30 Questions & Answers – "Lost Spring" (2 Marks Each)

 

CLASS 12 ENGLISH

30 Questions & Answers – "Lost Spring" (2 Marks Each)

Q1. Why does the author say, “Garbage to them is gold”?
Ans: For the ragpickers, garbage is a means of survival. It provides food, money, and sometimes even valuable items. It holds the potential to change their lives, so they see it as gold.

Q2. Who is Saheb and what is his full name?
Ans: Saheb is a ragpicker boy from Seemapuri. His full name is Saheb-e-Alam, meaning ‘Lord of the Universe.’ Ironically, he leads a life full of poverty and wants.

Q3. What is the irony in Saheb’s name?
Ans: Saheb-e-Alam means “Lord of the Universe,” but in reality, Saheb is a barefoot ragpicker who struggles daily to survive, showing a stark contrast between his name and his life.

Q4. What is Seemapuri and who lives there?
Ans: Seemapuri is a place on the outskirts of Delhi. It houses thousands of Bangladeshi refugees who live in poverty and earn their living through ragpicking.

Q5. Why did Saheb leave Dhaka?
Ans: Saheb’s family left Dhaka due to storms and poverty that destroyed their homes and livelihood. They migrated to Seemapuri in search of a better life.

Q6. Why does the author call Saheb a ‘ragpicker’?
Ans: Saheb is referred to as a ragpicker because he collects garbage from the streets daily to earn a living. It's both his work and a symbol of his poverty.

Q7. What does Saheb look for in the garbage?
Ans: Saheb looks for something valuable—coins, toys, or any useful item. For him, garbage is a treasure trove and a way to help support his family

Q8. Why is the ragpicker’s work different from children in privileged homes?
Ans: Children in privileged homes see garbage as waste, while ragpickers see it as a means to live. It brings them hope, food, and sometimes surprises.

Q9. What does the author notice about Saheb’s shoes?
Ans: Saheb wears mismatched and torn shoes. It reflects his poverty. He says he has picked them up from the garbage, like most ragpicker children.

Q10. Why did Saheb take up a job at a tea stall?
Ans: Saheb took the tea stall job for a steady income of ₹800 and meals. But he lost his freedom and carefree spirit, becoming burdened by responsibility.

Q11. What is meant by “the steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag”?
Ans: The steel canister represents the burden of responsibility from Saheb’s tea stall job. Unlike the plastic bag of garbage, it symbolizes lost freedom and dreams.

Q12. How is Seemapuri different from Delhi?
Ans: Though located near Delhi, Seemapuri lacks basic amenities like sanitation and clean water. It is a slum area where migrants live in poverty and insecurity.

Q13. Who is Mukesh?
Ans: Mukesh is a young boy from Firozabad. He belongs to a family of bangle-makers but dares to dream of becoming a motor mechanic.

Q14. Why does the author say “I will be a motor mechanic” sounds like a declaration?
Ans: Mukesh speaks firmly about becoming a mechanic. In a society where dreams are often suppressed, his strong voice shows determination and hope.

Q15. What is Firozabad famous for?
Ans: Firozabad is known for its glass-blowing industry, especially colorful glass bangles. Many families have been engaged in this traditional work for generations.

Q16. What dangers are faced by bangle-makers in Firozabad?
Ans: Bangle-makers work in hot, dark, and airless rooms near furnaces. They often suffer from eye diseases, burns, and lose their eyesight at a young age.

Q17. Why do children in Firozabad work in glass furnaces?
Ans: Children work in glass furnaces due to poverty and family tradition. The burden of survival forces them into child labor, robbing them of education and childhood.

Q18. What does the title “Lost Spring” signify?
Ans: “Lost Spring” refers to the lost childhood and dreams of poor children like Saheb and Mukesh. Their spring—symbolic of youth—is stolen by poverty and exploitation.

Q19. What is the role of tradition in Firozabad?
Ans: In Firozabad, tradition binds families to the bangle-making industry. Generations continue the same work, unaware of opportunities or freedom beyond it.

