Lost Spring
By - Anees Jung
By - Anees Jung
“Lost Spring” is a chapter by "Anees Jung" that talks about child labor and poverty in India. It focuses on the lost childhood and dreams of poor children who have to work instead of going to school.
Story 1: Saheb – The Ragpicker
Saheb is a young boy living in Seemapuri. He belongs to a family of ragpickers.
Despite being clever and intelligent, Saheb has to collect waste from garbage for a living.
He lives in slums and works in harsh conditions.
The chapter shows how poverty and family pressure force children like Saheb to give up education.
Saheb dreams of a better life, but circumstances make it impossible.
Key Points:
Ragpicking children like Saheb are often skilled but remain unnoticed.
Their childhood is stolen by economic hardships.
The story reflects urban poverty and social inequality.
Story 2: Mukesh – The Child Laborer in Firozabad
Mukesh comes from rural India, specifically Firozabad, famous for glass-blowing.
He works in glass factories making bangles, which is dangerous and unhealthy.
Mukesh dreams of going to school and having a better life, but his family is poor, and he must earn money.
The chapter shows the contrast between children’s dreams and harsh reality.
Key Points:
Mukesh’s story represents child labor in rural India.
Poverty and social traditions trap children in jobs at an early age.
Unsafe working conditions affect their health and education.
Themes of the Chapter
1. Child labor: Many children have to work instead of studying.
2. Poverty: Families depend on children’s earnings.
3. Lost childhood: Dreams and playtime are taken away.
4. Social inequality: Some children grow up in harsh environments while others get proper education.
Moral / Message
Children should get education and a chance to **live their childhood**.
Society must fight poverty and ensure children are not forced to work.
“Lost Spring” (खोई हुई बचपन) अनीस जंग द्वारा लिखा गया है। यह अध्याय भारत में बाल श्रम और गरीबी की समस्या पर केंद्रित है। यह उन बच्चों की खोई हुई बचपन और सपनों को दर्शाता है, जो पढ़ाई के बजाय काम करने को मजबूर हैं।
कहानी 1: साहेब – कबाड़ी का बच्चा
साहेब seemapuri में रहता है और कबाड़ी परिवार से है।
वह बहुत समझदार और होशियार है, फिर भी कचरा उठाकर जीवन यापन करता है।
वह झोपड़पट्टी में रहता है और कठिन परिस्थितियों में काम करता है।
गरीबी और परिवार के दबाव के कारण उसे पढ़ाई छोड़नी पड़ती है।
साहेब का सपना बेहतर जीवन का है, लेकिन हालात इसे असंभव बनाते हैं।
मुख्य बिंदु:
साहेब जैसे कबाड़ी बच्चे कुशल होते हैं, लेकिन समाज उन्हें नहीं पहचानता।
उनकी बचपन कठिनाइयों की वजह से छीन ली जाती है।
यह कहानी शहरी गरीबी और सामाजिक असमानता को दर्शाती है।
कहानी 2: मुकेश – काँच के काम में बाल मजदूर
मुकेश भारत के ग्रामीण हिस्से, खासकर फिरोजाबाद का बच्चा है।
वह काँच की फैक्ट्रियों में बांगड़ी बनाता है, जो खतरनाक और अस्वस्थ है।
मुकेश भी पढ़ाई करना चाहता है और बेहतर जीवन देखता है, लेकिन गरीबी के कारण उसे काम करना पड़ता है।
यह कहानी दिखाती है कि बच्चों के सपने और वास्तविकता में कितना फर्क है।
मुख्य बिंदु:
मुकेश की कहानी ग्रामीण भारत में बाल श्रम को दर्शाती है।
गरीबी और सामाजिक परंपराएं बच्चों को काम में फंसा देती हैं।
असुरक्षित काम उनकी सेहत और पढ़ाई पर बुरा असर डालता है।
अध्याय के विषय
1. बाल श्रम: बहुत से बच्चे पढ़ाई के बजाय काम करते हैं।
2. गरीबी: परिवार बच्चों की कमाई पर निर्भर होते हैं।
3. खोई हुई बचपन: बच्चों से खेल और सपने छीन लिए जाते हैं।
4. सामाजिक असमानता: कुछ बच्चों को शिक्षा मिलती है, कुछ कठिन परिस्थितियों में बड़े होते हैं।
