THE LOST SPRING

Learning outcomes
1. Students understand the lesson and appreciate the author’s orientation towards
the suffering of child labourers and relate the lesson with current scenario of
migrant labourers.
2. They understand the plight of young children forced into labour and denied the
opportunity of schooling.
3. They understand the use of figures of speech in the lesson.
4. They understand and respond with sensitivity.
5. They realize the importance of education for theirs and nation’s growth.
6. Students understand the importance of living independent and being their own
master from Saheb’s story.
7. They are able to understand that child labour is preventable.
8. Understand the causes and consequences of child labour.
9. Will able to discuss and develop themselves as the valued member of their group
and to use brainstorming technique effectively to kick-start the ideation.
10. Realise the “real” members of the society who are responsible for the
backwardness of the poor people.
CW-
THE LOST SPRING
INTRODUCTION
This lesson is an extract from the author's book titled 'Lost Spring, Stories of Stolen
Childhood. In this lesson, the author Anees Jung, who has been the editor of 'Youth
Times' and columnist for major newspapers in India and abroad, analyses the
grinding poverty prevailing in India. She describes the factual events and situations
of misery concerning the poor children. She expresses a deep concern over the
exploitation of children. The author also analyses the traditions which condemn
these children to a life of exploitation. She describes the miserable conditions in
which the poor children live. She depicts her acquaintance with the barefoot
ragpickers realistically and poetically. They roam about the streets in the morning
and disappear at noon. Then she describes the pitiable and miserable condition of
the children who are engaged in making bangles.
ABOUT THE CHAPTER
“Lost spring”, an extract from Anees Jung's book "The Lost Spring- Stories of stolen
childhood" has a tinge of irony. Spring being the best season of a year,is full of
colour, fragrance,freshness, renewal and growth. Similarly, the childhood of human
life is often linked to spring, as it marks the beginning of human life, full of joy,
pleasure, play and
growth. The writer expresses her concern over the exploitation of childhood in
hazardous jobs like rag-picking and bangle making. Abject poverty and thoughtless
traditions result in the loss of childhood of millions of children like Saheb and Mukesh
by working hard to support themselves and their families rather than enjoying their
childhood by playing and seeking education. There is a dire need to provide these
poverty stricken children,opportunity to dare, dream and do and a life of dignity.
Thus the title brings out the depravity of child labour in a very telling way. The author
examines and analyses the impoverished condition and traditions that condemn
children to a life of exploitation. These children are denied education and forced into
hardships early in their lives. The writer encounters Saheb - a rag picker whose
parents have left behind the life of poverty in Dhaka to earn a living in Delhi. His
family like many other families of rag pickers lives in Seemapuri. They do not have
any identification other than a ration card. The children do not go to school and they
are excited at the prospect of finding a coin or even a ten rupee note for rummaging
in the garbage. It is the only way of earning a living. They live in impoverished
conditions but resign to their fate. The writer is pained to see Saheb-e-alam, a rag
picker whose name means the ruler of universe, losing the spark of childhood and
roaming barefoot with his friends.Now, from morning to noon, Saheb works in a tea
stall and is paid Rs. 800 per month. He sadly realizes that he is no longer a free bird
and master of his own will. He is more of a bonded labourer with surrendered
freedom and identity and this loss weighs heavily on his tender shoulders.
The author then tells about another victim of poverty, Mukesh who wants to be a
motor mechanic and wishes to drive a car. Hailing from Firozabad, the centre of
India’s bangle making and glass blowing industry, he has always worked in the glass
making industry. He lives in a stinking surrounding with choked lanes and garbage
piles all around in a half built shack with thatched dead grass roof with iron door and
his family of three generations uses firewood stove and aluminium utensils.
His family like the others there do not know that it is illegal for children to work in
such close proximity to furnaces, with such high temperature. They are exposed to
various health hazards like losing their eyesight as they work in abysmal conditions,
in dark and dingy cells. Mukesh’s father is blind as were his father and grandfather
before him.They lead a hand to mouth existence as they are caught in the vicious
web of the money
lenders, middlemen, police and the traditions. So, burdened are the bangle makers
of Firozabad that most of them have lost their eyesight before even attaining
adulthood. Their desire to dream and dare is snubbed in their childhood only.
