Q1. What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps?

Where is he and where has he come

from?
Answer: Saheb is looking for valuable items like coins, plastic, or other reusable material in the
garbage dumps, which he can sell to earn a living. He is in Seemapuri, a place on the outskirts of
Delhi, and he has come from Dhaka, Bangladesh, where storms had destroyed their homes and
fields. His family migrated to India in search of a better life and livelihood.

Q2. What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?
Answer: The author suggests that for many children, going barefoot is a tradition, but she
believes it is more due to poverty than tradition. Some children justify it as a cultural choice,
while others are simply too poor to afford footwear. The absence of chappals symbolizes the
stark poverty and neglect in their lives.

Q3. Is Saheb happy working at the tea-stall? Explain.

Answer: No, Saheb is not truly happy working at the tea-stall. Though he earns ₹800 and gets all
his meals, he has lost his freedom. Earlier, as a ragpicker, he was free to roam and search the
garbage dumps; now, as a worker, he is bound by the responsibilities of a job. He no longer feels
his own master.

Q4. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?

Answer: Firozabad is famous for its glass-blowing industry. It is especially renowned for
producing glass bangles, which are worn by women all over India. The city is home to
generations of families who have been involved in this trade for centuries.

Q5. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

Answer: The glass bangles industry poses several health hazards. Workers, including children,
often work in dark, poorly ventilated rooms with high temperatures due to burning furnaces.
They suffer from eye problems, lung diseases, and even blindness due to prolonged exposure to
hot furnaces and fine glass dust. The environment is not only physically dangerous but also
deprives them of education and growth.

Q6. How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?
Answer: Unlike his family, who have accepted their poverty and profession as a destiny,
Mukesh dreams of breaking the cycle. He wants to become a motor mechanic and is determined
to achieve his goal. His willingness to learn a new skill and step outside the traditional
occupation marks a change in mindset.

Q7. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities?
Answer: People often migrate from villages to cities in search of better job opportunities,
education, healthcare, and living conditions. Natural disasters, poverty, and lack of resources in
rural areas also push families to cities, hoping for a better future.

Q8. Would you agree that promises made to the poor children are rarely kept? Why do you
think this happens in the incidents narrated in the text?
Answer: Yes, promises made to poor children are rarely kept. In the text, the author mentions
how she jokingly promises to open a school for Saheb, but never fulfills it. Such promises are
often made without intent, and the poor are used to such empty words. Systemic apathy,
corruption, and lack of political will contribute to these broken promises.

Q9. What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in
poverty?
Answer: Several forces conspire to keep workers in poverty — tradition, social pressure, lack of
education, middlemen exploitation, corrupt officials, and oppressive laws. These workers are
trapped in a cycle of poverty passed on from one generation to the next, with no support system
or escape route.

Q10. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his dream?

Answer: Mukesh can realize his dream by staying determined and seeking opportunities for skill
development in automobile mechanics. He must break away from the oppressive environment
and continue his education or training. Support from NGOs, government schemes, or well-
wishers could also help him achieve his goal.

Q11. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

Answer: Working in the glass bangles industry involves exposure to high temperatures, glass
dust, and poor lighting. Workers face health risks such as burns, lung infections, eye damage,
and even permanent blindness. The unhygienic and cramped workspaces worsen the conditions.
Q12. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
Answer: Child labour should be eliminated because it deprives children of their right to
education, a safe childhood, and a dignified life. It leads to physical and mental harm and
perpetuates poverty. Elimination can be achieved through strict enforcement of laws, free and
quality education, public awareness, and support for poor families so they don't rely on their
children to earn.

EXTRA QUESTIONS
Short Answer Questions (30–40 words)

Q1. Why did Saheb's family come to Seemapuri from Dhaka?

Answer: Saheb’s family fled Dhaka due to extreme poverty and natural calamities like storms
that destroyed their homes and fields. They came to Seemapuri in search of a better life and
livelihood opportunities.

Q2. What is ironic about Saheb’s full name?

Answer: Saheb’s full name is Saheb-e-Alam, which means Lord of the Universe. Ironically, he is
a poor ragpicker who doesn’t even have proper footwear or access to basic needs, far from being
a "lord" of anything.

Q3. How is Seemapuri described in the chapter?

Answer: Seemapuri is a settlement on the outskirts of Delhi, inhabited mostly by Bangladeshi
migrants. It lacks basic civic amenities, but people live there with their ration cards, voting
rights, and hope for survival.

Q4. What is the significance of bangles in Indian society, as described in the chapter?
Answer: Bangles symbolize a married woman’s identity and are considered auspicious. In
Firozabad, making bangles is a traditional occupation, deeply rooted in the culture, especially
among women.

Q5. What does the title "Lost Spring" signify?

Answer: The title Lost Spring symbolizes the lost childhood of poor children like Saheb and
Mukesh. Spring represents youth, innocence, and joy, which are stolen due to poverty and child
labour.
✅ Long Answer Questions (120–150 words)

Q1. Describe the life and aspirations of Saheb. What does his story tell us about child labour?
Answer: Saheb is a ragpicker who lives in Seemapuri, having migrated from Dhaka with his
family. He looks through garbage not just for survival but with the hope of finding something
valuable. He dreams of going to school but cannot afford it. When he starts working at a tea-stall,
he earns a fixed income but loses his freedom. His story highlights the harsh reality of child
labour — how poverty strips children of their dreams, education, and joy. It also exposes the
broken promises of society and the casual acceptance of such exploitation. Saheb's lost
childhood is a silent cry against the system that fails to protect its most vulnerable citizens.

