Abstract
Building on Gayatri Spivak's proposal that we destabilize the presupposition in human rights that the rich are destined to right the wrongs of the poor, this article considers one instance of what development efforts for human rights might look like if they were undertaken by the poor. It argues that the story of Balram Halwai, the protagonist in Aravind Adiga's novel The White Tiger , represents one version of a subaltern righting the wrongs of underdevelopment and class inequality in postcolonial India. This version recognizes the problem of underdevelopment, and proposes modernization as the solution even though it comes at a high cost. The article then explores a paradoxical presupposition in a human rights approach to development and equality, namely that it functions according to an ethics of the rich, rather than that of the poor.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