Q20. Why can’t the bangle-makers organize themselves?
Ans: Bangle-makers cannot organize due to fear of police, exploitation by middlemen, and lack of unity. Any resistance may lead to harassment or loss of livelihood.

Q21. What is Mukesh’s dream?
Ans: Mukesh dreams of becoming a motor mechanic. Unlike other children who follow family traditions blindly, he wants to break the cycle and lead a different life.

Q22. Why does the author feel ashamed when Saheb says, “I like the game”?
Ans: The author feels guilty because she had suggested the idea of a game Saheb couldn’t afford. His polite lie made her realize the insensitivity of her casual remark.

Q23. What are the living conditions in Seemapuri?
Ans: Seemapuri has no proper sanitation, water supply, or official records. People live in mud structures with roofs of tin and plastic, struggling daily for food.

Q24. How does Anees Jung portray child labor in the story?
Ans: Anees Jung shows child labor as a tragic reality forced by poverty. Children like Saheb and Mukesh work instead of going to school, losing their dreams and childhood.

Q25. What does Mukesh’s family do for a living?
Ans: Mukesh’s family makes glass bangles. It is a traditional occupation in Firozabad. The work is exhausting and done in poor conditions, often damaging health.

Q26. Why are the children of ragpickers barefoot?
Ans: The children are barefoot not by choice but due to poverty. Many have never owned shoes. Some even consider it a tradition to go barefoot.

Q27. What does Anees Jung say about the dreams of poor children?
Ans: Poor children like Saheb and Mukesh have dreams, but poverty, tradition, and social systems suppress them. Still, some like Mukesh dare to dream differently.

Q28. What does the author want to convey through this chapter?
Ans: The author highlights the exploitation of poor children, child labor, and how poverty robs them of education and dreams. She urges for change and awareness.

Q29. Why don’t the people of Firozabad change their profession?
Ans: The people of Firozabad are trapped in poverty, lack awareness, and fear authority. They follow tradition and believe they are born to continue bangle-making.

Q30. How does Saheb feel after working at the tea stall?
Ans: Saheb feels burdened and unhappy after joining the tea stall. Though he earns a fixed income, he has lost his independence and joy of ragpicking.

10 Questions & Answers – "Lost Spring" (5 Marks Each)

Q1. Describe the life and dreams of Saheb, the ragpicker boy.
Ans:
Saheb is a young ragpicker from Seemapuri who once lived in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His family migrated to India in search of a better life but now lives in poverty. Saheb collects garbage to survive, hoping to find something valuable. Despite his poor condition, he has innocent dreams—like going to school or playing tennis. His name, Saheb-e-Alam, meaning "Lord of the Universe," is ironic given his miserable life. Later, he works at a tea stall for a fixed wage, losing his carefree spirit. His story reflects how poverty crushes childhood and dreams, making survival the only goal.

Q2. What picture of Seemapuri does the author paint in the story?
Ans:
Seemapuri, on the outskirts of Delhi, is home to thousands of Bangladeshi migrants. These people came to India years ago to escape poverty and natural calamities. Despite being close to the national capital, Seemapuri lacks basic amenities like sanitation, clean water, and health facilities. People live in makeshift homes of mud, plastic, and tin. Most residents, including children, survive by ragpicking. They have no official identity or documents but have voter IDs, proving how the political system exploits them. Seemapuri symbolizes urban poverty, government neglect, and the harsh reality faced by marginalized communities in modern India.

Q3. How does the author contrast the lives of Saheb and children from well-off families?
Ans:
Anees Jung draws a sharp contrast between poor children like Saheb and those from affluent backgrounds. While rich children go to school, play games, and enjoy comforts, Saheb roams barefoot, collecting garbage. For him, garbage is a treasure chest, a source of survival and hope. Rich children have access to education and opportunities, while children like Saheb struggle for food. When Saheb expresses his desire to go to school, it highlights the dreams crushed by poverty. The author shows how birth and social inequality determine the future of children in an unfair society.

