Notes – Lost Spring
Class XII
Revision Material – Lost Spring (Class XII, Flamingo)
Part A: Exam-Oriented Questions
Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)
1. Who is the author of Lost Spring?
2. What are the names of the two main child characters in the chapter?
3. Where does Saheb-e-Alam live?
4. What does the name "Saheb-e-Alam" mean?
5. Why did Saheb's family leave Dhaka?
6. What does Saheb do to earn a living?
7. Which city is famous for bangle-making in the chapter?
8. What is Mukesh's dream?
9. What does Mukesh refuse to accept as his destiny?
10. What is the central theme of Lost Spring?
Short Answer Questions (2–3 Marks)
Q1. Why is the chapter titled Lost Spring?
Answer:
The title refers to the loss of childhood experienced by poor children like Saheb and Mukesh.
Instead of enjoying education, play, and freedom, they are forced into labour and poverty,
losing the springtime of their lives.
Q2. Why does Saheb look for gold in garbage dumps?
Answer:
Saheb searches through garbage to find useful items that can be sold for money. Poverty
forces him to work instead of attending school.
Q3. Describe the conditions of the bangle makers of Firozabad.
Answer:
The bangle makers live in poverty and work in hazardous conditions. They spend long hours
near hot furnaces in poorly ventilated workshops and often suffer from health problems.
Q4. What is Mukesh's dream and why is it significant?
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Answer:
Mukesh dreams of becoming a motor mechanic. His dream is significant because he wants to
break free from the traditional occupation of bangle making and create a better future for
himself.
Q5. Why does the author say that garbage is "gold" for Saheb?
Answer:
Garbage is a source of income for Saheb and his family. Sometimes it contains valuable items
that can be sold, making it as precious as gold for him.
Long Answer Questions (5–6 Marks)
Q1. Describe the life of Saheb-e-Alam as presented in the chapter.
Answer:
Saheb-e-Alam is a ragpicker living in Seemapuri, on the outskirts of Delhi. His family
migrated from Dhaka due to poverty and natural disasters. Every morning, Saheb searches
through garbage dumps for items that can be sold. He does not attend school and lacks basic
necessities. Although he later gets a job at a tea stall, he loses the freedom and hope he once
had. Through Saheb's life, the author highlights the harsh realities of poverty and child
labour.
Q2. How does Anees Jung expose the exploitation of child labour in Lost Spring?
Answer:
Anees Jung presents the lives of Saheb and Mukesh to reveal the exploitation of children
trapped in poverty. Saheb works as a ragpicker, while Mukesh belongs to a family of bangle
makers. Both children are deprived of education and opportunities. Their lives are controlled
by economic hardships and social circumstances. The author exposes how poverty forces
children into labour, robbing them of their childhood and future.
Q3. "Mukesh is a symbol of hope." Justify the statement.
Answer:
Unlike many others in his community, Mukesh dreams of becoming a motor mechanic. He
refuses to accept bangle making as his destiny and wants to build an independent life. His
determination to pursue a different career reflects courage and optimism. Therefore, Mukesh
symbolizes hope, ambition, and the possibility of change despite difficult circumstances.
Part B: Extract-Based Questions
Extract 1
"Can a boy who has never known any play of childhood look at a heap of garbage like a
child?"
Questions:
2
1. Who is the boy referred to here?
2. What does he do for a living?
3. Why is the question significant?
4. What theme is highlighted?
Answers:
1. Saheb-e-Alam.
2. He works as a ragpicker.
3. It shows that poverty has deprived him of a normal childhood.
4. Loss of childhood and poverty.
Extract 2
"It seems that for the children of ragpickers, garbage has a meaning different from what it
means to their parents."
Questions:
1. Who are the children mentioned?
2. What does garbage mean to them?
3. What does garbage mean to their parents?
4. What does this reveal about their lives?
Answers:
1. Ragpickers like Saheb.
2. A source of wonder and occasional treasure.
3. A means of survival.
4. Their extreme poverty and hardship.
Extract 3
"I want to drive a car."
Questions:
1. Who says these words?
2. What does the speaker currently do?
3. What do these words reveal about his character?
4. Why is this statement important?
Answers:
1. Mukesh.
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2. He belongs to a family of bangle makers.
3. He is ambitious and determined.
4. It shows his desire to change his destiny.
Part C: Competency-Based Questions (CBQs)
Q1. What steps can society take to prevent children from entering child labour?
Answer: Society can ensure access to education, provide financial support to poor families,
enforce child labour laws, and create awareness about children's rights. These measures can
help children enjoy a better future.
Q2. Mukesh dreams of changing his life despite many obstacles. What lesson can students
learn from him?
Answer: Students can learn the importance of determination, hard work, and hope. Difficult
circumstances should not stop individuals from pursuing their dreams and improving their
lives.
Part D: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Saheb-e-Alam lives in:
(a) Firozabad
(b) Seemapuri
(c) Agra
(d) Noida
2. Saheb's family migrated from:
(a) Kolkata
(b) Dhaka
(c) Mumbai
(d) Patna
3. Mukesh belongs to a family of:
(a) Farmers
(b) Weavers
(c) Bangle makers
(d) Mechanics
4. Mukesh wants to become:
(a) A teacher
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(b) A doctor
(c) A driver
(d) A motor mechanic
5. The city famous for bangle making is:
(a) Jaipur
(b) Firozabad
(c) Lucknow
(d) Kanpur
6. The chapter mainly focuses on:
(a) Adventure
(b) Child labour and poverty
(c) Science
(d) Travel
7. Saheb initially earns his living by:
(a) Selling newspapers
(b) Ragpicking
(c) Driving vehicles
(d) Farming
8. The name "Saheb-e-Alam" means:
(a) Prince of the World
(b) King of the Village
(c) Lord of Wealth
(d) Master of Knowledge
9. The author of Lost Spring is:
(a) Kamala Das
(b) Pablo Neruda
(c) Anees Jung
(d) Alphonse Daudet
10. Mukesh represents:
(a) Despair
(b) Hope and determination
(c) Wealth
(d) Fear
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Important Themes
1. Poverty and deprivation.
2. Child labour.
3. Loss of childhood.
4. Social injustice and exploitation.
5. Dreams and aspirations.
6. Hope amidst adversity.
Character Sketches
Saheb-e-Alam
Innocent and hardworking.
Victim of poverty.
Forced into ragpicking.
Symbol of lost childhood.
Mukesh
Ambitious and determined.
Dreams of becoming a motor mechanic.
Refuses to accept his fate.
Symbol of hope and change.
Most Important Questions for Exams
1. Why is the chapter titled Lost Spring?
2. Describe the life of Saheb-e-Alam.
3. Explain the plight of the bangle makers of Firozabad.
4. Why is Mukesh considered a symbol of hope?
5. How does Anees Jung expose the evil of child labour?
6. Compare the lives of Saheb and Mukesh.
7. What message does the chapter convey about poverty and education?
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