Q2. How does the glass-blowing industry in Firozabad affect the lives of the people working in
it?
Answer: The glass-blowing industry of Firozabad has trapped generations in poverty. Families
work in poorly ventilated, high-temperature environments, often leading to serious health issues
like blindness and lung diseases. Children are also engaged in this hazardous work, robbing them
of education and childhood. The workers remain impoverished due to exploitation by
middlemen, lack of awareness, absence of unions, and apathy of the government. Even though
Firozabad is famous for its bangles, the makers themselves live in misery. The chapter criticizes
the systemic failure that normalizes child labour and generational bondage in the name of
tradition and culture.

Q3. Compare and contrast the characters of Saheb and Mukesh.

Answer: Saheb and Mukesh both belong to poor families and are victims of child labour, yet
they have different attitudes toward their future. Saheb is a ragpicker who dreams of going to
school but ends up working at a tea-stall. His life reflects helplessness and the unfulfilled
promises of society. Mukesh, on the other hand, dares to dream differently. He wants to be a
motor mechanic and is determined to learn the skills needed. Unlike his family, who accept their
fate, Mukesh is ready to break the cycle of poverty. The contrast between the two reflects how
hope and ambition can shape a child's response to adversity, and the importance of opportunities
in changing one's destiny.

Q4. What role do social and political systems play in the continued poverty of people in
Seemapuri and Firozabad?
Answer: The social and political systems in both Seemapuri and Firozabad fail to uplift the
marginalized. In Seemapuri, migrants survive with ration cards and voting rights, yet lack
education, sanitation, and employment security. In Firozabad, the workers are exploited by a
corrupt nexus of sahukars, middlemen, and officials. Their traditional mindset and ignorance
make them accept poverty as fate. Government schemes and laws meant to prevent child labour
and improve working conditions are either absent or poorly implemented. Both cases show how
systemic neglect, lack of awareness, and corruption conspire to keep people trapped in poverty
for generations, despite living in urban settings.

Q5. How does the author use storytelling to highlight the issue of child labour in Lost Spring?
Answer: Anees Jung uses a narrative style to present real-life stories of children like Saheb and
Mukesh. Instead of just stating facts, she immerses the reader in their daily struggles and dreams.
By showing the contrast between the innocence of children and the harsh realities they face, she
evokes empathy and reflection. Her use of irony, symbolism (like Saheb’s name and the image
of barefoot children), and powerful imagery makes the issue of child labour both personal and
political. The conversational tone, first-hand observations, and emotional depth make the reader
question societal complicity and the broken promises made to the poor.

Themes of Lost Spring

1. Childhood Lost in Poverty

The central theme revolves around how poverty forces children into adult responsibilities
and labour, robbing them of the joy, play, and innocence of childhood.

Saheb becomes a ragpicker, while Mukesh is pushed into the hazardous glass industry—
both examples of childhood lost too soon.

2. Child Labour and Exploitation

The narrative reveals how children are made to work in dangerous, exploitative conditions
(like the hot furnaces in Firozabad), violating their basic rights to education, health, and
freedom.

3. Cycle of Tradition and Helplessness

Many families (like Mukesh’s) have been making bangles for generations. They’re trapped in
a cycle of poverty and tradition, accepting their fate instead of breaking free.
This theme questions whether culture should come at the cost of a dignified life.

4. Broken Promises and False Hope

The author shows how society often makes empty promises to the poor (e.g., the narrator
jokingly offering to open a school for Saheb) but fails to take real action.

It reflects the indifference of people and governments toward underprivileged children.

5. Dreams and the Desire for Change

Despite hardships, characters like Mukesh still dare to dream of a better future. His dream
to become a motor mechanic offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak reality.

Significance of the Title: “Lost Spring”

‘Spring’ symbolizes youth, growth, hope, and new beginnings—a phase full of possibilities
and joy.

‘Lost’ indicates that this phase has been snatched away from children like Saheb and
Mukesh due to poverty, child labour, and societal neglect.

Two-fold Meaning:

Literal – The childhood (spring) of these children is missing because they are working
instead of learning or playing.
Metaphorical – It reflects how society loses its future potential when it fails to nurture its
young population.

Why the Title is Powerful:

It evokes empathy and thought, urging readers to consider how children’s lives are shaped
by forces beyond their control.

It makes the reader pause and reflect on how many such “springs” have been lost in our
surroundings due to neglect and indifference.

MAIN THEME

The story “Lost Spring” explores the theme of childhood being snatched away by poverty. It
highlights how countless children, like Saheb and Mukesh, are denied the simple joys of life
and instead are forced into labour at a very young age. Their innocence is lost in the
struggle for survival. The text also exposes the deep-rooted system of child labour and
exploitation, showing how society and tradition often trap people in a never-ending cycle of
poverty. Families, especially in Firozabad, are unable to break free from their inherited
occupation, believing that destiny cannot be changed. The author further brings out how
dreams and hope still manage to survive in the hearts of some, like Mukesh, who dares to
aspire beyond his limitations. Another important theme is the failure of social
responsibility, where the educated and privileged sections of society make empty promises
to the poor but rarely act upon them.

Significance of the Title Lost Spring

The title “Lost Spring” is symbolic. Spring refers to the season of hope, freshness, and
childhood. In this story, it stands for the early years of a child’s life which are meant to be
full of learning, play, and freedom. However, for children like Saheb and Mukesh, spring is
lost. Their childhood is stolen by the harsh realities of life such as poverty, forced labour,
and the burden of survival. The word “lost” emphasizes how something precious has been
taken away. It also reflects a loss not just for the children but for society as a whole, as it
fails to protect and nurture its youngest members. The title captures the central idea of the
story in a deeply emotional and meaningful way.