Lost Spring | Lesson 2 | Prose | English 12th | Flamingo | Summary | Questions | Answers

 

JANDKNCERT – Free NCERT Solutions | for | Class 12th | English | Flamingo

Lost Spring | Lesson 2 | Prose | English 12th | Flamingo | Summary | Questions | Answers

 

Short Summary

"Lost Spring" by Anees Jung highlights the plight of children burdened by poverty, deprived of childhood, and forced into labour. Through vivid narratives, the author portrays the struggles of underprivileged children and questions societal and governmental failure in addressing their issues.

The story is divided into two parts:

"Sometimes I Find a Rupee in the Garbage": The author introduces Saheb, a ragpicker from Seemapuri. Despite living in abject poverty, Saheb dreams of a better life. He collects garbage, which for his family is a means of survival. The narrative reveals how these children’s dreams are crushed by harsh realities, and Saheb's eventual loss of freedom when he starts working at a tea stall is symbolic of the loss of his innocence.

"I Want to Drive a Car": The author shifts to Firozabad, the hub of India's glass-blowing industry. Here, she meets children trapped in the cycle of bangle-making. These children work in hazardous conditions, sacrificing their education and health. The story highlights the inherited poverty and oppressive system that keeps them bound to their fate.

Jung critiques the lack of education and government support and urges for systemic changes to break the cycle of poverty and child labour.

Think as you read

(Page No. 16)

1. What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?

Answer: Saheb is looking for coins, toys, or anything of value in the garbage dumps. He is in Seemapuri, a slum on the outskirts of Delhi. Saheb and his family have migrated from Dhaka, Bangladesh, in search of a better life after being displaced due to storms that destroyed their homes and livelihood.

2. What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?

Answer: The author explains that not wearing footwear could either be due to poverty or a tradition among some children. Many cannot afford shoes, while others claim it to be their custom, reflecting a mix of deprivation and resignation.

3. Is Saheb happy working at the tea-stall? Explain.

Answer: Saheb is not happy working at the tea-stall. Though he earns ₹800 per month and gets free meals, he feels a loss of freedom. As a ragpicker, he enjoyed the liberty to roam and explore, but working at the tea-stall ties him down to a routine and makes him feel like a slave.

 

(Page No. 19)

1. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?

Answer: The city of Firozabad is famous for its glass bangles. It is the hub of India’s bangle-making industry, where almost every family is engaged in making bangles.

2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

Answer: The hazards of working in the glass bangles industry include:

Exposure to high temperatures, which weakens the body.

Working in dingy, dark, and poorly ventilated rooms, leading to respiratory issues.

Risk of injuries from handling molten glass.

Long-term exposure causes loss of eyesight, especially among young workers.

3. How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?

Answer: Mukesh is determined to break free from the cycle of poverty and the tradition of bangle-making. Unlike his family, who have resigned themselves to their fate, Mukesh dreams of becoming a motor mechanic and is willing to work hard to achieve his goal, showing a spirit of determination and hope.

 

Understanding the text

1. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities?

Answer: Reasons for Migration from Villages to Cities:

* Lack of employment opportunities in villages forces people to move to cities in search of better livelihoods.

* Poor infrastructure and inadequate basic facilities, such as healthcare and education, in rural areas.

* Natural calamities, such as droughts or floods, often push villagers to cities for survival.

* Aspirations for a better standard of living and exposure to modern amenities available in cities.

2. Would you agree that promises made to poor children are rarely kept? Why do you think this happens in the incidents narrated in the text?

Answer: Yes, promises made to poor children are often broken due to systemic neglect, corruption, and societal apathy. In "Lost Spring," Saheb is promised schooling, but the reality of poverty and the lack of organized efforts to educate street children prevent this. Similarly, children working in hazardous conditions, like bangle-making, are left to fend for themselves as no effective policies are implemented to uplift them. The apathy of society and authorities perpetuates their suffering.

3. What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?

Answer: Forces Keeping Workers in Poverty in Firozabad:

Exploitation by middlemen: Workers are paid meagre wages while middlemen profit.

Lack of education: The children inherit the profession, unable to break free from the cycle of poverty.

Government apathy: No strong measures are taken to implement labor laws or improve working conditions.

Bonded labour: Families are trapped in debts that force them to work under exploitative conditions.

Social norms: Generations of families working in the same industry view it as their only option.
These combined forces ensure the workers remain powerless and impoverished.

 

Talking about the text

1. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his dream?

Answer: How Mukesh Can Realize His Dream:
Mukesh’s dream of becoming a motor mechanic is achievable through determination and access to resources. To realize his dream, he needs:

Education: Basic literacy and vocational training in mechanics.

Support systems: NGOs, social welfare programs, or government schemes to help him gain skills.

Breaking traditional norms: Mukesh must resist societal and familial pressures to remain in the bangle-making industry.

Mentorship: Learning from experienced mechanics in his locality can provide him practical exposure.

2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

Answer: Hazards of Working in the Glass Bangles Industry:

Health risks: Prolonged exposure to intense heat and glass dust leads to respiratory issues, burns, and loss of eyesight.

Exploitation: Low wages, long working hours, and lack of job security.

Lack of education: Children working in the industry miss the opportunity for education and growth.

Physical strain: The delicate and repetitive nature of work causes physical deformities and chronic pain.

3. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?

Answer: Elimination of Child Labour:

Why?

* Denies children their right to education, health, and a happy childhood.

* Perpetuates the cycle of poverty, leaving children with no opportunities for a better future.

* Violates basic human rights and hinders overall social progress.

How?

Enforcement of laws: Strengthening laws like the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

Education for all: Ensuring free and compulsory education under initiatives like the Right to Education Act.

Economic support: Providing financial assistance to poor families so they don’t rely on children’s income.

Awareness campaigns: Educating communities about the importance of childhood and the risks of child labour.

NGO involvement: Partnering with organizations to rescue and rehabilitate child workers.

 

Thinking about language

Although this text speaks of factual events and situations of misery it transforms these situations with an almost poetical prose into a literary experience. How does it do so? Here are some literary devices:

• Hyperbole is a way of speaking or writing that makes something sound better or more exciting than it really is.

For example: Garbage to them is gold.

• A Metaphor, as you may know, compares two things or ideas that are not very similar. A metaphor describes a thing in terms of a single quality or feature of some other thing; we can say that a metaphor “transfers” a quality of one thing to another. For example: The road was a ribbon of light.

• Simile is a word or phrase that compares one thing with another using the words “like” or “as”. For example: As white as snow.

 

Carefully read the following phrases and sentences taken from the text. Can you identify the literary device in each example?

1. Saheb-e-Alam which means the lord of the universe is directly in contrast to what Saheb is in reality.

2. Drowned in an air of desolation.

3. Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically.

4. For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders it is a means of survival.

5. As her hands move mechanically like the tongs of a machine, I wonder if she knows the sanctity of the bangles she helps make.

6. She still has bangles on her wrist, but not light in her eyes.

7. Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.

8. Web of poverty.

9. Scrounging for gold.

10. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art.

11. The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulders.

 

Answer:

Here is the identification of literary devices in each example:

1. Saheb-e-Alam which means the lord of the universe is directly in contrast to what Saheb is in reality.

Irony: The name “Saheb-e-Alam” contrasts sharply with his actual condition as a poor ragpicker.

2. Drowned in an air of desolation.

Metaphor: The phrase compares the feeling of hopelessness to being drowned, emphasizing the overwhelming despair.

3. Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically.

Metaphor: Seemapuri's physical proximity to Delhi contrasts with its metaphorical distance due to its poverty and lack of development.

4. For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders it is a means of survival.

Contrast: Highlights the differing perspectives of children and adults towards rag-picking.

5. As her hands move mechanically like the tongs of a machine, I wonder if she knows the sanctity of the bangles she helps make.

Simile: The movement of her hands is compared to machine tongs.

Irony: She makes bangles, symbols of happiness, yet she leads a joyless life.

6. She still has bangles on her wrist, but not light in her eyes.

Symbolism: The bangles symbolize tradition and marriage, while the absence of "light in her eyes" indicates her lost happiness and hope.

7. Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.

Symbolism: The airplanes represent progress and prosperity, which Firozabad lacks.

8. Web of poverty.

Metaphor: Poverty is compared to a web that entangles and traps individuals, making escape difficult.

9. Scrounging for gold.

Metaphor: Refers to the act of finding something valuable (like gold) in garbage, symbolizing the ragpickers’ hope amidst despair.

9. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art.

Hyperbole: Exaggerates rag-picking as a “fine art” to emphasize how it has become an ingrained way of life.

10. The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulders.

Symbolism: The steel canister represents the burden of responsibility and lost freedom, contrasting with the lightness of the plastic bag symbolizing childhood.

 

Things to do

The beauty of the glass bangles of Firozabad contrasts with the misery of people who produce them. This paradox is also found in some other situations, for example, those who work in gold and diamond mines, or carpet weaving factories, and the products of their labour, the lives of construction workers, and the buildings they build.

1. Look around and find examples of such paradoxes.

Answer: Example of Paradox - Construction Workers and Buildings

* Construction workers build magnificent structures: skyscrapers, malls, and luxury homes.

* They often live in slums or temporary shelters near construction sites.

* Lack access to basic amenities: clean water, electricity, and healthcare.

* Earn low wages, often not enough to afford the buildings they construct.

* Work in hazardous conditions without proper safety equipment.

* The irony of building homes they can never live in and contributing to urban development while remaining marginalized.

2. Write a paragraph of about 200 to 250 words on any one of them. You can start by making notes.

Answer: The Paradox of Construction Workers and Buildings Paragraph:

The grandeur of skyscrapers, malls, and luxurious homes starkly contrasts with the lives of the construction workers who build them. These workers, who labour tirelessly under harsh conditions, often live in slums or temporary shelters near construction sites. Despite being the backbone of urban development, they earn meagre wages, which are insufficient to afford the very buildings they construct. Their work environment is hazardous, with little to no access to proper safety equipment or healthcare. Ironically, while they create homes that symbolize comfort and wealth, they themselves lack basic necessities such as clean water, electricity, and sanitation. This paradox highlights the stark inequality between those who create and those who benefit from these creations. The lives of construction workers serve as a grim reminder of the systemic neglect faced by labourers, urging society to recognize their contributions and provide them with better working conditions, fair wages, and access to dignified living. Without them, the architectural marvels we admire would remain unrealized, yet their plight remains hidden behind the shining facades of urban progress.