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Lost Spring

The document discusses the struggles of Saheb, a rag-picker from Bangladesh, who seeks a better life but faces hardships in a new city. It highlights the dangers of the glass bangle industry in Firozabad, where workers endure poor conditions and limited opportunities. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to eliminate child labor through education and awareness, as well as the importance of pursuing dreams despite societal constraints.

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ishatvasharma
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20 views3 pages

Lost Spring

The document discusses the struggles of Saheb, a rag-picker from Bangladesh, who seeks a better life but faces hardships in a new city. It highlights the dangers of the glass bangle industry in Firozabad, where workers endure poor conditions and limited opportunities. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to eliminate child labor through education and awareness, as well as the importance of pursuing dreams despite societal constraints.

Uploaded by

ishatvasharma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 2

Lost Spring

What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and


where has he come from?
Answer: Saheb is looking for gold in the garbage dumps. He is in the
neighborhood of the author. Saheb has come from Bangladesh. He came
with his mother in 1971. His house was set amidst the green fields of
Dhaka. Storms swept away their fields and homes. So they left it.

2. What explanations does the author offer for the children not
wearing footwear?
Answer: The author comes across many shoeless rag-picker children in
her neighborhood. According to her, one explanation of this habit of
remaining barefoot is that it is a tradition among the poor children of this
country. However, the author quickly mentions that calling it a tradition
could be just a means of justification of the utter destitution.

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


Answer: No, Saheb is not happy working at the tea-stall. He is paid 800
rupees and all his meals but he has lost his freedom. His face has lost the
carefree look. The steel canister seems heavier than his plastic bag. He is
no longer his own master. He is a servant at the tea-stall.

Page No: 20

1. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?


Answer: Firozabad is famous for its glass bangles. The place is the centre
of India’s glass-blowing industry.

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


Answer: The bangle makers face many problems in the glass industry.
They have to work in the dingy cells without air and light , in the high
temperature of the furnace . The dust from polishing the bangles is
injurious to eyes. They often lose their eyesight before they become adults.
Their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside.

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


family?
Answer: Mukesh belongs to a poor family of bangle-makers ,but his
attitude is very different from his family. He wants to break the family
tradition of bangle making. He is daring and determined. He has hopes and
dreams. He wants to be a motor mechanic.

Understanding the Text

1. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from
villages to cities?
Answer: There are many factors that cause migration of people from
villages to cities. Some villagers voluntarily move to the cities in search
of jobs and better civic and health facilities, etc. Others are forced to
migrate when natural disasters like flood, storm, drought, famine, etc.
destroy their houses and properties. History has records of large scale
migrations caused by wars. Furthermore, many villagers who are better off
than others manage to send their children to study in the cities.
In the lesson ‘Lost Spring’, Saheb and his family migrates to Seemapuri
from Dhaka after their houses were destroyed in the storms.

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, the promises made to poor children are rarely kept. Often,
they are not taken seriously..They are made on the pretext of retaining a
child’s fancy for something. This keeps the child hoping for a better
possibility till he/she realises the truth. It is difficult for people to shatter the
children’s dreams; while it is also painful to see these children
thriving on false hopes given to them.
Once during an interaction with Saheb, the narrator ends up encouraging
him to study and jokingly talks about opening a school herself. At that time
she fails to realise that unknowingly she has sown a seed of hope in
Saheb’s heart. She becomes conscious of her mistake when, after a few
days, Saheb approaches her, enquiring about her school. Her hollow
promise leaves her embarrassed.

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


Firozabad in poverty?
Answer: The unfavorable social and legal systems, the deceptive
middlemen, and their own sad destinies keep the workers in the bangle
industry of Firozabad in perpetual poverty.

Talking about the Text


1. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his dream?
Answer: Mukesh is different from the others in his community. By daring to
dream, he has already taken the first step towards a big change. He wants
to become a motor mechanic and drive a car. He can realize this dream
with determination and hard work. There might be many obstacles on his
way but a strong willpower will help him move towards the way to success.
The fact that he is willing to walk a long distance in order to learn the
vocation, underlines his firm resolve. The only thing left for him to do is to
make that first journey to that garage and request the owner to take him in
and guide and direct him through his journey as a mechanic.

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


Answer: The impoverished workers in the glass bangles industry toil in
potentially hazardous working conditions while welding. The furnaces they
work in have extremely high temperature and lack proper ventilation.
Persistently working in low light conditions, without any protective eye gear,
leaves them blind. Even burns and cuts are quite common. The workers
are quite prone to ailments such as lung cancer.

3. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?


Answer: Child labour should be eliminated because it takes away from the
child his childhood and the prospect of elementary education. Moreover,
since the child laborers are cheap, and consequently engaged in
hazardous and dangerous employment, they are often vulnerable to mental
and physical illness. In order to curb this problem, it is important to make
education easily accessible. Apart from that, the parents must be made
aware of the consequences of working in harmful environments. It is also
important to make the public aware of the fact that child labour is a criminal
offence and is punishable under law. The government must ensure that
the offenders are punished and stricter child -labour laws should be
enforced.

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