Views on Shining India by John Pilger

One of the many threats within our world is poverty. Poverty is subtle, hidden from view and caused by forces from within a nation. Most, if not all, of the people living in Australia when asked what poverty is could easily define it along the lines of intense famine and bad hygiene but apart from the definition they would not know the finer points of its impact on countries such as India. John Pilger’s Expository Text Freedom Next Time acts to educate its readers on such topics and allows them to form their own views on the topic (with a little nudging here and there)

The Chapter Shining India addresses Poverty in all its glory, both good aspects and bad. Through the recollection of events and statistics partaking in modern day India John Pilger makes in quite clear what poverty is. Straight into the article we are detailed a horrific scene, crows circling an abandoned dump with a small girl frantically searching through it for unknown reasons. This is in every way the more stereotypical view people have towards poverty as a state of unrest and disarray. Although John Pilger also continues to expand on this definition, it is not the only one he has to offer. John Pilger prides himself on writing expository articles that are unbiased to a high degree. In order to do this John Pilger takes a closer look at the Indian communities more strongly affected by poverty. Within his recollection of his encounter John Pilger details the Indian population to contain a “hidden dignity” as they frolic in bright colours and despite the conditions of their living still manage to have an innate sense of order and control within the community. By doing this John Pilger has managed to show a side of India that most people never thought existed while still retaining the common mindset that poverty is negatively affecting India’s present and future.

“Shining India” is only a small extract from Freedom Next Time but in itself is a strong argument. John Pilger aptly shows that to every story there are 2 sides and that just because India struggles with poverty it does not mean that they are in any way lesser valued the ourselves. John Pilger shows us that despite the conditions Indian community show the same clasp on life as the typical Australian citizen and it is this that the article hopes to achieve.