The Lost Spring
Important Questions & Answers
CBSE Board Exam Preparation
Short Answer Questions (2-3 Marks Each)
1. What is the significance of the title Lost Spring?
Answer:
The title Lost Spring symbolizes childhood lost to poverty and child labor. Just as spring represents youth and growth, the children in the story are denied a happy childhood and forced into labor. Their dreams and aspirations fade away, much like a lost spring season.
2. Why did Saheb and his family come to India?
Answer:
Saheb’s family migrated from Dhaka, Bangladesh, due to extreme poverty and frequent storms that destroyed their fields and homes. They came to Seemapuri (Delhi) in search of a better life, but their condition remained the same—living in slums and surviving on rag-picking.
3. What does garbage mean to the children of Seemapuri?
Answer:
For the children, garbage is a source of survival and hope. Sometimes, they find valuable things like coins or food, making it exciting for them. However, for the rich, garbage is just waste—this highlights the gap between the rich and the poor.
4. Why did Saheb leave rag-picking? Was he happy with his new job?
Answer:
Saheb left rag-picking for a job at a tea stall, where he earned ₹800 per month and free meals. However, he lost his freedom, as he now worked under a master. The narrator notes that his carefree look was gone, and he felt trapped in a life of labor.
5. Why don’t the bangle makers of Firozabad organize themselves?
Answer:
The bangle makers are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, tradition, and exploitation by middlemen, moneylenders, police, and politicians. They are also afraid to fight for their rights, as they lack awareness and unity.
6. What is Mukesh’s dream? Why is it different from others in Firozabad?
Answer:
Mukesh dreams of becoming a motor mechanic and driving a car. Unlike others who blindly follow the tradition of bangle-making, Mukesh wants to break free and build a better future for himself. His dream represents hope and change.
7. How is Mukesh’s attitude towards life different from Saheb’s?
Answer:
- Saheb is a victim of poverty who accepts his fate and takes up any job for survival.
- Mukesh, however, is determined to change his future. He dares to dream beyond his circumstances and wants to become a motor mechanic.
8. What is the role of women in the bangle-making industry?
Ans:
Women in Firozabad bangle-making families do household chores and help in bangle making. They suffer silently, accepting their fate. They have no freedom, education, or opportunities for a better life.
Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 Marks)
Q9. Describe the life of ragpickers in Seemapuri.
Ans:
- Seemapuri is a slum area on the outskirts of Delhi, home to thousands of ragpickers like Saheb.
- These families migrated from Bangladesh in 1971, hoping for a better life, but their conditions remain pathetic.
- They live in mud houses with no sanitation, water, or proper food.
- They survive on rag-picking, collecting plastic, glass, and metal from garbage dumps to sell.
- Despite their hardships, garbage gives them hope—for children, it is like treasure, and for adults, it is a means of survival.
- The government has not issued identity papers, keeping them out of formal jobs and government benefits.
- Their lives are uncertain, and childhood is lost in the struggle for existence.
Q10. How is Mukesh different from other bangle makers in Firozabad?
Ans:
- Unlike other boys in Firozabad, who accept their fate, Mukesh dares to dream of becoming a motor mechanic and driving a car.
- He is aware of his circumstances but refuses to give in to traditional family occupation.
- Mukesh is determined and hardworking. Instead of waiting for change, he is willing to walk long distances to learn mechanics.
- His small but powerful dream represents hope, showing that change is possible if one fights against societal oppression.
- His story contrasts with Saheb, who loses his freedom, while Mukesh fights for a better future.
Q11. Explain the title Lost Spring. Why do you think the author used it?
Ans:
- The title Lost Spring is symbolic of lost childhood, lost innocence, and lost dreams of poor children.
- Spring represents youth, joy, and growth, but poverty and social exploitation destroy childhood before it can bloom.
- The chapter focuses on Saheb and Mukesh, who are forced into labor at a young age, instead of enjoying education and freedom.
- Saheb loses his carefree life, while Mukesh struggles against societal norms.
- The title highlights the harsh realities of child labor, poverty, and social injustice, emphasizing the need for change and awareness.
Q12. What message does Anees Jung convey through Lost Spring?
Ans:
Through Lost Spring, Anees Jung highlights the plight of child laborers in India and the factors trapping them in poverty. The story conveys:
- Child labor is a result of poverty and lack of education.
- Society and the government fail to protect children’s rights.
- Traditional customs and exploitation keep families stuck in misery.
- The need to empower children through education and opportunities.
- Hope and determination can lead to change, as seen in Mukesh’s dream.
The story is a powerful social commentary, urging society to take action against child labor and poverty.