Q4. What is the significance of the title “Lost Spring”?
Ans:
The title “Lost Spring” is symbolic. “Spring” represents childhood, a time of joy, freedom, and growth. However, for children like Saheb and Mukesh, this phase is lost to poverty and labor. Their innocence is buried under the weight of responsibilities. Saheb becomes a ragpicker and then a tea stall worker, while Mukesh is caught in the glass bangle industry. Their dreams and rights to education, play, and rest are lost. The title suggests that countless children in our society are denied their “spring” due to socio-economic oppression. It’s a call to recognize and act against child exploitation.

Q5. Who is Mukesh and how is he different from other children in Firozabad?
Ans:
Mukesh is a young boy from Firozabad, a town famous for its glass bangle industry. Like many others, his family has been involved in bangle-making for generations. Most children there accept their fate and follow tradition, working in dark, dangerous workshops. But Mukesh is different. He dares to dream beyond his inherited profession. He wants to become a motor mechanic and is determined to achieve it. His ambition reflects hope, courage, and a desire for change. In a society where dreams are often stifled, Mukesh’s vision makes him stand out as a symbol of rebellion and aspiration.

Q6. Describe the living and working conditions of bangle-makers in Firozabad.
Ans:
The bangle-makers of Firozabad live in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions. Their homes are small and congested, often with no proper ventilation. They work in glass-blowing furnaces in dark, airless rooms. Children and adults alike suffer from health issues, especially eye problems, due to constant exposure to heat and lack of safety measures. They often lose their eyesight at a young age. Despite their hard work, they earn meager wages because of exploitation by middlemen. Generations remain trapped in poverty, unable to break free due to lack of education and awareness. Their lives are a blend of labor, suffering, and helplessness.

Q7. How does Anees Jung expose the problems of child labor through this chapter?
Ans:
In “Lost Spring,” Anees Jung brings attention to the issue of child labor through the stories of Saheb and Mukesh. Both boys are victims of poverty, forced to work from a young age to support their families. Saheb becomes a ragpicker and later a tea stall worker. Mukesh works in hazardous glass bangle factories. Their stories reveal how dreams of poor children are crushed due to social and economic pressures. The author highlights the lack of education, health facilities, and government support. She appeals to society to protect children’s rights and help them live a dignified life.

Q8. How do poverty and tradition become a double burden for the people of Firozabad?
Ans:
In Firozabad, poverty and tradition work together to keep families trapped in the bangle-making industry. The people are extremely poor and see no other way to survive. They believe that they are born to make bangles and must continue the family profession. Generations live and die in the same trade. Even children are forced to work, missing out on education and a better future. Any attempt to break free is discouraged by fear, lack of unity, and exploitation by middlemen. Thus, both economic conditions and blind adherence to tradition become chains that bind them to a life of suffering.

Q9. What role does the system play in continuing child labor in the story?
Ans:
The system—comprising government, police, and local authorities—plays a major role in sustaining child labor. It fails to provide basic rights like education, health, and protection to poor children. In places like Firozabad, any effort to unite against exploitation is crushed by fear of police action. The bureaucracy ignores the plight of children and allows middlemen to exploit workers. In Seemapuri, migrants have voter IDs but no sanitation or welfare services. The system’s failure to intervene or reform contributes to the cycle of poverty and child labor. The story criticizes this neglect and calls for systemic change.

Q10. What message does Anees Jung convey through “Lost Spring”?
Ans:
Through “Lost Spring,” Anees Jung conveys the harsh reality of child labor, poverty, and social injustice. She tells the stories of children like Saheb and Mukesh whose dreams are crushed by circumstances beyond their control. The author shows how poverty and blind tradition rob children of education, freedom, and happiness. She also exposes the failure of the system in protecting children’s rights. However, she ends on a hopeful note with Mukesh, who dares to dream differently. The story urges society to take responsibility, ensure education, and help children reclaim their lost childhood—their "spring."