Lost Spring – Last-Day Revision Notes

Anees Jung | AHSEC Class 12 English

1. About the Author

 Anees Jung is an Indian author and journalist.

 She writes about social issues, poverty, and child labour.

 Lost Spring highlights the lost childhood of poor children.

2. Theme of the Chapter

 Child labour and poverty

 Lost childhood and dreams

 Social injustice and exploitation

 Contrast between rich and poor

3. Part I: Sometimes I Find a Rupee in the Garbage

Saheb-e-Alam

 A poor boy from Seemapuri, a slum near Delhi.

 His family came from Bangladesh.

 He earns by rag-picking.

 Garbage is his means of survival and sometimes a source of joy.

Important Points

 Children roam barefoot due to poverty.

 Education is a dream but unfulfilled.

 Saheb works in a tea stall later and loses freedom.

4. Part II: I Want to Drive a Car

Mukesh

 A boy from Firozabad, famous for bangles.

 Belongs to a family of bangle-makers.

 Dreams of becoming a motor mechanic.

 Shows courage and desire to change his fate.

 Work in dark, polluted rooms.

 Su er from health problems.

 Exploited by middlemen and moneylenders.

5. Meaning of the Title “Lost Spring”

 ‘Spring’ means childhood and joy.

 Poor children lose childhood due to poverty and labour.

 Their dreams remain unfulfilled.

6. Important Lines (Remember the Ideas)

 Garbage means gold for rag-pickers.

 Lost childhood is the main tragedy.

B. SHORT TYPE QUESTIONS (2/3 MARKS)

No, Saheb is not happy working at the tea stall. Though he earns a fixed salary, he loses
his freedom. Earlier, while rag-picking, he was his own master. At the tea stall, he works
under someone and feels unhappy.

2. What is the significance of bangles in Indian society?

Bangles are a symbol of marriage and prosperity in Indian society. They are considered
sacred for married women. Wearing bangles is associated with tradition, culture, and
the well-being of the husband.

3. “Garbage to them is gold.” Why does the author say so about the ragpickers?

The author says this because garbage is the means of survival for ragpickers. It provides
them with food and money. Sometimes they even find coins or useful items, so garbage
becomes precious like gold to them.

4. What is the irony inherent in Saheb’s full name?

Saheb’s full name is Saheb-e-Alam, which means “lord of the universe.” The irony is
that Saheb is extremely poor and owns nothing. Instead of being a lord, he lives a life of
poverty and hardship.
5. What does Saheb look for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he
come from?

Saheb looks for useful items like paper, plastic, or coins in the garbage dumps. He lives
in Seemapuri, a slum near Delhi. His family has come from Bangladesh due to poverty.

6. What explanation does the author of Lost Spring o er for the children not
wearing footwear?

The author explains that the children do not wear footwear because of extreme poverty.
Some say it is a tradition, but in reality, they cannot a ord shoes. Bare feet have become
a part of their life.

7. What is Firozabad famous for and why?

Firozabad is famous for its glass bangles industry. Many families are engaged in
making bangles for generations. It is the main source of livelihood for the people living
there.

8. Why do the young inhabitants of Firozabad end up losing their eyesight?

The young inhabitants work in dark, poorly ventilated rooms near furnaces. Continuous
exposure to heat and glass dust damages their eyes. As a result, many of them lose
their eyesight at an early age.

9. What are the two di erent worlds in Firozabad?

The two worlds are the world of poverty and hardship of the bangle makers and the
world of middlemen and businessmen who earn profits. The workers remain poor
while others benefit from their labour.

10. What was the promise made by Anees Jung to Saheb?

Anees Jung promised Saheb that she would open a school for him. However, she later
realises that this promise sounds hollow because she herself cannot fulfil it.

11. What is the actual name of Saheb? What does it signify?

Saheb’s actual name is Saheb-e-Alam. It signifies “lord of the universe.” The name
highlights the irony of his life, as he lives in poverty without any control over his future.

12. Give a brief description of Seemapuri.

Seemapuri is a slum near Delhi where poor refugees from Bangladesh live. The area
lacks basic facilities like proper houses, sanitation, and clean water. People survive
mainly by rag-picking.
13. Was Saheb happy with his job at the tea stall?

No, Saheb was not happy with his job at the tea stall. Although he got regular wages, he
lost his independence. He no longer enjoyed the freedom he had as a ragpicker.

14. Why, according to the writer, does the advice she gave to Saheb seem hollow?

The advice seems hollow because the writer talks about education but does nothing
practical to help Saheb. She realises that mere words cannot change his life without
action.

15. Write a short note on the significance of the title Lost Spring.

The title Lost Spring refers to the lost childhood of poor children. Spring symbolises joy
and youth, which these children never experience due to poverty and labour.

16. How does Saheb’s life change when he starts working at the tea stall?

Saheb’s life becomes more secure but less free. He earns a fixed salary but works under
a master. He loses his independence and happiness.

17. “Garbage to them is gold.” How do ragpickers of Seemapuri survive?

Ragpickers survive by collecting and selling garbage. It provides them food and money.
Garbage is their only source of livelihood.

18. Describe the irony in Saheb’s name.

Saheb’s name means “lord of the universe,” but he lives in extreme poverty. He owns
nothing and struggles daily for survival. This contrast makes his name ironic.

ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS (5 MARKS)

1. Describe the miserable plight of the people of Firozabad.

The people of Firozabad live a miserable life. The town is famous for its glass bangle
industry, but the workers who make the bangles live in poverty. They work in dark, dirty,
and poorly ventilated rooms near hot furnaces. Continuous exposure to heat and glass
dust damages their health.

Many children start working at a very young age and lose their eyesight early. They are
caught in a vicious circle of poverty created by middlemen, moneylenders, and factory
owners. Though they work hard, they remain poor all their lives. Their dreams are
crushed, and their childhood is lost.
2. Describe the bangle makers of Firozabad. How does the vicious circle of the
sahukars and middlemen never allow them to come out of poverty?

The bangle makers of Firozabad are born into poverty and forced to follow the family
profession. They work in unhealthy conditions and earn very little. Many of them lose
their eyesight due to constant work near furnaces.

They are trapped in a vicious circle created by sahukars and middlemen. These people
give loans and buy bangles at very low prices. Due to debt and lack of education, the
bangle makers cannot break free from poverty. Their exploitation continues generation
after generation.

3. Write briefly on the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

Working in the glass bangles industry is very hazardous. The workers sit near hot
furnaces in dark rooms without proper ventilation. The heat and glass dust cause
serious health problems.

Children working in these conditions often lose their eyesight at an early age. Many
su er from respiratory diseases and weakness. Despite these dangers, poverty forces
them to continue working.

4. Describe the condition of Seemapuri.

Seemapuri is a slum near Delhi where poor refugees from Bangladesh live. The area
lacks basic facilities like clean water, sanitation, electricity, and proper housing. The
people survive by rag-picking.

Children roam barefoot and search garbage dumps for useful items. Garbage is their
means of survival. Though life is full of hardship, they find small joys in their daily
struggle.

5. Write an essay on the theme of child labour in Lost Spring.

Lost Spring highlights the problem of child labour in India. Children like Saheb and
Mukesh are forced to work due to poverty. Instead of going to school, they work to
support their families.

Their childhood is lost, and their dreams remain unfulfilled. The story shows how
society fails these children by denying them education and a safe environment. Anees
Jung strongly criticizes this social injustice.