Slumdog Millionaire (Pages 1 - 80)

Summary
The main character Ram Mohammad Thomas was arrested because there was suspicion that he cheated on the quiz show Who Wants to be a Billionaire. He was a poor orphan at the age of sixteen who explains his victory as luck. They could not believe he won because he was poor, a church orphan and did not read the newspaper. While being interrogated and beaten by an official a lawyer defended him as they had no evidence and no right to abuse him. To explain how he was lucky in getting those questions on the show to his lawyer, he had to explain his life stories corresponding to each of the questions he was asked. For the 1st question he knew the answer because his friend Armaan Ali and had taken him along to watch his most famous film Betrayal. For the 2nd question the host asked him if he knew what FBI stood for but he didn't, he then asked him which one did he know in which he said INRI which was the sequence of letters normally inscribed on a cross. Next door moved a family of a couple and a daughter. The father was a scientist who studied stars but was fired. One night with the help of a telescope he taught his daughter about the solar system and Ram listened in which helped him answer the 3rd question What is the smallest planet in our solar system?, he remembered because they named their cat after the smallest planet; Pluto. The father had abused the both of them and Ram could not stand by and watch any longer so he was not very proud of, leading to his runaway to Delhi where he stayed at a Juvenile Home for boys.


Quote
"I told you not to poke your nose into other people's affairs, or make other people's troubles your own. Remember this as a lesson for the future. (Swarup 55)"

Reaction
Ram had told this to Salim, his best friend when he was going to attempt in helping Armaan Ali get back together with his ex Urvashi. Soon after Salim saw a picture of Armaan in a magazine with lots of women around him, he was very disappointed because he had hope. Ram advised him no to do this again because his attempts will not help the situation. Salim soon had to remind Ram of his own advice when he wanted to attempt in helping the family that had just moved in next door.