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Development versus Poverty
Adam F
Brad M
Introduction
Poverty is not widely seen where we live today. In India, much of the population lives in poverty. Though people live in poverty, it causes them to hold stronger beliefs in their faith. With the comming of new techonlogy, some people can be afraid of what will happen to their faith. Kids are starting to persue new jobs which their parents don't necessarily agree to. Many of the people in poverty are looking towards moving to Western countries for a better chance in their lives. Below is a link to a video which shows India's poverty, but it also touches on the good parts of india. The rich in India will stay rich because of the residue of the caste systems. Rich families will pass down their wealth to their children.
In India, poverty lives side by side with towering skyscrapers. Bright, beautiful buildings can be found in cities like New Delhi and Calcutta, but so can make-shift tents, as pictured here:
In America, scenes such as this are not often encountered in poverty ridden areas, such as the Bronx. However, India may have extreme poverty, but they also have the opposite. In many places, towering skyscrapers that resemble those of New York City can also be seen, as pictured here:
As you can see, the differences the differences that can be found simply in one city, Calcutta, are glaring. Think of what differences could be found between rural India, which is even more poverty ridden than the most poverty ridden parts of cities. As India moves towards the latter picture above, of the gleaming skyscrapers, the traditional customs of India will be lost in the wave of developement.
Conversation
An Indian man has just finished med school, and has returned home to see his parents
Chittaswarup: Hello, father, mother, I am a doctor now!
Atmajyoti: This is good. Very good. I am learned to speak English very goodly now!
Damini: You should have become a farmer, as the rest of your family has for generations.
Chittaswarup: We have already had this conversation many times before, as a doctor I can make money, help people, and help you live better lives.
Atmajyoti: Yes Damini, this is good. Very good. Chittaswarup will help us live goodly lives. We will no longer have to live off of only what we can grow ourseles. We will be able to eat goodly foods, and live in a goodly house, not our tiny shack.
Damini: No, we will not live in a "goodly" house, Atmajyoti! This house is "goodly" enough! It is where your ancestors have liven and how your ancestors have liven for generations.
Chittaswarup: But, Mother-
Damini: And you, Chittaswarup, you ungrateful boy! We raised you to be a farmer, to be what you are meant to be, yet your high aspirations would not let you!
Atmajyoti: Now, Damini-
Damini: Don't stop me! Our ancestors have lived happily as farmers, and we have lived happy lives! Why do you want to stop being happy, Chittaswarup?
Chittaswarup: I don't want to stop being happy, I want to start. The life we have lived is full of poverty. We cannot eat anything that we cannot grow ourselves, and sometimes go hungry during the winter for lack of food.
Damini: The only reason we go hungry is because we lack the foresight necessary to realize how much food we need.
Chittaswarup: Also, we are cold during the winter, as we do not have enough blankets. And we have but one room in the house. In America, where I went to Medical School, there were many rooms in enormous buildings, and everyone had huge houses. Even here in India, there are enormous skyscrapers in the cities of New Delhi and Calcutta. Face it mother, we live in poverty.
Damini: No! We do not live in poverty, we live how our ancestors have for generations! Our ancestors did not live in poverty!
Chittaswarup: No, our ancestors did not live in poverty, they lived as almost everyone did then. However, today, India is developing, and what was once the norm is now poverty. We need to move with the times, and develop.
Damini No! I will not change!
"Damini leaves and goes inside"
Atmajyoti: It is oky dokey, son, I believe you. I hear that a new McDonald's is being put in town nearby! Only ten miles to walk for a burger!
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