LOST SPRING

Anees Jung

Questions to revise

Lost Spring

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND THE BOOK

1. What is the central theme in the writing:  ‘Lost spring - stories of stolen childhood’?

2. Justify the title of the lesson, 'Lost Spring' by the author Anees Jung.

3. What message does Anees Jung attempt to give in her story 'Lost Spring’?

4. What is the unusual morning scene in the streets of the authoress Anees Jung?

5. How does the writer come to recognize each of the rag-pickers in her neighbourhood?

REASONS FOR MIGRATION

1. Mention some of the possible reasons for the migration of the people from the villages to the cities?

2. What did Saheb's mother say about leaving their home in Dhaka and coming to Seemapuri?

SEEMAPURI  (A home for rag pickers from Bangladesh)

1. Seemapuri is 'a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphori­cally'. Justify this statement describing the colony or settlement of rag pickers.

2. 'Survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking'. Elucidate.

3. Describe the life and living conditions of the rag pickers of Seemapuri, including those of barefoot young scroungers.

4. Explain “survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking.”

5. Specify how rag-picking has acquired the ‘‘proposition of fine art’’ in Seemapuri.

6. What is the present state of Seemapuri?

7. Mention some of the problems faced by the squatters in the area of Seemapuri?

AUTHOR COMES ACROSS SAHEB-E-ALAM

1. Who is Saheb and where does he hail from?

2. What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps?

3. What do you gather about Saheb’s life and living conditions from the lesson?

4. Where does the narrator Anees Jung encounter Saheb every morning?

5. Saheb's full name is "Saheb-e-Alam". Why is it ironical?

6. Describe the contrast that Anees Jung brings out between Saheb and the son of the priest.

7. Describe Saheb's life and the life of the barefoot army of ragpickers in Seemapuri.

8. Write the character sketch of Saheb-e-Alam of Seemapuri.

SAHEB GETS A SMALL JOB

1. How does Saheb lose his freedom?

2. Why has Saheb lost his carefree look after getting a job in a tea stall?

3. Explain ‘‘Saheb is no longer his own master.’’

4. Describe Saheb's life-story from a ragpicker to a servant in a tea-stall? Why couldn't his new job make him happy?

5. How does Saheb feel working in a tea stall? Is he happier there?

SEARCHING FOR GOLD IN THE GARBAGE

1. “Garbage to them is gold.” Why does the author say so about the rag pickers?

2. Through the years rag-picking has acquired the 'proportions of a fine art' in Seemapuri. Justify the statement.

3. Garbage rag-picking means something for parents and the other, quite different, for their children. Explain.

4. How is the garbage heap wrapped in wonder for the children?

RAGPICKER BOYS

1. Give an account of the background of Saheb and the army of barefoot boys 'scrounging for gold'in the garbage dumps. Why did they migrate to Seemapuri?

2. What does Saheb look for in the garbage dumps? What are the hopes of other 10,000 ragpickers like Saheb?

3. Elucidate the statement: ‘‘Food is more important for survival than an identity.’’

4. 'Food is more important for survival than an identity for the ragpickers', says the author. Do you agree? Why?

5. How do their children become partners in their survival?

SAHEB GETS A PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES

1. Saheb and other rag pickers of his age don't wear shoes or 'chappals'. Why?

2. Why do these children remain barefoot?

3. What different excuses do the rag-pickers children offer for not wearing chappals?

4. How did Saheb get a pair of shoes?

5. Why do children walk barefoot, in cities or on village roads? Is it a tradition or something else?

6. What does Anees Jung mean by saying that the young boys like the son of the priest now wear shoes, but many others like the rag-pickers in her neighbourhood remain shoeless?

7. How did Saheb get a pair of shoes?

8. For Saheb, 'even shoes with a hole' is a dream come true. Explain the state­ment.

WHAT DOES THE AUTHOR SAY ABOUT PROMISES

1. Would you agree that promises made to the poor children are rarely kept? Why do you think this happens in the incidents narrated in the text?

2. Give a brief account of a man from Udipi?

3. Why is the narrator embarrassed at having made 'a promise that was not meant'?

FIROZABAD

1. Describe the kinds of bangles made in Firozabad.

2. Who is Savita? Does young Savita know the sanctity of bangles she helps make? Explain their sanctity for married women.

3. 'Little has moved with time in Firozabad', says Anees Jung. Why does she say so?

4. Which forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry at Firozabad in poverty?

5. Describe the bangle-makers of Firozabad. How does the vicious circle of the 'Sahukars' and the middlemen never allow them to come out of a web of poverty?

6. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?

7. How do the activities of the bangle preparation go on in the narrow lanes of Firozabad?

8. Why do the bangle makers of Firozabad not organise into a cooperative?

CHILDREN WORK IN THE GLASS FURNACES

1. Describe the plight of about 20,000 child-workers who work in furnaces with high temperature in Firozabad. How are they exposed to the worst health hazards?

2. The life of bangle makers of Firozabad was full of obstacles, which forced them to lead a life of poverty and deprivation. Discuss with reference to ‘lost spring’.

3. How do the children become the victim of losing the brightness of their eyes?

4. Describe the hazards /working conditions of bangle workers in Firozabad.

5. What type of environment does the writer come across while walking with Mukesh?

VISIT TO MUKESH’S HOUSE

1. Describe Mukesh and his background.

2. How is Mukesh different from other children who work in bangle-industry and also from that of his family?

3. What does the writer witness after entering the house of Mukesh?

4. What has Mukesh’s father achieved after years of hard labour?

5. What does the grandmother of Mukesh comment?

MUKESH’S DREAM

1. What was Mukesh’s aim in life? What did he do to achieve it?

2. How is Mukesh different from the others of his family? Why is the author cheered when she sees him?

3. Who is Mukesh and how in your opinion can, Mukesh realise his dream?

4. Why does the authoress think that Mukesh’s dream seems to be looming like a mirage?

5. Write the character sketch of Mukesh with special reference to his dare, determination and strong will.

6. How is Mukesh ready to break the god-given-lineage of his family?

7. Mukesh wants to be his own master. Explain.

THEIR BELIEF IN DESTINY (the vicious circle)

1. "It is his karam, his destiny", says Mukesh's grandmother. Why can't they break their "God-given lineage"?

2. What forces conspire to keep the workers in bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?

3. What custom prevails among the ladies of bangle makers?

4. What does Savita tell about the sanctity of bangles?

5. ‘The elderly woman has still bangles in her wrists, but no light in her eyes.’ Why?

6. Why don’t the younger ones of the bangle makers do anything else?

7. How have the bangle makers become the prey of their own trade? Explain.

8. What are the forces that conspire to keep the workers in the bangle factory of Firozabad in poverty?

GENERAL

1. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?

2. In what way does the writer analyse the grim state of poverty and tradition among the families of the rag-pickers and the bangle makers of Firozabad?

3. Compare and contrast the lives of the families of Seemapuri and Firozabad?

4. "I see two distinct worlds .... ." says Anees Jung. Draw a contrast between the two.