Abdul Husain
Abdul is one of the main characters in the narrative. His age remains a mystery as his birth was not registered and his own mother can’t remember his exact birth date. It is speculated however that he is between seventeen and twenty years old when he is examined by a doctor. Abdul comes from a poor family and slum in Mumbai and in order to survive, he collects garbage and sells it to the recycling plants. Abdul is not the average garbage collector as he has his own business and buys garbage from younger boys to sell it. In comparison with those around him, Abdul is realistic and tries not to indulge in fantasies and dreams that will only harm him. He tries instead to do the best he can with what he was given and to live his life going unnoticed by the others. Abdul’s life changes forever when he and his family are accused by Fatima of setting her on fire. After that, Abdul, his father, and his sister are arrested and their business fails. By the time Abdul gets out of prison, it is already too late for him to revive his business and he finds himself scavenging for garbage just like any other boy in the slum.
Asha Waghekar
Asha is an ambitious woman in the slum who dreams of becoming a slumlord one day. The reason why she wants to become a slumlord it to make sure that her children have the best chance in life and that her family is regarded as a good and wealthy family. Despite living in the slum, Asha sees herself and her family as being above those around them. Asha pretends to want to help those around her, but in reality the only thing she wants is to profit from them and to be rich. In the end, Asha does become a slumlord but she realizes that it is too much work so she gives up soon after being appointed and instead makes a great deal of money off of an education scam.
Zehrunisa Husain
Zehrunisa is Abdul’s mother, a Muslim woman forced to take care of her family when her husband falls ill. Zehrunisa dreams of one day moving to a suburban community where Muslims live, but at the same time she enjoys certain social freedoms she has as a woman in the slum. Were she to move to a Muslim community, she would have to remain locked in the house all day to avoid being seen by other men. Zehrunisa loves her family and will go to great lengths to protect them. When her husband, daughter and son are arrested, Zehrunisa is the one who finds the money to get Abdul out of prison.
Fatima
Fatima is the woman who used to live near Abdul and his family. Fatima was called One Leg because she suffered from a birth defect that prevented one of her legs from developing. Fatima moved to the slum after she married her husband but she was never happy. To prove to herself that she was attractive and worthy of attention, she used to sleep around and wear make-up and perfume, things for which the others criticized her. Fatima lights herself on fire with kerosene, chronicled in the beginning of the novel, and she dies after a few days in the hospital. The police suspect Abdul’s family as being the ones who drive Fatima to set herself on fire, even though they were not involved in any way. Previous threats made by the Husains are also used against them later in court.
Manju Waghekar
Manju is Asha’s daughter, a young and intelligent woman who has the chance to receive an education. Manju doesn’t resemble her mother and she wants to help those in need. Because of this, she hopes to one day become a teacher and help the children who live in the slum. Her mother lets her teach at a school in Annawadi, but after becoming a slumlord, she forbids her daughter from teaching there. Manju is obedient, knowing that it is her duty to listen to her mother, and even though she is not always happy with her mother’s decisions, she respects them and obeys them.
Sunil
Sunil is a young trash picker who used to sell his trash to Abdul. Sunil tries to keep himself separated from the boys in the slum who use drugs and who steal, and hopes instead to make an honest living by working hard. Sunil is small for his age, the result of poor nutrition, and he feels badly because of it and resents his family for not taking care of him. Sunil has a younger sister who is taller than him and constantly thinks that he will never be able to grow properly.
Sonu
Sonu is another scavenger in the slum. Sonu and Sunil become friends, and Sonu lectures Sunil about taking care of himself, avoiding thieves, and not smoking or engaging in other unhealthy habits. Sonu scolds Sunil for sleeping in late and occasionally participating in heists, but Sonu's family situation is better than Sunil's, so it is easier for him not to rely on theft as a means of surviving.
Meena
Meena is a girl who lives in the slum and who is good friends with Manju. Meena lives a difficult life, being beaten daily by her father and brothers. Her family arranges a marriage for her at the age of fifteen, and as her wedding approaches, she begins to seriously consider suicide. On the eve of a festival, Meena ingests rat poison and dies in Cooper Hospital.
Mirchi
Mirchi is Abdul’s younger brother, a boy in the ninth grade when the book starts. Mirchi is the only one in the family who is able to continue his studies, but he fails thr ninth grade and Abdul resents him from throwing away his future. Mirchi hopes that one day he will be able to work as a waiter in a luxurious hotel, a dream considered foolish by Abdul.
Kehkashan
Kehkashan is Abdul’s older sister who also lives with the Husains. Kehkashan is almost like a second mother to the children in the family and she works alongside her mother and brother to earn money. Kehkashan is also accused of driving Fatima to set herself on fire, and she spends many months in prison awaiting a trial.
Karam
Karam is Abdul’s father, a sickly man unable to work because of his tuberculosis. Karam feels that it is his duty as a Muslim man to take care of his family but he has to rely on his children and wife to earn money. Karam’s health takes a turn for the worst when he is arrested and he loses all hope of one day moving his family to a quiet Muslim community.
Kalu
Kalu is a young scavenger who frequently works alongside Sunil and Abdul. Kalu is more adventures than the other boys and he often searches for trash in places avoided by other people because they are dangerous. During one of his expeditions, Kalu is killed by a gang on the airport’s property. To cover up his death, the authorities claim that Kalu was killed by tuberculosis.
Rahul Waghekar
Rahul is Asha’s son and Mirchi’s best friend.
Robert Pires
Robert is the slumlord of Annawadi before Asha.
Sunita
Sunita is Sunil’s little sister. Sunil is jealous that Sunita is taller than he is due to his severe malnutrition, but he still loves her dearly.
Sanjay
Sanjay is a boy in the slum who was Kalu’s close friend. After Kalu dies, Sanjay ends up committing suicide by drinking rat poison.
Officer Thokale
Officer Thokale is a corrupt officer at the police station where Abdul and his father are taken. Asha pays him off so that he stops beating Abdul and his father.
Cynthia
Cynthia was Fatima's best friend who at the trial against the Husain family testifies that she saw Abdul and his father force Fatima to commit suicide.
Mahadeo Waghekar
Mahadeo is Asha’s huband.
Noori
Noori is Fatima's daughter who witnesses her mother's suicide.
