LOST SPRING explanation by Sukhpreet Singh

LOST SPRING explanation

For video lesson, visit the following link:

https://youtu.be/nP2HHN7eeoU

The author here  presents a grim picture of the destitute children who are pushed to live a life of exploitation. They are also denied education and face hardships quite early in their lives.

About the Author

Anees Jung is an Indian author, journalist and columnlist for newspaper in India and abroad. She was born in 1944 and she is known for ‘Unveiling India, which was a chronicle of the lives of women in India. In this story , she talks about child labourers who work in unhygienic conditions and are denied right to education.

Characters in the story

Saheb -  At first a rag picker and then a tea vendor
Mukesh - Labourer at a bangle making industry

Observation of the Author Anees Jung

A staggering 20,000 children are a part of this business and any law that forbids child labour is brutally ignored here.

Children like Saheb, live a life of extreme poverty wherein they lack basic  necessities and education is  a far dream.

Hazards of working in a Bangle Factory

Skin diseases, Permanent blindness, cancer, etc. 

Title Justification

Lost Spring is a metaphor that describes lost childhood. Spring is the ‘Childhood’ season in human life, here the author presents the story of all the child laboures who have lost their spring – childhood because of burden of responsibilities and illiteracy.

Story Flow Chart

Character Analysis

Important Questions

1. What does Saheb’s name mean? How is it ironical to his life?

Value Points

•Lord of Universe

• A Rag picker

• A Slum Dweller

• Denied an education

• burdened with responsibilities

• doesn’t have an identity except a ration card

2. What does Saheb do for living?

Value Points

• Picks up rag

• Sells it

• Earns a meal

•  Everyone in Seemapuri is engaged in rag picking

3. Why does tea canister seem heavier than the rag to Saheb?

Value Points

• Total loss of independence

• has to follow the commands

• though he gets Rs. 800 and meal, but at the price of losing independence

4. Why did Saheb and family shift from Dhaka?

Value Points

• Destroyed crops

• storms

• to earn a living

5. Who is Mukesh and what does he do for earning a living?

Value Points

• a boy who works in a bangle making industry

• lives in Seemapuri

• works in dark and dingy cells under high temperatures

6. Why did author feel that it will be difficult for Mukesh to break away from the tradition?

Value Points

• he belongs to the caste of bangle makers

• family is debt ridden and trapped in vicious web of poverty, shahukars, middlemen, policemen, bureucrats; and escape seems quite difficult.

Long Answer Type Questions

‘Lost Spring’, is a sad commentary on the political system of our country that condemns thousands of people to a life of abject poverty. Comment.

Value Points

• Saheb as a rag picker

• Mukesh a bangle maker

• No education though the RTE ensures free education till the age of 14

• child labourers, though it is banned

• No identity of Saheb and alike

Like all children of his age, Saheb also had many hopes and dreams. Do you think children like Saheb are able to fulfill their dreams?

Value Points

•No access to education, no awareness., hand to mouth existence, even lack basic necessities, government intervention is a requisite, only education can change their lives, but first fulfill their basic needs like food, clothes and sanitation. Elaborate further 

‘Saheb and Mukesh are brothers in penury and suffering.’ Discuss.

Value Points

•Both are child labourers, hand to mouth existence, no awareness, lack education, under debt of money lenders, dream but lack requisite resources top accomplish them, burdened with responsibilities, . Elaborate further

Saheb wants to blossom and bloom but is nipped in the bud. Elaborate.

Value Points

•Burdened with responsibilities, not sent to school but on work to earn food, schools not available, RTE fails here, even the freedom snatched when started working at a tea stall . Elaborate further

Regards

Sukhpreet Singh