English-12th Jayshree Periwal High School

Handout 2024-25
Lost Spring
Answer the following questions in 40–50 words
1. Why did Saheb’s parents leave Dhaka and migrate to India?
(Compartment 2014)
or
Why had the ragpickers come to live in Seemapuri? (Foreign 2014)
Ans. Saheb’s parents belonged to Dhaka in Bangladesh, where they lived amidst
green fields. They and the other ragpickers left their homes many years ago
and migrated to India in search of a livelihood, as their homes and fields were
destroyed in storms. This forced them to come to India, where they settled in
the slums of Seemapuri.
2. Garbage to them is gold; why does the author say so about the
ragpickers? (Delhi 2008)
Ans. Garbage is gold to the ragpickers of Seemapuri because it provides them items
which can be sold for cash, which can buy them food and is a means of
survival. Moreover, it is gold also because the ragpickers can find stray coins
and currency notes in it.
3. How is Mukesh different from the other bangle makers of Firozabad?
(Delhi 2014; Modified)
Ans. Mukesh has the courage to dream big in spite of all adversity, whereas the
other bangle makers of Firozabad have resigned to their fate, and have
suppressed all their hopes and desires. Mukesh refuses to follow the ‘God-
given lineage’ of bangle making and wants to be a motor mechanic when he
grows up.
4. Whom does Anees Jung blame for the sorry plight of the bangle
makers?
(Compartment 2014)
Ans. Anees Jung blames the middlemen, the policemen, the lawmakers, the
bureaucrats and the politicians for the sorry plight of the bangle makers. These
people conspire against and exploit the poor bangle makers. They pay them
meagre wages, do not let them form co-operatives, and compel their children
to join the same trade at an early age.
5. What is Mukesh’s dream? Do you think he will be able to fulfil his
dream? Why? Why
not? (Compartment 2014)
or
What was Mukesh’s dream? In your opinion, did he achieve his dream?
(Foreign 2009)
or
Is it possible for Mukesh to realise his dream? Justify your answer. (All
India 2009)
Ans. Mukesh’s dream is to become a motor-mechanic. It is no doubt difficult for
Mukesh to achieve his dream, as he is torn between his desires and his family
 tradition, which he cannot escape. Besides, he has to face a number of
obstacles in the form of sahukars, middlemen, bureaucrats, law makers,
politicians etc. However, his will to work hard, and his strong determination
could make him achieve his dream. ‘
6. In spite of despair and disease pervading the lives of the slum children,
they are not
devoid of hope. How far do you agree? (Delhi 2013)
Ans. In spite of growing up amidst despair and disease, children who live in the
slum have the desire to achieve something big in life, like Mukesh. This shows
that they are not devoid of hope. Saheb, a ragpicker, is eager to go to a school
and learn. Mukesh, who works in dark, dingy cells making bangles, dreams of
becoming a motor mechanic, which is very much against his family traditlbn.
7. Who is Mukesh? What is his dream? (Delhi 2012)
Ans. Mukesh is a child labourer who Works in a glass bangle making factory that is
situated in Firozabad. Though Mukesh belongs to a poor family which is
engaged in bangle making, he dreams of becoming a motor mechanic when he
grows up.
8. Why could the bangle makers not organise themselves into a
cooperative? (All India 2012)
Ans. The bangle makers could not organise themselves into a cooperative because
they were trapped in the vicious circle of sahukars, middlemen, policemen, up
bureaucrats and politicians. If they tried to organise themselves, they would be
beaten by up the police and put in jail.
9. Mention any two hazards of working in the bangle industry. (Foreign
2011)
Ans. The glass bangle industry offers a very unhealthy and hazardous environment
to the people working in it. They have to work in the glass furnaces with high
temperature in dingy cells
without air and light. Workers, including child labourers, lose their eyesight at
an early age.
Slogging for long, relentless hours also has adverse effects on their bodies.
10. Why does the author say that the bangle makers are caught in a vicious
web?
(All India 2010)
