The Lost Spring - Short and Long Answer Questions
Short Answer Questions (40-50 words):
1. Why is Saheb's name ironic?
Answer: Saheb's full name is 'Saheb-e-Alam' meaning 'Lord of the Universe', but he is a ragpicker who owns
nothing. The irony lies in the contrast between his grand name and his poverty-stricken reality.
2. What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps?
Answer: Saheb is looking for coins, useful items, or anything valuable in the garbage dumps. For children like
him, garbage is wrapped in wonder and hope, unlike adults who see it as a means of survival.
3. Why did Saheb leave Dhaka?
Answer: Saheb's family left Dhaka because their homes were swept away by storms and floods. They moved
to Delhi in search of a better life and livelihood.
4. What does the author mean by 'garbage is gold'?
Answer: For the ragpickers, garbage is their means of livelihood. It provides them with food, shelter, and
money. Thus, it is as valuable to them as gold.
5. What changes did the author notice in Saheb after he took up a job at the tea stall?
Answer: After taking the job, Saheb lost his carefree look. He seemed burdened and less free, now working
under someone else's orders. The steel canister he carried was heavier than the plastic bag he once had.
6. Who is the author of 'Lost Spring' and what is its central theme?
Answer: Anees Jung is the author of 'Lost Spring'. The story explores the grinding poverty that forces children
to miss the joys of childhood and instead take up work to support their families.
7. Describe the living conditions of the people in Seemapuri.
Answer: People in Seemapuri live in structures made of mud with tin or tarpaulin roofs. They lack basic
amenities like sewage, drainage, and running water. Despite this, they prefer it over their native lands due to
food availability.
8. What does Anees Jung say about the tradition of bangle making in Firozabad?
Answer: The bangle-making industry in Firozabad is generations old. Children are born into this work and
forced to continue it, trapped in a cycle of poverty and tradition they cannot break.
9. Why can't the bangle makers of Firozabad organize themselves into cooperatives?
Answer: The bangle makers fear being beaten or jailed by the police if they organize. They are oppressed by
middlemen, politicians, and law enforcement, which keeps them from uniting and demanding their rights.
10. What social message does 'Lost Spring' convey?
Answer: 'Lost Spring' highlights the plight of child laborers and the cycle of poverty. It urges society to
awaken to the injustice and deprivation that rob children of their childhood and education.
Long Answer Questions (120-140 words):
1. Describe the life of ragpickers in Seemapuri as seen in 'Lost Spring'.
Answer: The ragpickers of Seemapuri live in dire poverty. Originally from Bangladesh, they settled here after
natural calamities destroyed their homes. Their houses are made of mud and lack basic amenities. Garbage
is their only source of livelihood and holds different meanings-food for the adults and mysterious treasures for
the children. Despite their hardships, they have adapted to life in the margins, valuing food security over
comfort. Education and dreams are luxuries they cannot afford. They are caught in a cycle of poverty, doing
menial work from a very young age. Anees Jung highlights their resilience but also critiques the systemic
apathy towards them.
2. How does 'Lost Spring' highlight the theme of childhood lost in poverty?
Answer: 'Lost Spring' portrays children like Saheb and Mukesh who are denied the joys of childhood due to
poverty. Saheb, a ragpicker, dreams of going to school but must work to survive. Mukesh, a bangle maker, is
forced into a hazardous occupation inherited over generations. Both represent thousands of children trapped
in poverty, unable to access education or dream freely. The story criticizes a society that normalizes child
labor and fails to protect childhood. Anees Jung's narrative is both empathetic and powerful, shedding light on
the urgency of breaking this cycle and allowing children to reclaim their right to a happy, secure childhood.