The author examines and analyses the impoverished conditions and traditions that
condemn children to a life of exploitation these children are denied an education and
forced into hardships early in their lives.The writer encounters Saheb - a rag picker
whose parents have left behind the life of poverty in Dhaka to earn a living in Delhi.
His family like many other families of rag pickers lives in Seemapuri. They do not
have other identification other than a ration card.
The children do not go to school and they are excited at the prospect of finding a
coin or even a ten rupee note for rummaging in the garbage.It is the only way of
earning the life they live in impoverished conditions but are resigned to their fate.The
writer is pained to see Saheb, a rag picker whose name means the ruler of
earth,lose the spark of childhood and roams barefooted with his friends.From
morning to noon the author encounters him in a tea stall and is paid Rs. 800 He
sadly realizes that he is no longer his own master and this loss of identity weighs
heavily on his tender shoulders.
The author then talks about another victim, Mukesh who wants to be a motor
mechanic. Hailing from Firozabad, the centre of India’s bangle making and glass
blowing industry, he has always worked in the glass making industry.
His family like the others there do not know that it is illegal for children to work in
such close proximity to furnaces, in such high temperatures. They are exposed to
various health hazards like losing their eyesight as they work in abysmal conditions,
in dark and dingy cells. Mukesh’s father is blind as were his father and grandfather
before him.They lead a hand to mouth existence as they are caught in the vicious
web of the money lenders, middlemen, police and the traditions So burdened are the
bangle makers of Firozabad that they have lost their ability to dream unlike Mukesh
who dreams of driving a car.
THEME
In this story the writer depicts the miserable and pathetic condition of the children
who are forced to do labour at an early age. Owing to poverty, they do not have an
opportunity to get education. In order to illustrate this theme, the writer first describes
the miserable condition of the ragpicker named Saheb-e -Alam, and then the
pathetic condition of a bangle- maker named Mukesh. Both of them are the victim of
poverty and social stigma. Saheb, in order to get rid of poverty, takes up a job with a
tea-stall owner whereas Mukesh, who dares to dream, aspires to become a motor
mechanic and drive a car. Both of them are aware of their destitution. But, in spite of
this, both are dreamers. They aspire to play and lead a good life, but poverty comes
in their way. Millions of children like Saheb and Mukesh lead a life of penury.
The writer criticises the authorities concerned and the society for their apathy
towards the miserable condition of these children. He urges the authorities
concerned to ameliorate the lot of the poor and take tangible steps for the betterment
of their life. She emphasises that there is an urgent need for providing education to
these children.
TITLE
The childhood of human life is the spring period of one's life. It is full of fun, frolic,
play and pleasure. It is known for its innocent pranks. During this period, children are
not aware of the tensions and stresses of life. But many children like Saheb and
Mukesh lead a miserable and pathetic life as they are forced to do labour to earn a
living. Their parents who are poverty stricken cannot afford to send them to schools.
So thousands of them are engaged in rag-picking in the streets. A large number of
the children slog their daylight hours in bangle industry in Firozabad. Owing to
poverty and destitution, they are deprived of the normal pleasures of childhood.
Consequently, they lose their spring i.e., their childhood. Hence, the title Lost Spring
is appropriate.
MESSAGE
The writer describes the miserable condition of the children who are forced to do the
labour at an early age. Owing to poverty, they do not get an opportunity to get
education. Both Saheb and Mukesh are aware of their destitution. But in spite of this,
both are dreamers. They aspire to play and lead a good life. The author criticises the
authorities concerned and the society for their apathy towards the miserable
condition of these children. She urges the government to ameliorate the lot of the
poor people.
Value Based questions
Q1. What could some of the reasons for the migration of people from village to
cities?
Q2. Would you agree that the promises made to the poor children are rarely kept?
Why do you think this happens in the incidents narrated in the text ?
Q3. What forces conspire to keep the workers in bangle industry of Firozabad in
poverty?
Q4. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his dream?
Q5.’Lost Spring’ explains the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn
thousands of people to a life of abject poverty. Do you agree? Why/Why not?
Q6. “And survival in Seemapuri means rag picking.” In the light of this remark, write
an article on the fact that no work is mean and the survival is the most important
thing in the life.