What message is Vikas Swarup trying to convey in Q & A?

The
novel Q & A, which was adapted into the film
Slumdog Millionaire, follows Ram, an Indian waiter,
after he becomes an overnight sensation by winning a game show and has to face suspicions that
he cheated. His experiences show the pervasiveness of discrimination against people based on
race, economic status, and education. Because he lacks traditional formal education (in part
because of his financial limitations), others rush to judge him. Their negative assessments are
based on the assumption that these factors also mean that he is ignorant or of low intelligence.
The author is reminding people of the harmful effects of bias. One should not judge individuals
based on stereotypes. It is always important to learn the facts and to get to know each unique
person in a specific situation.