Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Deathand Hope in a Mumbai Undercity Winner of the National Book Award 2012 The central figure of the story is Abdul, a Muslim teenager,with an innovative mind full of aspirations, ideals, and beliefs.In the light of India's flourishing progress, he owns a heartfilled with hopes and dreams for a better future. Dwelling in oneof the slums of Mumbai, Abdul sees his goldmine in the sale ofrecyclable trash discarded by the wealthy populace of the city. During a period of global recession, when the country isinflicted by terror and religious and economic oppression, theerroneous murder charges against Abdul and his subsequent arrestare only trivial, hackneyed events. The shocking disparity betweenthe rich and the poor are outlined very graphically, as one set ofpeople lie ensconced in the most luxurious settings ofinternational hotels, while on the very same street, another set ofpeople struggle to survive the dire levels of hygiene in theirsurroundings. The tale of Abdul's life and those of other helpless people inthe novel betray the truths behind the veil of globalization. In acountry screaming for freedom from corruption, these wretched soulsfind that the doors of corruption are their only means to freedom.As Katherine narrates the poignant tales of these slum inhabitants,it is heartrending to note that even in this completely hopelessimpasse, they still foster dreams for a better future. Released in 2012, Behind the Beautiful Forevers has been acclaimed for itsextensive factual evidence, and it has a received positive responseworldwide. Belonging to the genre of fiction, the book is writtenin a narrative style, which gives a personal touch to an otherwisefactual documentary.