Ans. The bangle makers in Firozabad are exploited at the hands of the Sahukars,
middlemen, policemen, law makers, bureaucrats and politicians. They toil day
and night, but are not
paid appropriate wages and are steeped in poverty. They cannot form
cooperatives for their betterment. Moreover, their children are also compelled
to join the same trade at an early age and cannot dare to take up any other
profession.
11. Is Saheb happy working at the tea stall? How do you know? (Foreign
2010, All India 2009)
Ans. Saheb is not happy working at the tea stall. He is paid a fixed wage of Rs 800,
and also receives all his meals free. But the author notices that his face has lost
 its carefree look, which makes it evident that he is not happy. He has lost his
independence, and is no longer his own master.
12. Mukesh is not like the others. His „dreams loom like a mirage amidst the dust
of streets that fill his town Firozabad‟. Justify the statement in the light of
contrast in the mindsets of Mukesh and the people of Firozabad.
Suggested Value points: -Firozabad- dominated by bangle industry,
most families engaged in making bangles, work around furnaces,
physically and mentally hazardous but noone dares to do anything else -
Mukesh - aspires to be a mechanic, unlike his peers, dares to dream,
determined to walk to a garage and learn to drive, his passion would
help him break away from tradition and achieve his goal.
13. Why does Anees Jung say that the bangle makers are caught in a vicious web?
The bangle makers are caught in a vicious web because they  are
compelled by family and traditions to follow the same lineage as their
forefathers that too at an early age.  are exploited at the hands of the
Sahukars, middlemen, policemen, law makers, bureaucrats and
politicians  toil day and night, but are notpaid appropriate wages 
cannot form cooperatives for their betterment.  cannot dare to dream.(
any four points)
14. ‘Little has moved with time, it seems, in Firozabad.’ State any one reason why
the writer says this.
- No progress or development despite years of mind-numbing toil -
poverty, illiteracy, dissatisfaction prevails - all labourers victims of
middle men and touts (accept any two)
15. What do we come to know about the author of Lost Spring, Anees Jung,
through her interactions with Saheb and Mukesh?
[have to be relevant with respect to BOTH boys]
 Observed in detail – observant  Is moved by their plight - sensitive /
empathetic  Feels helpless about her inability to do anything for them.
(Any other relevant)
16. Do you believe that ‘God-given lineage can be broken’? Support your
position with a rationale. (QB)
Ans. Yes, – God given lineage can be broken.Hardwork and determination always
pays off and makes us reach our dreams or goals. Mukesh was a hard-working
man. He could achieve his dream of becoming a motor mechanic by constant
hard work towards life and towards the dream.
17. How do you think the author’s life might have been impacted after her
interactions with the children and their families mentioned in ‘Lost
Spring’? (QB)
Ans: In the chapter ‘Lost Spring,’ the author ‘Anees Jung’ discusses the bleak world
in which people in positions of power make promises but never try to keep
them. We learned from her interactions with Saheb and Mukesh that the
author cares about the lower class and oppressed people. She believes that
child labour should be prohibited in our country so that children who want to
study can do so.
18. What do we come to know about the author of Lost Spring, Anees Jung,
through her interactions with Saheb and Mukesh? (SQP 2022-23)
Ans: In the chapter ‘Lost Spring,’ the author ‘Anees Jung’ discusses the bleak world
in which people in positions of power make promises but never try to keep
them. We learned from her interactions with Saheb and Mukesh that the
author cares about the lower class and oppressed people.
19. What does the description of Mukesh’s family in Lost Spring reveal
about gender roles?(SQP 2022-23)
Ans: Mukesh’s family in Lost Spring reveals patriarchy and inequality in the
treatment of men and women. Women in the Mukesh family are still assigned
to stereotypical gender roles, such as doing household chores and caregiving,
whereas men are assigned to earning work.

