Lost spring
BY ANEES JUNG
🌸About the Author ✍️
Anees Jung is an Indian writer and journalist from Hyderabad. She is known for writing about
social issues like poverty and child labour. In Lost Spring, she shows how poor children lose
their childhood due to harsh life conditions.
🌸Some of Her Works📚
● Lost Spring
● Unveiling India
● Night of the New Moon
● Seven Sisters
🌸Genre
Anees Jung mainly writes non-fiction, including social issues, journalism, and realistic
narratives. Her work often focuses on poverty, women’s lives, and marginalized communities.
🌸 Theme of the Lesson
● Loss of Childhood: The lesson shows how children like Saheb and Mukesh are forced to
grow up early due to poverty and responsibilities.
● Poverty as a Root Cause: Poverty compels families to push children into labour, leaving
them with no choice but to work for survival.
● Child Labour and Exploitation: It highlights the harsh realities of child labour, where
children work in unsafe and unhealthy conditions for very little money.
● Social Inequality and Injustice: The story reflects the wide gap between the rich and the
poor, where the underprivileged lack basic rights and opportunities.
● Dreams vs Reality: Children have dreams of a better life, but their circumstances prevent
them from achieving them.
● Tradition vs Progress: In Mukesh’s case, family traditions trap him in the bangle-making
profession, limiting his growth.
● Lack of Education and Awareness: Illiteracy and lack of awareness keep people stuck in
the cycle of poverty.
● Hope and Possibility of Change: Despite difficulties, there is a slight sense of hope,
especially when Mukesh dreams of becoming a motor mechanic.
🌸Title Justification
The title Lost Spring is very meaningful and symbolic. “Spring” represents childhood, happiness,
and a time of growth, but in the lesson, this “spring” is lost for children like Saheb and Mukesh.
Due to poverty and child labour, these children are forced to work instead of enjoying their
childhood. They miss out on education, freedom, and basic joys of life. Saheb spends his days
ragpicking, while Mukesh works in dangerous bangle factories, showing how their youthful days
are taken away.
Thus, the title perfectly reflects the stolen childhood and broken dreams of underprivileged
children, making it appropriate and impactful.
🌸Previous Years’ CBSE Exam Questions
1. Short Answer Questions
● Why is Saheb called “Saheb-e-Alam”? What is ironic about it?
● What does garbage mean to children like Saheb?
● Why does Mukesh want to become a motor mechanic?
● What prevents Mukesh from breaking the family tradition?
● What does the author mean by “poverty is like a vicious cycle”?
● What forces children to become ragpickers?
2. Long Answer Questions
● Describe the life of ragpickers in Seemapuri as shown in the lesson.
● Explain the working conditions of bangle makers in Firozabad.
● How does Anees Jung highlight child labour in the lesson?
● Compare Saheb and Mukesh in terms of their life and dreams.
● How does poverty affect the dreams of children in Lost Spring?
Describe the life and struggles of Saheb-e-Alam.
● Explain the working conditions of bangle makers in Firozabad.
● How does Anees Jung present the problem of child labour?
● Compare Saheb and Mukesh in terms of their life and dreams.
● Discuss the theme of poverty and its impact on children in the lesson.
3. Value-Based / Analytical Questions
● What message does the story give about social inequality?
● Do you think child labour can be eliminated? Give reasons.
● How can education change the lives of children like Saheb and Mukesh?