■ Lost Spring – Detailed Notes & Q/A
■■■ About the Author
■ Anees Jung is an Indian author and journalist known for writings on women and
children. Her essay *Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen Childhood* highlights child labour and
poverty in India.
■ Summary
■ The essay is divided into two parts:
1■■ *Sometimes I find a Rupee in the Garbage* – story of Saheb, a ragpicker in
Seemapuri, Delhi. Migrants live in poverty and children survive on rag picking. Saheb
dreams of school but ends up working at a tea stall.
2■■ *I Want to Drive a Car* – story of Mukesh, a bangle-maker in Firozabad. Children
work in hazardous conditions, lose eyesight early, and remain trapped in poverty. But
Mukesh dreams of becoming a motor mechanic.
■ Characters
■ **Saheb** – Ragpicker in Seemapuri, symbol of lost childhood.
■ **Mukesh** – Child bangle worker, dreams of being a motor mechanic.
■ **Families of Seemapuri & Firozabad** – Victims of poverty and exploitation.
■ Themes
■ Child Labour – stolen childhood.
■ Poverty & Exploitation – helpless families.
■ Lost Dreams – crushed hopes of children.
■ Hope – Mukesh’s determination shows resistance.
■ Important Quotes
■ 'Garbage to them is gold.'
■ 'Saheb is no longer his own master.'
■ 'Few airplanes fly over Firozabad, and Mukesh insists he will learn to drive one day.'
■ Important Questions & Answers
■ Q1. Why is Seemapuri important in the story?
➡■ Seemapuri is a slum on Delhi’s outskirts. Migrants from Bangladesh live here in
poverty. Children survive by rag picking. It symbolizes neglect and extreme poverty.
■ Q2. How is Mukesh different from other children in Firozabad?
➡■ Mukesh refuses to accept poverty as his destiny. He dreams of becoming a motor
mechanic. Unlike others, he shows courage and determination. He symbolizes hope for
change.
■ Q3. Explain the significance of the title *Lost Spring*.
➡■ ‘Spring’ symbolizes childhood and freshness. Poverty and child labour snatch away
these joys. Children in Seemapuri and Firozabad lose education and play. Hence, the title
is symbolic of lost innocence.