संदेश
बच्चों को शिक्षा और अपनी बचपन जीने का मौका मिलना चाहिए।
समाज को गरीबी और बाल श्रम के खिलाफ काम करना चाहिए।
1. Saheb belongs to which city?
a) Delhi
b) Mumbai
c) seemapuri✅
d) Chennai
2. What work does Saheb do?
a) Factory work
b) Ragpicking✅
c) Glass making
d) Farming
3. Mukesh works in which industry?
a) Textile
b) Farming
c) Glass factory✅
d) Leather industry
4. What is the main theme of the chapter?
a) Adventure
b) Child labor and poverty✅
c) Historical events
d) Nature
5. Which city is famous for glass-blowing?
a) Kolkata
b) Firozabad✅
c) Mumbai
d) Jaipur
6. What does Saheb dream of?
a) Working more
b) Better life and education✅
c) Staying in slums
d) Going abroad
7. The chapter highlights which social issue?
a) Pollution
b) Migration
c) Inequality and child labor✅
d) Traffic
8. What is Mukesh’s main problem?
a) Poverty forces him to work✅
b) He does not like school
c) He has no talent
d) He is lazy
9. Lost Spring reflects life of:
a) Rich children
b) Poor and working children✅
c) College students
d) Teachers
10. What is the moral of the chapter?
a) Children should get education and childhood✅
b) Children must work hard
c) Children should migrate
d) Children must become adults early
Q.1 Who is Saheb ? Where does he do ?
Ans : In the story "Lost Spring" Saheb is a young boy who works as a ragpicker. He collects garbage and sell them. Sometimes he can find some money or other items which he can use.
Q.2 Why didn't Saheb go to school ?
Ans : Saheb was a ragpicker and collects garbage . He lived in Seemapuri near Delhi. There was no school at that place and therefore he didn't go to school.
Q.3 " Survival in Seemapuri means ragpicking." Explain.
Ans : Seemapuri is a place near Delhi where people from Bangladesh have come in 1971. Saheb is one of them who came from Bangladesh in search of livelihood. They have nothing to do and hence chose ragpicking to be their source of income.
Q.4 Was Saheb happy working at the tea stall ? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans : No, Saheb was not happy working at the tea stall. He was paid 800 rupees and meals were provided to him. Saheb had lost the carefree look. He had to work for his owner which meant that he was no longer his own master.
Q.5 What is the meaning og the name ' Saheb - e - Alam ' ? How is Saheb's name in contrast to its meaning ? He does not know it.
Ans : The meaning of ' Saheb - e - Alam ' is lord of the universe. But Saheb is a ragpicker and works barefoot with other ragpickers. He does not know about it.
Q.6 What is Saheb looking in the garbage dumps ? Where is he and where has he come from ?
Ans : Saheb is looking for coins, rupees and any other useful objects in the garbage dumps. Saheb and his family are from a place called Seemapuri, near Delhi. He has come from Dhaka, Bangladesh because his house was destroyed by the storms.
Q.7 What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear ?
Ans : The author Anees Jung says may be the children do not wearing footwear due to the lack of resources. According to the author it is a tradition among the poor children of this country. However, the author quickly mentions that calling is a tradition could be just a means of justification of the utter destitution.
Q.8 "But promises like mine abound in every corner of his bleak world." Explain.
Ans : When Saheb told that he would like to go to school, whenever a school was build in their locality and then author asked if he would come to her school. After a few days Saheb net the author and he asked about her school. They made the author embarrass. The promise was not at all meant.
