Setting aside the controversy surrounding `Slumdog Millionaire', the fiction and the film make any right thinking citizen to be alarmed at the rate by which a planet of slums is being created, which is expected to double by 2030. Global poverty is moving to cities, leading to an urbanization of poverty. It is imperative on the part of law makers, governments and civil societies to take appropriate measures to handle the world wide growth of slums, projected to be 2 billion in 30 years. It is an ethical duty on the part of rich nations and their peoples to share their plenty with the poor to arrest global poverty and injustice. Hence, seen in the background of a planet of the slums, `Slumdog Millionaire' has its universal appeal. While efforts are being made to eradicate poverty in the slums, the book and the film also draw attention to the fact that it is only human emotions and genuine love that can sustain life for ever. The movie also remains a powerful medium to expose the injustice meted out to slum dwellers. Though Bollywood has produced several movies in the backdrop of slum-life, these have failed to draw attention like the way `Slumdog Millionaire' has done to project issues of slum-subaltern to a global audience. Vikas Swarup's book and its celluloid version have proven that if people are given opportunities, they can achieve great success. It also affirms the resourcefulness of subaltern groups, which can prove to be a catalyst in social transformation.

Vikas Swarup has sprung to stardom as a fictionist with the publication of Q & A, set to celluloid by Danny Boyle with a fresh subaltern title Slumdog Millionaire. Swarup has inimitably introduced the slum-subaltern in fiction, and Danny Boyle has very ably captured and portrayed the subaltern spirit in the movie.

Both the fiction and the movie have been an eye opener to the pathetic state of affairs afflicting our country with its poverty, corruption, injustice and exploitation of children. In contrast to the India shining slogan in the midst of IT revolution in a globalized economy, the poor-rich divide has continued to haunt us with the reality of the ever growing slums in the country. The film's global appeal has come with the depiction of a poor slumboy like Jamal Malik, who is able to excel in life with determination and resourcefulness.

World Bank's poverty estimates show that the incidence of poverty in the world is higher than past estimates. At a poverty line of $1.25 a day, the revised estimates find that 1.4 billion people live at this poverty line or below. With such growing awareness of the poor and the marginalized living subhuman lives, it is imperative for the rest of the world community to fulfil its moral obligation to eradicate poverty and hunger. Australian philosopher and humanist Peter Singer in his recent book, The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty argues that philanthropy and giving to those who are deprived is intrinsic to living a morally good life and being an ethically good person. He points out that affluent societies have the obligation `to choose to give' a larger amount of their income to help the poor. Many international organizations and NGOs are using charity to build institutions and create job opportunities for the poor to give them independent and sustainable life. Therefore, the misery of the poor and subaltern people should not remain merely at the level of academic exercise.

This paper purports to assess the slum-subaltern in fiction and celluloid with reference to Slumdog Millionaire. Setting aside controversies surrounding the fiction and the movie, these draw attention to the reality of a global phenomenon which needs eradication.

History and Culture Journal, Slumdog Millionaire, Social Transformations, Global Capitalism, Slum Upgradation Programs, Human Resources, National Governments, Municipal Authorities, Urban Mobility, Anti-Social Activities, Flashback Techniques, Economic Disparities.