Slumdog Millionaire and the Calcutta Fund

Dan Boyle’s Oscar-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire, set in the slums of Mumbai, skillfully portrays the conditions of Indian slums and, more importantly, has ignited public interest in the many children who inhabit these slums. In the film, Jamal, Salim and Latika (played by real slum children) accurately convey the hardship, abuse and cruelty of this impoverished territory, including the intentional adult exploitation of slum children. Mumbai is India’s financial capital, but the greed and corruption of politicians and others who have neglected Mumbai’s poor population cannot be ignored. Slumdog shows the harsh reality of the life of slum dwellers, including children, beggars, prostitutes and drug addicts. The movie focuses on destitute children and their ability to survive the slums with dignity and hope, commanding from the audience respect and love.

Many charitable organizations are already providing help and funding to slum communities all over India, but there is still much work to be done. Food, shelter, medicines and other relief are required for the children struggling to survive in these difficult conditions. Our donations help eradicate the daily pain and suffering of our fellow humans, forced to a life of degradation and poverty, while we live with every luxury and comfort.

The renewed interest in slum children affords me a timely opportunity to introduce to the readers of this worthy publication my dear friend and fellow lawyer, Joseph Anderson. Four years ago Joseph established a charity for the poor children of Calcutta (www.calcuttafund.org). His goal is simple: to provide basic medical and nutritional supplies to the children living in the worst of Calcutta’s slums.

I contacted Joseph in 2006 after I read an article about his charitable work in our local newspaper, The Greensboro News & Record. As an Indian I was extremely impressed that a non-Indian, living in my community, had taken concrete steps to do something about the dire poverty he had witnessed in the slums of Calcutta.

When we met he explained to me his honest vision for this charity, how he decided to do something about the poverty he had encountered in the streets of India, especially Calcutta—where the daily plight of the poor, smiling, beautiful children had touched and warmed his soul. He shared with me his lovely and moving photographs, of many children and places from all over India. While traveling in India and mourning the death of his father, he kept a travel log detailing his personal experiences and thoughts.

This Blog later became a memoir, aptly titled The Light Within, (available at Amazon.com and most bookstores; all proceeds go to the fund). Joseph personally pays all overhead and administrative costs for the fund, enabling each and every dollar received in donation to be applied directly to the children. He made a trip back to Calcutta in 2007 to distribute the donations collected and is personally and emotionally involved in this charity. After meeting him I promised to actively help with fund raising efforts and in promoting awareness of the charity amongst all, especially the Indians in our community. I have introduced him to the local Gujarati Association and the Indian Organizations, and many members have generously donated to the fund. I have successfully encouraged family members and friends to donate and believe we need to help him expand and further this truly worthy cause.