Q.9 Justify the tittle of the lesson "Lost Spring".
Ans : Spring is the best season of the year. In the same way , childhood is the best time of human life. Child labourers like Saheb, Mukesh and Savita have lost the carefree nature and childhood. So, the tittle "Lost Spring" is suitable.
Q.10 "Garbage to them is gold" comment.
Ans : Garbage is gold to the ragpickers. It is their daily bread. It is the only means of their survival. They collects garbage and sell them.
Q.11 "Food is more important for survival than identity". Do you agree. Why ?
Ans : Yes, We agree. Food is more important for survival than identity. Human beings need food to eat and a home to live. They may not an identity but they cannot live without food.
Q.12 What is Mukesh's dream ? Do you think he will be able to achieve it ?
Ans : Mukesh's dream is to become a motor mechanic. Yes, he will be able to achieve his dream. He seems to be very determined and he has the ability to dare.
Q.13 Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
Ans : There are a lot of hazards of working in the glass bangles industry. They are -
1 The bangle makers are forced to work at high temperature.
2 They work in dark rooms.
3 Most of them have lost their eyesight.
Q.14 What makes the city of Firozabad famous ?
Ans : The city of Firozabad is famous for bangles. Every other family is engaged in making bangles. It is the center of India's glass blowing industry.
Q.15 How is Mukesh's attitude to his situation different from that of his family ?]
Ans : Mukesh's attitude is different from that of his family. The family members have accepted that bangle making is their destiny and they cannot change it because it is god given. But Mukesh dares to dream. He has a dream to be a motor mechanic.
Q.16 Why does the author say that the bangle makers are caught in a vicious circle ?
Ans : The family of bangle makers are caught in a vicious circle web of poverty. They are forced to work at high temperature without air and light. They remain ill and ill clad throughout life. They have no money to switch over their profession. Their hard work is mind numbing. The police does not allow them to form cooperatives.
Q.17 Describe the difficulties that the bangle makers of Firozabad face in their lives.
Ans : The following difficulties face by the bangle makers of Firozabad -
1 The bangle makers are forced to work at high temperature.
2 They work in dark rooms.
3 Most of them have lost their eyesight.
4 The bangle makers are caught in a vicious circle web of poverty.
5 The police does not allow them to form cooperatives.
6 They have accepted this poverty as their destiny. The future of their children is also dark.
Q.18 Why did Saheb's parents leave Dhaka and migrate to India ?
Or
Why had the ragpickers come to live in Seemapuri ?
Ans : Saheb's parents lived at Dhaka in Bangladesh. Their homes and and fields were destroyed in storms. Therefore, they left their homes and migrated to India in search of livelihood where they settled in the slums of seemapuri, near Delhi.
Q.19 How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realize his dream ?
Ans : Mukesh can realize his dream by joining a garage and learn the job of repairing cars and driving them. He will have to earn some money himself. The garage is a long way from his home. He will have to cover it, twice everyday anyhow - by walking on foot. Patience, hardwork and the determination to learn will help him to realise his dream.
Q.20 What does the bangles symbolize ? What is the role of bangle makers of Firozabad ?
Ans : The bangles symbolize an Indian woman's ' suhaag '. The bangle makers of Firozabad produce the largest quantity of bangles in the country and export bangles to all over the world.
Q.21 Why could the bangle makers not organize themselves into a cooperative ? What do they face if they do so ?
Ans : The bangle makers could not organize themselves into a cooperative because if they do so, they are hauled up by the police. They face middlemen, police and other selfish people.
Q.22 What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities ?
Ans : There are many reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities such as - lack of economic condition, lack of government project, lack of resources etc. If they have nothing to eat.
Q.23 What promise had the writer made with saheb ? What was in that embarrassed her ?
Ans : The writer had made a promise with Saheb if she would open a school, would he come. Saheb answered, yes. After a few days, saheb met her and asked about her school. This made the author embarrassed.
