189). When he lived in the village, there is no doubt that he struggled financially, but he describes himself as gentle and innocent. By the time he is rich, he has become “full of debauchery.” and even describes himself as mean. In escaping the constraints of globalization, he had to give up part of himself to achieve what he considered success. Balram's recognition of the increasing competition resulting from globalization contributes to his resulting actions. in its corruption and loss of identity. The effects of globalization in India do not stop with poverty and hunger. While the rest of the country progresses rapidly, those in economically unfortunate situations like Balram and Asha are forced to sacrifice their identities and their families. , and morality. In the shadow of the other part of India reaping the benefits of globalization, the slum dwellers of Annawadi are struggling for survival. Capitalist globalization has brought hunger, unspeakable poverty and disease, racial and gender inequality, and an explosion of slums. Nonetheless, Asha planned to become a slum lord and then "exploit the city's inexorable corruption down to the middle class." (xvii) In a community of struggling families, there will always be those who are willing to abandon their morals and identity to achieve economic stability. Asha is selfishly motivated by her poverty and greed. Similar to Balram, Asha was able to overcome guilt because she cannot allow herself to feel it if she wants to succeed. “The guilt that had overtaken Robert was an obstacle to effective work behind the scenes in the city, and Asha considered it a luxury emotion.” Acquire financial and political power in order to overcome poverty thatGlobalization has taken a heavy emotional toll on Asha and Balram. Asha must suppress her true feelings of guilt for what she does because she sees emotion as an obstacle on the path to success. Surrounded by luxury hotels and a large airport, Asha is constantly reminded that it faces all the ills of globalization, while other parts of India prosper. She takes advantage of the corrupt politics that influence India. The influence of Western society and foreign powers are cultural invaders and have forced the natives of Mumbai and Bangalore into positions of inferiority and created a corrupt society. For the rich, the effects of globalization pose no problem, but as Boo demonstrates, the same cannot be said for the poor. New rules, customs and value designations have changed due to the influence of foreigners. Globalization does not stop at economies but extends even further and permeates the cultures of nations. Globalization has gained in destruction of indigenous culture, distribution of colonial power, mechanization and westernization. It has destroyed privacy across the board and helped promote a consumerist culture. This propagated the concept that Westernization is part of civilization. Everything is superior, whether it is Western alcohol, girls, language, clothing. Globalization replaces indigenous culture with a consumerist culture. Consumerist culture aims at the destruction of indigenous culture and identity. As globalization hits India, citizens like Balram are adopting a new perception of society – one that values Western culture above their own. “I must explain to you, Mr. Jiabao, that in this country we have two kinds of men: Indian liquor merchants and English liquor merchants. Indian liquor was for village boys like me – toddy, arrack, country boy. English liquor is naturally for the rich. Rum, whisky, beer, gin – everything the English left behind” (73). Balram describes English alcohol as being "naturally" reserved for the rich, as if it were a product so commonly ingrained in society that the upper class could be predicted to primarily consume English rather than the Indian due to her financial situation. India has been divided between the rich and the poor. Due to Americanization and globalization, the cultures between the two parties are very different. “'Please understand, Excellency, that India is two countries in one: the India of light and the India of darkness'” (12). Because of this segregation, if the poor want to find "the India of light", they must make many sacrifices. The difference between the two Indias mainly lies in the advancement and globalization of Light India, compared to the traditional culture and poverty of Dark India. The problem with globalization for the characters Balram and Asha is that they are mocked by a rapidly changing society that is just beyond their reach. The more quickly the new India modernizes, the more it differentiates itself from the societies from which Balram and Asha came. Cities left behind in poverty and hunger fall into corruption. Those willing, like Asha and Balram, to recognize and profit from their corrupt governments: "Now that she had the Corporator's ear, she could solve more problems like this on commission." And when she had real control over the slum, she could create problems to solve them – a profitable pattern she had learned from studying the Corporator” (20). Asha recognizes that success is possible by “.