This movie was powerful.
This is the kind of movie that makes you wonder why you were born in middle class America when so many others are born into a world of everyday suffering. I was so impressed at the maturity of the youth. Yes, there were times when they were foolhardy, but their ability to survive, however unsavory the means, was impressive. They were creative and ingenuous with their survival strategies. But it was hard and sad to watch. Yes the ending was happy, but the life of Jamal was so long and so hard, it makes me wonder how many others live their whole lives with no happy ending. This movie was a definite culture shock, I learned a great deal about India and the life of people outside of my American bubble. Here are three things I learned about India in regards to international business:
In the course of one mans life India has grown and changed. In the movie the two brothers sit and look out into the place they used to call their slum in childhood, now it is a business center. India is has become less of another developing nation and is now on the fast track to becoming a world power. While this population growth will help bolster India into prominence, the sheer numbers of their people and the vast inequity in living conditions may keep India from truly thriving for years to come.
Second, I liked the chance to see outsourcing from the source. For so long U.S. citizens and companies have complained about the pains of the people involved in outsourcing. When I watched this film however I saw hundreds of people in a nation deprived of jobs, working and earning an honest, worthwhile wage. Yes, perhaps they are making less than American workers, but I’ll bet they are making more than so many more Indians left to the slums. I see those jobs as a way out of poverty. For that reason, I am not so sure outsourcing is the evil it is made out to be.
Lastly, it was the score of human rights violations because of the lack of government intervention which made me pause. In a place where children are lost forever with no means of protection makes me wonder what the implications are for businesses. Does the increased FDI help these countries help themselves to increase police help, child services and lawful standards of conduct? I hope so, but I do not know. From what I witnessed it was standard practice to lose track of children, for the police to do nothing, and to never feel safe. But the people were survivors. For this reason I see the potential in this country for investment. I see a country that is poised on the brink of greatness. But I hope the children and the weak of this population are not left behind.
