LOSTSPRING

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. What isSaheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where ishe and where hashe come from?

Ans. Saheb islooking for gold in the garbage dumps. He isin the neighbourhood of the author. Saheb
hascome from Bangladesh. He Came with hismother in 1971. Hishouse wasset amidst the green
fieldsof Dhaka. Stormsswept away their fieldsand homes. So they left the country.

Q2. What explanationsdoesthe author offer for the children not wearing footwear?

Ans. One explanation offered by the author isthat it isa tradition to stay barefoot. It isnot lack of
money. He wondersif thisisonly an excuse to explain away a perpetual state of poverty. He also
remembersthe story of a poor body who prayed to the goddessfor a pair of shoes.

Q3. IsSaheb happy working at the tea- stall? Explain.

Ans. No, Saheb isnot happy working at the tea- stall. He isno longer hisown master. Hisface haslost
the carefree look. The steel canister seemsheavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over
hisshoulder. The bag washis. The canister belongsto the man who ownsthe tea- shop.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. What makesthe city of Firozabad famous?

Ans. The city of Firozabad isfamousfor itsbangles. Every other family in Firozabad isengaged in
making bangles. It isthe centre of India’sglass- blowing industry. Familieshave spent generations
working around furnaces, welding glass, making banglesfor the women in the land.

Q2. Mention the hazardsof working in the glassbanglesindustry?

Ans. Boysand girlswith their fathersand motherssit in dark hutments, next to linesof flamesof
flickering oil lamps. They weld piecesof coloured glassinto circlesof bangles. Their eyesare more
adjusted to the dark than to the light outside. They often end up losing eyesight before they become
adults. Even the dust from polishing the glassof banglesisinjuriousto eyes. Many workershave
become blind. The furnaceshave very high temperature and therefore very dangerous.

Q3. How isMukesh’sattitude to hissituation different from that of hisfamily?

Ans. Mukesh’sgrandmother thinksthat the god- given lineage can never be broken. Her son and
grandsonsare bom in the caste of bangle makers. They have seen nothing but bangles.

Mukesh’sfather hastaught them what he knows— the art of making bangles. But Mukesh wantsto be
a motor mechanic. He will go to a garage and learn, though the garage isfar away from hishome.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Ans. People migrate from villagesto citiesin search of livelihood. Their fieldsfail to provide them
meansof survival. Citiesprovide employment, jobsor other meansof getting food. The problem in
case of the poor isto feed the hungry members. Survival isof primary concern.

Q2. Would you agree that promisesmade to the poor children are rarely kept? Why do you think this
happensin the incidentsnarrated in the text?

Ans. The promisesmade to the poor are rarely kept. The author asksSaheb half- joking, whether he will
come to her school if she startsone. Saheb agreesto do so. A few dayslater he asksif the school is
ready. The writer feelsembarrassed at having made a promise that wasnot meant. Promiseslike hers
abound in every comer of their bleak world.

Q3. What forcesconspire to keep the workersin bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?

Ans. Certain forcesconspire to keep the workersin bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty. These
include the moneylenders, the middlemen, the policemen, the keepersof law, the bureaucratsand the
politicians. Together they impose a heavy burden on the child.

TALKING ABOUTTHE TEXT

Q1. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise hisdream?

Ans. Mukesh isthe son of a poor bangle- maker of Firozabad. Most of the young men of Firozabad have
no initiative or ability to dream, but Mukesh isan exception. He hasthe capacity to take courage and
break from the traditional family occupation. He hasstrong will power also. He doesnot want to be a
pawn in the handsof the middlemen or moneylenders. He insistson being hisown master by
becoming a motor mechanic.

He can realise hisdream by joining a garage and learn the job of repairing carsand driving them. He
will have to overcome many hurdlesbefore he succeeds. Then comestransport problem. Money isthe
first one. He will have to earn some money himself. The garage isa long way from hishome. He will
have to cover it twice everyday anyhow— by walking on foot.

Patience, hardwork, firm will and the determination to learn will help him realise hisdream.

Q2. Mention the hazardsof working in the glassbanglesindustry.

Ans. The glassbanglesindustry hasmany health hazards. It usually employssmall children. It isillegal
to employ very young children in hazardousindustries, but certain forceslike ! middlemen,
moneylenders, police and politicianscombine to entrap the poor workers.

Let usfirst consider the placeswhere bangle makerswork. It isa cottage industry. They work in the
glassfurnaceswith high temperatures. The dingy cellsare without air and light. Boysand girlswork
hard during day next to linesof flamesof flickering oil lamps.
They weld piecesof coloured glassinto circlesof bangles. Their eyesare more adjusted to the dark
than to the light outside. That iswhy, they often end up losing their eyesight before they become
adults.

Glassblowing, welding and soldering piecesof glassare all health hazards. Even the dust from
polishing the glassof banglesadversely affectsthe eyesand even adultsgo blind. Thus, the
surroundings, prevailing conditionsand the type of job involved- all prove risky to the health of the
workers.

Q3. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?

Ans. Child labour should be eliminated because the children employed at tender age asi domestic
servants, dish- washersat road- side dhabasand in hazardousindustriesmaking glassbangles, biris,
crackersetc. lose the charm of the spring of their life. Their childhood isstolen. Burdened by the
responsibility of work, they become adultstoo soon. Most of them are undernourished, ill- fed,
uneducated, and poor. They have a stunted growth.

Child labour can be eliminated only through concerted effortson the part of government agencies,
NGOs(Non- Government Organisations), co- operative societiesand political leaders. Mere passing of
law will not help. Lawsshould be enacted faithfully. The children thrown out of work should be
rehabilitated and given proper food, clothes, education and pocket money. Their feelings, thoughts
and emotionsshould be respected. Let them enjoy sunshine and fresh air.