Chapter: Lost Spring
By
Anees Jung
Understanding the Text:
1. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities?
Answer:
The majority of people relocate from villages to cities in search of work. Some people relocate to cities in
search of better education or healthcare for their kids. And, like Saheb’s family, some are forced to migrate
as a result of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and so on.
2. Would you agree that promises made to poor children are rarely kept? Why do you think this
happens in the incidents narrated in the text?
Answer:
Yes, promises made to poor children are frequently broken. They provide false hope for a better, problemfree
life. Most people make false promises because they do not want to break a child’s dream.
In the story, the author promises Saheb that she will build a school for him, but she is unaware that she is
making a false promise that she doesn’t want to continue. Only later does she realizes her error and feels
humiliated by it.
3. What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?
Answer:
Injustices such as the cruel acts of sahukars, middlemen, policemen, law enforcers, bureaucrats, and
politicians drive workers into poverty. The stigma of the caste into which they are born also prevents them
from seeking a better way of life. The community’s inability to overcome these forces is hampered by a lack
of vision and leadership.
Talking about the Text:
1. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his dream?
Answer:
Mukesh can achieve his dream if he does not give up hope and works hard enough. His desire to become a
mechanic and drive a car is entirely different from his family’s current situation, so he is bound to face some
difficulties. Mukesh must remain strong in the face of such adversity. Mukesh also demonstrates his
enthusiasm to walk a long way to learn the work from a garage, demonstrating his dedication to achieving his
goal.
2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
Answer:
The following are the hazards of working in the glass bangle industry:
Extreme temperatures caused by burning glass furnaces are extremely dangerous. Respiratory problems are
caused by polishing dust and suffocation due to poor ventilation. Workers frequently suffer from vision loss
as a result of hot furnaces and dim lighting.
3. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
Answer:
Child labour frequently places children in dangerous situations and deprives them of their rights as a child.
These children also lack access to basic education, which limits their ability to succeed in life. Children are
frequently exploited and taken advantage of by being paid less than minimum wage. Harmful work
environments are hazardous to one’s health and may even endanger one’s life. As a result, child labour
should be prohibited.
Measures to eliminate child labour:
Strict laws prohibiting child labour should be enacted. Any violations must be penalized as soon as possible.
Additionally, parents of these children must be educated on the value of education so that they stop sending
their children to work. The students must also be told about the value of education. Students must also be
made aware of the importance of education. If any child is seen employed, the public should take the initiative
and notify the authorities. The police must also keep a constant eye on construction sites and other places
where child labour is common.
Thinking about language.
1) "Saheb-e-Alam which means the lord of the universe is directly in contrast to what Saheb is in
reality." is irony.
Irony: When what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected.
Example: A fire station burns down. You’d expect the fire station to be safe from fires, but the opposite
happens.
Now, Let’s Break Down the Answers in Simple Words:
Irony (Saheb-e-Alam): The name "Saheb-e-Alam" means "lord of the universe," but in reality, Saheb is
a poor boy, far from being powerful or wealthy. This contrast between his name and his reality is ironic
because the meaning of the name is the opposite of the truth.
2) "Drowned in an air of desolation" is Metaphor
Metaphor: A way of comparing two different things or Ideas which are not related, and without using "like"
or "as". It says one thing is another.
Example: He is a Lion. Here He is directly compared with Lion, but we all known that he is not Lion.
Metaphor (Drowned in an air of desolation): This sentence compares the feeling of sadness to being
drowned.
The person isn’t really underwater, but the feeling of sadness is so overwhelming that it feels like they’re
sinking or drowning in their emotions.
3) "Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically" is Metaphor
Metaphor: A way of comparing two different things or Ideas which are not related, and without using "like"
or "as". It says one thing is another.
Example: He is a Lion. Here He is directly compared with Lion, but we all known that he is not Lion.
"Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically"
Metaphor (Seemapuri): Seemapuri is physically close to Delhi, but in terms of development and lifestyle,
it’s very different. The metaphor here means Seemapuri feels "miles away" in terms of living conditions,
even though it’s nearby.
4) "For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders, it is a means of survival" is Antithesis
Antithesis: When two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.
. Example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Here, "best" and "worst" are opposites,
which makes the sentence more powerful.
Antithesis (For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders, it is a means of survival): For the
children, life in Firozabad is full of amazement and curiosity, but for the adults, it’s just a way to get by and
survive. This sentence contrasts the two views to make the point that while children see beauty, adults see
the harsh reality.
5) "As her hands move mechanically like the tongs of a machine. I wonder if she known the sancitity
of the bangles she helps make" is Simile.
Simile: A word or phrase that compares one thing with another using the words "like" or "as".
Example: "He was as brave as a lion." The boy isn’t a lion, but he is being compared to a lion to show
his bravery.
Simile (As her hands move mechanically like the tongs of a machine): The woman’s hands are compared
to the tongs of a machine using the word "like," showing that her work has become automatic and without
emotion, just like a machine.
6) "She still has bangles on her wrist, but not light on her eyes" is Pun.
Pun: A joke that plays with the double meanings of a word or words that sound similar but have different
meanings.
Example: "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." Here, the word "flies" is used in two
different senses, creating a humorous effect.
Pun (Bangles on her wrist, but not light in her eyes): The word "light" is used with two meanings. She has
shiny bangles on her wrist (which could bring joy), but she doesn’t have joy or "light" in her eyes. It’s a play
on the word to show that she’s lost hope despite her external appearance.
7) "Few airplanes fly over Firozabad" is Pun.
Pun: A joke that plays with the double meanings of a word or words that sound similar but have different
meanings.
Example: "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." Here, the word "flies" is used in two
different senses, creating a humorous effect
Pun (Few airplanes fly over Firozabad): This might mean both literally (few airplanes pass overhead) and
metaphorically, where "airplanes" could symbolize progress or opportunities, which are rare in this area.
8) "Web of Poverty" is Metaphor
Metaphor: A way of comparing two different things or Ideas which are not related, and without using "like"
or "as". It says one thing is another.
Example: He is a Lion. Here He is directly compared with Lion, but we all known that he is not Lion.
Metaphor (Web of poverty): Poverty is compared to a "web," showing how it traps people and is difficult to
escape from, just like an insect caught in a spider’s web.
9) "Scrounging for gold" is Metaphor
Metaphor: A way of comparing two different things or Ideas which are not related, and without using "like"
or "as". It says one thing is another.
Example: He is a Lion. Here He is directly compared with Lion, but we all known that he is not Lion.
Metaphor (Scrounging for gold): "Gold" here doesn’t literally mean gold, but something valuable like basic
survival or resources. People are searching hard for what they need to survive, like they’re looking for
treasure.
10) "And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the
proportions of a fine art" is Hyperbole.
Hyperbole: is a way of speaking or writing that makes something sound better or more exciting that it really
is.
Example: "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse." This doesn’t mean you’d really eat a horse, but it’s a
way to show you’re extremely hungry.
Hyperbole (Rag-picking as a fine art): This is an exaggeration. Rag-picking isn’t really a form of art, but the
sentence means that people have become very skilled at it because it’s their way of surviving.
11) "The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his
shoulders." Is Paradox.
Paradox: A statement that seems contradictory or impossible but might actually be true.
Example: "Less is more." How can less be more? It seems like a contradiction, but it’s a way of saying
that simplicity can be more effective.
Paradox (Steel canister heavier than the plastic bag): The steel canister feels heavier than the plastic bag,
even though logically, it should be lighter. The paradox emphasizes the emotional or symbolic weight of the
canister, as it represents the hardships of the person carrying it.