Class 12 English (Flamingo) Chapter 2 Lost Spring Questions and Answers
THINK AS YOU READ (page no 16)
Question 1. What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
Answer: Saheb is looking for gold in the garbage dumps. The dumps are in his neighborhood. He lives in Seemapuri. His native place is Bangladesh from where his parents came in 1971 as refugees.
Question 2. What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear ?
Answer: The author has observed numerous children, both in rural villages and urban areas of India, going about barefoot. While the common rationale for this practice is often attributed to tradition rather than financial constraints, the author remains skeptical. Instead, she believes that in many instances, this custom might serve as a justification to mask the underlying issue of enduring poverty.
Question 3. Is Saheb happy working at the tea-stall? Explain.
Answer: No, Saheb finds no joy in working at the tea-stall. When he was a rag-picker, he had autonomy and independence, but now he is merely a servant under the tea-shop owner’s authority.
THINK AS YOU READ (page no 19)
Question 1. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?
Answer: The city of Firozabad has gained renown for its exquisite bangles, making it the heart of India’s glass blowing industry. Within its boundaries, generations of families have dedicated themselves to the craft, skillfully working around furnaces, welding glass, and crafting beautiful bangles cherished by women across the nation.
Question 2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
Answer: Working in the glass industry entails numerous hazards. Laborers toil in dim and poorly ventilated cells, surrounded by high-temperature furnaces, posing particular risks to their eyes. Although it is illegal for children to work in this sector, many still do, tragically losing the radiance of their eyes as a consequence. The dust generated from polishing bangles further exacerbates the issue, leading to severe eye afflictions and even blindness.
Question 3. How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?
Answer: Mukesh stands apart from his family due to his daring attitude. While the rest of his relatives believe they are bound to carry on the traditional trade of bangle making, Mukesh is resolute in his ambition to become a motor mechanic. He possesses a unique vision that sets him apart from others, driven by his ultimate goal of one day driving a car. As a result, Mukesh’s attitude diverges significantly from that of his family members.
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT (Page no 20)
Question 1. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities?
Answer: The primary drivers behind the migration of people from villages to cities are poverty and unemployment. In many villages, the struggle for survival is real, prompting individuals to venture from distant places like Bangladesh to settle in areas like Seemapuri, Delhi. Despite the harsh living conditions in Seemapuri’s slums, they manage to sustain themselves by working as rag-pickers.
Moreover, the allure of city life acts as a magnet, attracting villagers to urban areas. Some opt to sell their land at a considerable price and invest in a house within the city’s confines. The young generation, especially, is drawn to the vibrant city life, captivated by its bustling crowds, dynamic activities, and diverse entertainment options.
Question 2. 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?
Answer: Indeed, it is a harsh reality that promises made to underprivileged children are seldom fulfilled. In the story, this disappointment occurs because the author did not truly consider the weight of his promise to Saheb. He had never envisioned that Saheb would genuinely take the idea of attending school seriously. The author admits that when making the promise, he was only half-joking, never intending to honor it. Consequently, keeping a promise made in jest becomes a challenge, as it was never meant to be fulfilled in the first place.
Question 3. What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty ?
Answer: Various factors collaborate to perpetuate poverty among the workers in Firozabad’s bangle industry, falling into two distinct categories. Firstly, there is the issue of caste, where the individuals engaged in bangle-making bear the burden of generations associated with this occupation. The stigma attached to their caste has contributed to their plight.
Secondly, a vicious cycle is established by several elements, including sahukars (moneylenders), middlemen, policemen, law enforcers, bureaucrats, and politicians. This network of influential figures exploits and manipulates the poor, further entrenching their impoverishment.
Under such circumstances, the impoverished workers require a capable leader to guide them. The weight of their circumstances becomes an unshakeable burden on the shoulders of children, leaving them with little choice but to carry on the family occupation. Breaking free from the constraints of one’s caste and challenging the oppressive vicious cycle demands immense courage and determination.
TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT (Page no 20)
Question 1. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his dream?
Answer: For Mukesh to actualize his dream, unwavering determination is key. While it may not be an insurmountable task to find work in a garage, he will undoubtedly encounter opposition from his family. Moreover, during the initial stages, he must be prepared to exert tremendous effort. Learning the craft of car repair may necessitate starting as a laborer in the garage. Over the course of years of dedicated labor, he will hone his skills and evolve into a proficient motor mechanic, eventually achieving his ultimate goal of driving a car.
Question 2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
Answer: Working in a glass bangle industry poses several hazards, including:
a) Welding glass can lead to eye damage.
b) Working in poorly lit and poorly ventilated cells.
c) Risk of developing weak eyesight before reaching adulthood.
d) Exposure to intense heat.
e) Polishing bangles produces dust that may cause blindness.
Question 3. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
Answer: Child labor must be eradicated for two compelling reasons. Firstly, sending a child to school is crucial for their future progress in life. Without education, their chances of success are severely limited, and they may become a burden on their families. Secondly, child labor robs children of their rightful childhood, which is a time for play, enjoyment, and overall well-being. Working at a young age exposes them to unhealthy conditions and meager wages, depriving them of the necessary care and healthy development.
Child labor persists not because there is a lack of adult labor but because children are willing to work for meager pay. Parents often resort to sending their children to work because they believe any income, no matter how small, is better than none at all. To combat this issue effectively, mere free education is insufficient. A more comprehensive approach is required, including providing poor children with hostel facilities where society takes responsibility for all their expenses. This way, they can receive the education and care they deserve, ensuring a brighter future for them and breaking the cycle of child labor.
THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE (Page no 20)
Although this text speaks of factual events and situations of misery it transforms these situations with an almost poetical prose into a literary experience. How does it do so? Here are some literary devices:
- Hyperbole is a way of speaking or writing that makes something sound better or more exciting than it really is. For example: Garbage to them is gold.
- A metaphor, as you may know, compares two things or ideas that are not very similar.
- A metaphor describes a thing in terms of a single quality or feature of some other things; we can say that a metaphor “transfers” a quality of one thing to another. For example The road was as ribbon of light.
- Contrast refers to a difference between people and things that can be seen clearly when they are compared or put close together. For example His dream looms like a mirage amidst the dust of streets that fill his town Firozabad, famous for its bangles.
- Simile is a word or phrase that compares one thing with another the words “like” or “as” For example: As white as snow.
Carefully read the following phrases and sentences taken from the text. Can you identify the literacy device in each example?
1. Saheb-e-Alam which means the lord of the universe is directly in contrast to what Saheb is in reality.
Answer: Contrast.
2. Drowned in an air of desolation.
Answer: Hyperbole.
3. Seemapuri is a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it. metaphorically.
Answer: Metaphor.
4. For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders it is a means of survival.
Answer: Metaphor.
5. As her hands move mechanically like the tongs of a machine, I wonder if she knows the sanctity of the bangles she helps make.
Answer: Simile.
6. She still has bangles on her wrist, but not light in her eyes.
Answer: Contrast.
7. Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.
Answer: Hyperbole.
8. Web of poverty.
Answer: Metaphor.
9. Scrounging for gold.
Answer: Metaphor.
10. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art.
Answer: Hyperbole.
11. The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulders.
Answer: Contrast.