Lost Spring by Anees Jung

Lost Spring by Anees Jung

Theme: The story deals with the untold tale of slum children who live a life of depression and poverty for generations together. Their forefathers are either immigrant from Bangladesh or migrant workers from different parts of the country. This story is divided into two parts- the first part describes the deplorable state of Saheb and his family, who have migrated from Bangladesh during 1971 war. The second part of the story describes about Mukesh, whose family tradition of bangle making continues for generations tighter in spite of health hazards of working in dingy cells, where bangles are manufactured. Mukesh belongs to a family which is engaged in bangle making like many other families. Firozabad is the hub of India’s glass blowing industry where generation after generation has been involved in this business.  

In this lesson ‘Lost Spring’ , spring has been used in the context of ‘Childhood’. Spring is considered the most cherished season of the year when flowers bloom. Similarly, childhood is the most formative years of life . The story describes the pathetic life of the innocent children losing their childhood in the vicious circle of poverty and illiteracy. The deplorable condition of exploitation of slum children has been highlighted in the story. Saheb and Mukesh are metaphors for all slum children who fall prey to the family tradition of ragpicking and bangle making profession respectively, with Mukesh being the exception as he wants to be a motor mechanic breaking the family tradition of bangle making.

The author’s acquaintance with Saheb and other barefoot ragpickers introduced her to Seemapuri. Seemapuri consists of people who left Bangladesh in the 1971 war. Saheb’s family is among them. About 10000 ragpickers live here.

When Anees visits that place, she comes to know that these ragpickers have lived here for more than thirty years without any identity. They do not have permits but do have ration cards, thanks to the selfish whims and wishes of the politicians. With these they can get their name on the voter’s lists and buy grains.

The family tradition of rag picking in the case of Saheb and Bangle making in the case of Mukesh is a deterrent for both the boys to think big and do something out of the box.

However, Mukesh in the second part of the story wants to be a motor mechanic, something which is a night mare for his family members as they cannot afford to embrace any other profession besides bangle making. Therefore, Mukesh has been projected to be an iconoclast in the story.

Saheb, too lost his freedom when he was working at a tea stall and was paid eight hundred rupees as well as his meals. Saheb was not happy as the steel canister seemed heavier than the plastic bag. He wanted to be his own master. Therefore, the longing for living a normal childhood can be seen in both the boys.

The author feels that the slum people are caught in two distinct worlds. One is the family caught in the clutches of poverty and the stigma of caste and secondly the world of those rich people who exploit them for their selfish benefits. These people are caught in the vicious circle of Sahukars, middlemen, policemen, bureaucrats and politicians. It is because of these people that the child is weighed down with responsibilities at such a tender age.

Think as You Read ( page 17)

1.What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?

Ans: Saheb is looking for coins, which is considered as ‘gold’ in the story, in garbage dumps.

He is presently living at Seemapuri, which is at the periphery of Delhi. He has come from Bangladesh in 1971.

2.What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?

Ans: The narrator found that children across the country walk barefoot in cities and on village roads. It is not lack of money always, but a tradition to stay barefoot. But the narrator wonders about the fact that the children are walking barefoot to explain away a perpetual state of poverty.

3.Is Saheb happy working at the tea-stall? Explain.

Ans: No, Saheb is not happy working at the tea stall. As he was no longer his own master by working at the tea stall at a meagre salary of 800 with meals. The steel canister , which he was carrying in his hand, seemed heavier than the plastic bag he was carrying over his shoulder. Therefore, he left the tea stall.

Think as You Read ( page 17)

4. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?

Ans: Firozabad is famous for bangle industries. It is the centre of India’s glass-blowing industry. Families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for all the women in  the land.

5. Mention the hazards of working in the glass industry.

Ans: The glass bangle industry offers very unhealthy environment to the people. They have to work in the glass furnaces with high temperature in dingy cells. Their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside. This makes them blind before they become adults.   

6. How is Mukehs’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?

Ans: Mukush’s family looks at the family profession of bangle making as ‘karam’ or destiny. His grandmother perceives it as ‘god-given. They are ready to die  out of blindness and grim poverty, but won’t defy this profession. On the other hand, Mukesh wants to be a motor mechanic and is therefore considered to be an iconoclast as he dares to deviate from taking to his family tradition of bangle making.

Extra Questions:

7.Why does the author say that the bangle makers are caught in a vicious web?

Ans: Certain forces conspire to keep the workers in bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty. These include the money lenders, the middlemen, the policeman, the law keepers, the bureaucrats and politicans. They dictate their will to get their work done cheaply and impose a heavy burden on children.  

8.Why could the bangle makers not organise themselves into a co-operative?

Ans: The bangle makers are trapped in the vicious circle of sahukars, middlemen, policemen, bureaucrats and politicians. If they tried to organise themselves, they would be beaten by police and pout in jail.

9.Garbage to them is gold. Why does the author say so about the ragpickers?

Ans: Garbage is gold to the rag pickers of Seemapuri because it provides them with food and is a means of survival. Moreover, it is gold also because the ragpickers can find stray coins and currency notes in it.

10. Can Mukesh realise his dream of becoming a motor mechanic?

Ans: Man is a product of his environment around him. It is difficult to realise his dream as he is torn between his desires and his family , which firmly believes that the art of bangle making is a God given lineage that cannot be escaped. However, he is ambitious and is willing to walk a long way to the garage to give wings to his dreams.

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