Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen Childhood - A Study Guide

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

Ans The author's suggestion for Saheb to go to school didn't make sense because there wasn't a school nearby where he lived. Building a new school in his poor neighborhood wasn't realistic because of the lack of resources and attention from authorities.

Q. What explanation does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?

Ans The author elucidates that the children go barefoot because they're accustomed to the rough streets and their families can't afford shoes. This lack of footwear becomes a symbol of their poverty and the harsh realities they face daily.

Q. Was Saheb happy with his job at the tea stall?

Ans Saheb isn't really happy working at the tea stall because it means he has to give up his freedom to work for someone else. Even though he may seem carefree, deep down, he longs for freedom and a happier life.

Q. Why did Saheb's parents leave Dhaka and migrate to India?

Ans Saheb's parents left Dhaka and migrated to India in search of a better life and livelihood opportunities. Economic hardships and the desire for improved prospects prompted them to undertake the journey, hoping for a brighter future for themselves and their family.

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

Ans Saheb's full name was Saheb-E-Alam, meaning "Lord of the Universe." Despite this grand name, he was a poor ragpicker who couldn't even afford basic necessities like shoes, highlighting the irony of his situation.

Q. What are the two different worlds in Firozabad?

Ans The writer delineates two distinct worlds in Firozabad: one inhabited by impoverished bangle-making families, burdened by caste stigma and poverty, and the other dominated by a vicious cycle of exploitation orchestrated by Sahukars, middlemen, police, politicians, and lawkeepers, perpetuating the bangle makers' plight.

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

Ans Bangles hold great cultural significance in Indian society as they symbolize a woman's marital auspiciousness (suhaag). Each color carries unique importance, and post-marriage, wearing bangles signifies good health, fortune, and success, aligning with traditional customs and beliefs.

Q. What is the irony inherent in Saheb's full name?

Ans Saheb's full name, "Saheb-E-Alam," means "Lord of the Universe," but he's just a poor ragpicker without even basic things like shoes. So, his grand name contrasts sharply with his humble life.

Q. What is Firozabad famous for and why?

Ans Firozabad is renowned for its glass bangles industry due to its long-standing tradition of crafting exquisite glass bangles. The city's skilled artisans produce a wide variety of vibrant and intricate bangles, earning Firozabad recognition as a hub for traditional Indian craftsmanship.

Q. Who are the inhabitants of Seemapuri?

Ans The inhabitants of Seemapuri are primarily rag pickers who scavenge through garbage dumps for recyclable materials to earn a meager income. They reside in makeshift structures made of mud, tin, and tarpaulin, enduring harsh living conditions amidst filth and squalor.

Q. Why does Mukesh's grandmother believe that "God-given lineage" can never be broken?

Ans Mukesh's grandmother believes in the permanence of their "God-given lineage" within the bangle maker caste. Their family has upheld this tradition for generations, with Mukesh's father passing down the art of bangle making to his sons, ensuring the continuity of their ancestral craft.

Q. What did the man from Udupi pray for at the temple as a young boy?

Ans As a young boy passing an old temple where his father served as a priest, the man from Udupi would stop and pray for a pair of shoes on his way to school. Decades later, upon returning to his hometown with shoes, he prayed to retain them.

Q. Describe the bangle makers of Firozabad. How does the vicious circle of the sahukars, the middleman never allow them to come out of their poverty?

Ans The bangle makers of Firozabad face a relentless cycle of poverty enforced by the Sahukars, middlemen, police, politicians, and lawkeepers. This collusion prevents them from forming cooperatives or improving their circumstances. Consequently, they endure a life of perpetual hardship and destitution, with their meager earnings continuously siphoned off to repay loans and sustain exploitative practices. Despite their tireless labor, the bangle makers remain trapped in a system that perpetuates their suffering, leaving them unable to break free from the cycle of poverty and exploitation that engulfs their existence.

Q. Give a brief account of the rag pickers of Seemapuri?

Ans In Seemapuri, more than 10,000 rag pickers reside in primitive mud structures topped with tin and tarpaulin roofs. Devoid of basic amenities such as sewage and running water, they rely solely on a ration card for identification and sustenance. Living barefoot, they scavenge through garbage for survival, as it constitutes their primary means of livelihood. Their existence epitomizes the harsh realities of urban poverty, underscored by their marginalized status and dire living conditions, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive social and economic reforms to improve their plight.

Q. Describe the miserable plight of the people of Firozabad?

Ans The bangle makers in Firozabad endured severe hardships, working in confined, poorly ventilated spaces amidst intense furnace heat. Exposed to dust particles from the bangles, they suffered frequent eye injuries, often resulting in vision loss before adulthood. These grueling conditions reflect the grim reality faced by the bangle-making community, highlighting the harshness of their plight in Firozabad's glass bangles industry, where they struggled to sustain themselves amidst physical hazards and occupational hazards.

Q. Describe Seemapuri?

Ans Seemapuri is a bleak landscape inhabited by rag pickers, primarily residing in makeshift structures constructed from mud, tin, and tarpaulin. Over 10,000 rag pickers endure dire living conditions, devoid of essential services such as sewage, drainage, and running water. Their existence is marked by anonymity, with only a ration card for identification and sustenance. Living barefoot amidst garbage dumps, they scavenge for recyclable materials to eke out a meager income. Seemapuri epitomizes urban poverty, where marginalized communities struggle to survive amidst neglect and indifference, underscoring the urgent need for social and economic reforms to improve their living standards.

Q. "Food is more important for survival than an identity for the ragpickers", say the author Anees Jung Elucidate?

Ans In the eyes of the author, Anees Jung, food holds greater significance for the survival of the ragpickers than their identity. While identity is undoubtedly important, especially in terms of dignity and recognition, the primary concern for the ragpickers is meeting their basic needs for sustenance. Without adequate food, they cannot survive, highlighting the harsh reality of their existence. In their daily struggle for survival, the immediate priority is securing enough food to sustain themselves and their families, overshadowing the importance of their identity in the face of dire poverty.