Analysis Of Dharavi In John Lancaster's Next Stop, Squalor

John Lancaster’s text, Next Stop, Squalor, stirs mixed feelings in me. Lancaster uses harsh words to describe the slums of Dharavi. However, the conditions of these slums are so bad that it is hard to use any other words. Lancaster did not include something he should have, a quote from someone who lives in the slums. Lancaster wrote this piece attempting to invoke understanding about Dharavi. Lancaster specifically targeted the environmental way of life the Dharavi people immerse themselves in. It is hard to argue that Lancaster is biased based on the words he uses to describe Dharavi, because they are all true. Lancaster was not pointing out only the negative aspects of the community, but what he observed. Lancaster debatably overplayed some of the conditions the citizen’s life in with unnecessary adjectives, but these words were just used to help create a vivid picture of what their community is like. …show more content…
One slum dweller is quoted saying “Here, everyone is working.” This man wanted to educate the tourists of the lifestyle they can claim as their own. Although the conditions are rough and unsanitary, it is unfair to assume the citizens are unhappy. It is possible that since the slum life is all the citizens have ever known; they are pleased with their life. Lancaster brings an etic viewpoint to his text. Lancaster wrote this text in order to bring understanding to the Dharavi community and he has done an amazing job. Lancaster creates a vivid picture of the city to the readers. The reader leaves the text with a sense of understanding. Even though the citizens do not have an upper-class life, this does not mean they are miserable. From an outsiders view they live a horrible life, but from their view they are living a normal