Answer the following questions in about 100-120 words-

1. Mukesh is not like the others. His dreams loom like a mirage amidst
the dust of streets that fill his town Firozabad‟. Justify the statement in
the light of contrast in the mindsets of Mukesh and the people of
Firozabad. (SQP 2018-19)
A. Mukesh belongs to a family of glass bangle makers in Firozabad. Even though
the children of such families usually carry on their family profession, Mukesh
wants to be a motor mechanic and drive a car. Unlike his family members, and
others of his community, he has dared to dream. His grandmother’s words
about the unbreakable lineage represent the attitude they have towards their
situation in life. They believe that it is their destiny to toil as bangle makers.
Mukesh was different from the others of his community. His dreams look like a
mirage amidst the dust of street that fill his town Firozabad. 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 realise 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 path of success. The resolute
boy is willing to walk a long distance from home to learn to be a mechanic.

2. How does the story, ‘Lost Spring’ highlight the apathy of society and
those in power to end the vicious cycle of poverty? Support your answer
with textual evidence.
Ans. In this story, ‘Lost Spring’s Saheb and Mukesh were the two main characters
in two different stories and both of them suffered extreme poverty. In the first
story Saheb was a child who did rag picking with his family to fulfil their needs.
After a few days he started working in a tea stall and he is no longer his own
master as he worked under someone.On the other side mukesh belonged to a
family of bangle makers and works in bangle making industry along with his
family but he was focused and determined for his aim to become a motor
mechanic. Both Saheb and Mukesh were unable to move out of poverty and live
a normal life,as they got no opportunities and it was almost impossible for
them to fulfil their dreams. This was because the upper class people, politicians
 and officials did not help them at all ,rather they pushed them down in poverty
for their greed. Also they did not have much knowledge about their rights and
the importance of education, as no one told them about this.They both just
followed the old customs and worked in poverty as no one guided them. Even
the people who have the power to help them showed lack of interest in helping
them. That is why this vicious cycle of poverty continues and the poor people
become more poor and the rich become richer. If the upper class people and
the men in power would have helped them to get out of poverty and get
educated, then both Saheb and Mukesh would definitely be able to fulfil their
dreams and enjoy their life like others. Also, it is the duty of common people to
make them aware of their rights and tell them how they can move out of
poverty stricken life so as to make them succeed in life.

3. Certain traditions and lineage, condemn thousands of children to a life

of abject poverty and choke their aspirations.
i. Do you agree? Explain.
ii. How can we change this? Suggest some ways to tackle this issue.
Ans. 1. i. Yes, I agree that certain traditions and lineage condemn thousands of
children to a life of abject poverty and choke their aspirations. The story
"Lost Spring" by Anees Jung illustrates this point by depicting the lives of
children living in the slums of Delhi. Many of these children are forced to
work from a young age due to poverty and lack of opportunities. They are
denied access to education and other basic amenities, and their social
status often determines their future prospects. This is a clear example of
how tradition and lineage can perpetuate poverty and limit the
aspirations of children.
ii. To tackle this issue, there are several steps that can be taken:
4. Education: Education is a key factor in breaking the cycle of poverty. By
providing free and accessible education to all children, regardless of their
social status, we can help to ensure that all children have an opportunity to
improve their lives.
5. Empowerment: Empowering children and families to take control of their own
lives can also help to break the cycle of poverty. This can be done by providing
training and support in areas such as entrepreneurship and financial
management.
6. Addressing discrimination: Discrimination based on caste, gender, or other
factors must be addressed in order to ensure that all children have equal
opportunities to succeed.
7. Government policies: The government can play an important role in tackling
poverty by implementing policies that provide support and opportunities for
those who are most in need. This can include initiatives such as free education
and healthcare and support for small businesses and entrepreneurship.
8. Awareness and advocacy: Raising awareness of the issue of poverty and
advocating for change can also help to bring about positive change. This can
 involve community outreach programs, social media campaigns, and other
forms of advocacy.
4. How do you think the author’s life might have been impacted after her
interactions with the children and their families mentioned in ‘Lost
Spring’?
Ans. Based on the book, it is clear that Anees Jung was deeply moved by the plight
of the children and families she encountered in the slums of Delhi. She was
struck by the contrast between the wealth and luxury of the city and the
poverty and squalor of the slums, and she was particularly affected by the
resilience and dignity of the children who had to work in order to survive.
It is possible that Anees Jung's experiences in the slums of Delhi may have
influenced her worldview and her approach to writing. She may have become
more aware of the social and economic inequalities that exist in Indian society
and may have developed a greater empathy for those who are marginalized
and excluded.
5. 'The cry of not having money to do anything except carry on the
business of making bangles, not even enough to eat, rings in every
home.'
(The Lost Spring)
'...far from the city, we make our roadside stand and ask for some city
money to feel in hand'.
(A Roadside Stand)
Create a conversation between a bangle maker and the owner of a
roadside stand with reference to the above extracts.
You may begin the conversation like this:
Owner of a roadside stand: Your bangles are pretty. Tell me about your
experience in this business.
Ans. Owner of a roadside stand: Your bangles are pretty. Tell me about your
experience in this business.
Bangle Maker: Thank you. I have been making bangles for as long as I can
remember. It's a family business and we have been doing it for generations.
Owner of a roadside stand: I can understand. My situation is not very different.
I also have a small business, and I struggle to make ends meet.
Bangle Maker: Yes, it's not easy. We barely make enough to survive. The cry of
not having money to do anything except carry on the business of making
bangles, not even enough to eat, rings in every home.
Owner of a roadside stand: I know how it feels. That's why I came to the city to
set up this roadside stand. But even here, it's a struggle to make enough
money to survive.
Bangle Maker: It's the same for us. We live far from the city, and when we
come here to sell our bangles, we ask for some city money to feel in our hand.
It's a difficult life.
Owner of a roadside stand: Yes, it is. But we have to keep going. We can't give
up. We have to find ways to improve our situation.
 Bangle Maker: I agree. We need more opportunities to improve our business
and our lives. We need support from the government and society to break the
cycle of poverty.
Owner of a roadside stand: That's true. We need to work together and support
each other. Only then can we hope to overcome the challenges we face.