Q.24 Where did Saheb meet the author ?
Ans : In the story "Lost Spring" Saheb met the author in her neighborhood.
Q.25 How has "a dream come true" for Saheb but what is "out of his reach"?
Ans : Saheb is wearing discarded tennis shoes. One of them has a hole. He does not know about it. For one who has walked barefoot, even shoes with a hole is a dream come true. But tennis game he is watching is out of his reach.
Q.1 Describe the similarities and differences between Saheb and Mukesh.
Ans : The similarities between Saheb and Mukesh are -
1 Saheb and Mukesh both belong to a poor family.
2 They both have no proper house to live.
3 They both have to work in younger age.
4 They both are forced to work as an adults in their childhood.
5 They both want to study.
6 They both are facing financial problems.
7 They both are trying for their livelihood.
8 They both have dream to live a good life.
9 They both are not helped for studies.
The difference between Saheb and Mukesh are -
1 Background : Saheb lives in seemapury near Delhi and has no identity, while Mukesh lives in Firozabad and has a birth certificate.
2 Work : Saheb is a ragpicker, while Mukesh works at a garage.
3 Dream : Saheb wants to study. He dreams of going to school, while mukesh dreams to become a motor mechanic.
4 Family : Saheb belongs to a ragpicker family, while Mukesh belongs to bangle maker family.
5 Determination : Saheb is not determined towards his dream and he works at a tea stall, while Mukesh is determined towards his dream and he joins a garage, learn the job of repairing cars and driving them.
Q.2 Give the character sketch of Saheb.
Ans : Introduction : The present question has been taken from the chapter "Lost Spring" written by Anees Jung. In this story the writer tells us about the slums of Seemapuri and Firozabad, India, where children are forced to work as an adult.
The character sketch of Saheb : In this story "Lost Spring" Saheb is a young boy who belongs to a poor family. He and his family lived at Dhaka in Bangladesh. They have come from Bangladesh to Seemapuri in 1971, in search of livelihood. They have come from Bangladesh because their houses and fields were destroyed by storms. Now, they live in seemapuri, near Delhi. He works as a ragpicker. His full name is Saheb - e - Alam meaning 'Lord of the universe'. But he has no proper house to live and wants to study. He dreams of going to school. He is trying for livelihood. He walks without footware. He is facing financial problems. Then, he fing a job at a tea stall. He is paid 800 rupees and meals are provided to him. Thus he has lost his carefree look and works for his owner that means he is no longer his own master.
Conclusion : The auther through this story, comments on the effects of poverty on the lives of children and their families. Poverty deprives the children of basic education and forces them to work as an adults. They are unable to realize their dreams. In the ends, author tells that "Lost Spring" is a powerful commentary on the inhuman effects of poverty and the need for education and social change.
Q.3 Give the character sketch of Mukesh.
Ans : Introduction : The present question has been taken from the chapter "Lost Spring" written by Anees Jung. In this story the writer tells us about the slums of Seemapuri and Firozabad, India, where children are forced to work as an adult.
The character sketch of Mukesh : In the story "Lost Spring" Mukesh is a young boy who belongs to bangle maker family. He lives in Firozabad. His family member are engaged in bangle making. Firozabad is famous for it's bangles. It is the center of India's glass blowing industry. All other family of Firozabad are working in bangle industries. Mukesh is facing financial problems. He has no proper house to live. He wants to study. He has a dream to become a motor mechanic, therefore, he joins a garage, learn the job of repairing cars and driving them. He has to work in younger age. He is trying for his livelihood. He wants to live a good life. He is determined towards his dream.
Conclusion : The author Anees Jung, through this story comments on the effects of poverty on the lives of children and their families. Poverty deprives the children of basic education and forces them to work as an adults. They are unable to realize their dreams. In the ends, author tells that "Lost Spring" is a powerful commentary on the inhuman effects of poverty and the need for education and social change.