Lost Spring
Stories of Stolen Childhood
Anees Jung
Understanding the Text
Question 1: What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities?
Answer: There are numerous reasons for migration of people from villages to cities. Lack of opportunities in villages compels people to migrate to cities in search of livelihood. There are many marginal farmers who are unable to produce enough to meet even their basic needs. Then there are landless farmers who do not get work for most months of the year. These people need to migrate to cities in order to earn better. Some of the people suffer discrimination at the hands of rich and powerful people in the village. Such people migrate to cities in order to escape the shackles of the caste-system.
Question 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: Many people have sympathetic views of poor children who are forced to work due to poverty. Most of these people often make hollow promises, just out of whim. Even those who make sincere promises to poor children, fail to fulfill their promises because of various reasons, like lack of time, lack of finances, and lack of true commitment. In this story, the narrator is unable to fulfill her promise of making a school because it takes a lot of money to make a school.
Question 3: What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?
Answer: There is a nexus among the businessmen, moneylenders, police, politicians and administration. This nexus is thriving on mutual give and take. These people will never want to lose control on the workers. Workers are punished severely whenever they try to unite to make a union or a cooperative. Lack of a union or cooperative does not allow them the luxury of bargaining power. So, they are forced to work under inhuman conditions and to accept whatever meagre wages they get.
Talking About the Text
Question 1: How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realize his dream?
Answer: There are many people who end up becoming a car driver or a car mechanic, and most of them come from poor background. Mukesh can befriend a Good Samaritan to learn driving. In due course of time, he may even land a job of a car driver. Alternately, Mukesh can start working at a motor mechanic workshop. Initially, he may have to start with running errands. He will need loads of patience to continue working at the garage.
Question 2: Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
Answer: There are many health hazards in working in the glass bangles industry. One has to stand near a very hot furnace for long hours. This is harmful for the whole system of the body. Apart from that, one continuously inhales fine dust particles from shards glass. These dust particles damage the lungs in the long run. A person has to continuously look at glaring light in complete darkness. His eyes forget to adjust to the daylight. This eventually makes a person blind. By the time a worker reaches middle age, he/she is debilitated by tuberculosis or blindness.
Question 3: Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
Answer: A child needs to enjoy the childhood and needs to be educated. When a child is compelled to work, he loses his childhood and ends up becoming an uneducated adult. So, child labour should be completely eliminated. But eliminating the child labour there is a need to eliminate various socio-economic factors which compel a child to work. Abject poverty is the main culprit. Food is the primary need which has to be addressed. Mi-day meal in schools is a step in the right direction. In many countries and in India, this scheme has helped many children in attending the school. Then there should be proper enforcement of laws against child labour in order to discourage the employers who employ children at workplaces.