The first chapter i.e Undercitizens of ''Behind the Beautiful Forevers: life, death and hope'' emphasizes the idea that even poor people have fruitless hopes of their children becoming affluent.
Explanation: The chapter starts with a quote from Karam, which explains how the impoverished have extravagant hopes. After that chapter shifts back to January 2008, just before Fatima set herself on fire and Abdul surrendered himself. Abdul was then awakened by Zehrunisa who urges him to get to work. Abdul rises obediently and enjoys peaceful moments in the Annawadi slum and starts to maintain distance from his neighbors.
Annawadi was built in 1991, by migrants from Tamil Nadu, India. these migrants never went back to their homes and now the slum is home for the past 17 years. These people have been liberated from poverty as a result of India's new economic liberalization. They are proud that they do not have to catch rats and frogs every day to eat. Because of the high price of scrap metal as China prepares for the Olympics in Beijing, times are especially good for traders like Abdul.
Sorting among the rubbish, Abdul keeps an eye out for wandering goats who might try to steal his bottles. In the afternoon, Mirchi gets home from school and waits for his friend Rahul to tell him about his day working for the Intercontinental Hotel. Rahul appears wearing fine new cargo shorts and a black hat, crowing the details of his night rubbing elbows with the rich and famous – though Rahul had been threatened harshly never to make eye contact with the people he was serving.
Abdul avoids the other boys, but he hears Rahul's stories about the foreign women at the party and their wild antics. Abdul recalls Rahul's tale of a new years eve party when a wealthy man had been inebriated and stolen all the rolls from the buffet with amusement. The other lads ask Rahul about the most recent party again but Rahul gets sidetracked while searching for recyclables to sell.