CHAPTER 2- Father Timothy

Father Timothy gave the orphan three names. How would these names help the boy?

He gave the name of Ram Mohammad Thomas. He put this names because any person of three different religions (Hindu, Muslim and Christianity) could call the boy the way that he like.

Find out about the wars between India and Pakistan and answer: In your opinion, why did Father Timothy give him these three names?

With these three names he can't have any problems because the people can say the name of the religion they were. Father Timothy wanted that he have friends of all religions and didn't be discriminated. 

How did Ram spend his childhood?

He used to play with other kids on the orphanage. Father Timothy taught Ram to learnt english because this could help him in the future. He was so happy until Father Timothy's dead.

How diferent was Ram Mohamed Thomas’ childhood from yours?

I grow up on a happy home with my family, with all the things that are necessary for live, studyng on a good schools and the most important, they love me since my born and take care of me. I think that the important in a childhood is the love of parents.

In your opinion, what is going to happen to Ram after Father Timothy’s death?

He will miss Father Timothy. Perhaps a good family want to help him or he will live on orphanage until he was an adult with a hard live.

CHAPTER 1 - The cheat

Why was Ram surprised to see Smita? 

Because Smita tells him that she's going to be his lawyer and he didn't know why because he is poor and didn't have money to pay her.

In your opinion, who sent Smita? How did she know about his arrest?

I think it is because Ram appeared on the news because won the quiz TV show and was accused to chaeting, she reconized him and want to help her old friend. 

Background information

THE TV SHOW

-What’s the name of the TV show in which the story is based on?

Who wants to be a millionaire?

-What do you know about it?

It is an international television show tv that has been seen in more than hundred countries. In Spain was presentated for many famous people like Carlos Sobera or Nuria Roca. This show started in India in 2000. 

-Post a short video of one of the program.

This video is about the first winner a  $1,000,000 on Who wants to be a millionaire.

THE MAIN CHARACTERS

- His name combines the names of three religions. Which are they?

-Ram Mohammad Thomas: Ram is from Hindu, Mohammad from the Muslim and Thomas from Christianity.

-Where does he grow up? 

-He was born in Delhi and grows up in the slums of Mumbai. He was found on a St Mary Church and after lived in a orphanage. Father Timothy gived him a home.

PEOBLE, PLACES AND EVENTS IN THE STORY

-Who was Surdas?

Surdas was a saint and musician. He couldn’t see and was a very religious man. He left his family when he was a little boy.

What is the connection between Surdas and the main character?

Mamman gave to Ram and Salim to learnt songs of Surdas when they have music classes.

What is the historical background? What war appears in the story?

The historical building is The Taj Mahal. That building is where Ram worked like guide when he arrived at Agra. In Taj Mahal he met Nita and they fall in love. In the story appears the war of India and Pakistan on the chapter 5 "A soldier's story".

What is the story behind Taj Mahal? Include pictures

The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shahjahan. He loved to beautiful women, Mumtaz Mahal “The chosen one”. They married and had fourteen children but she died. Before that, the Emperor promised to built a beautiful palace for her memory, The Taj Mahal. 

The Autor

Vikas Swarup was born in Allahabad in India. After going to the Allahabad Boys High Schookand College, Vikas studied psychology, history and philosophy at Allahabad University. As a diplomat he worked in Turkey, the United States of America, Ethiopia, Great Britain and South Africa. In August 2009, he became Consul General of India in Osaka, Japan. Q and A, the title of the book which was made into the film Slumdog Millionaire, was his first book. It took him only two months to write, but has noe been published in forty-twolanguages and made into a film. He was written a second novel, Six Suspects that was published in 2008. Vikas likes listening to music, playing cricket, tennis and table tennis. He is married with Aparna and they have two sons.

Slumdog Millionaire, a novel by Vikas Swarup

Q & A or Slumdog Millionaire is a novel by Vikas Swarup, an Indian diplomat. Published in 2005, it was the author's first novel. Set in India, it tells the story of Ram Mohammad Thomas, a young waiter who becomes the biggest quiz show winner in history, only to be sent to jail on accusations that he cheated. In 2008, the book was adapted into the multiple Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire. The autor says that he got the idea for the book after watching the popular TV show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? He thought that it would be interesting if an uneducated street boy won the top prize that would be accused of cheating.

You can see the trailer of the famous film: