NCERT Solutions
for Class 12 English Flamingo
Chapter 2 Lost Spring by Anees Jung
Updated
Syllabus for 2024-2025 Exams
Q.1 What is Saheb looking for in the
garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
Answer:
Saheb is looking for something valuable, such as coins or anything that can be
sold, in the garbage dumps. For him and other ragpickers, garbage is like
treasure that provides hope for survival. He lives in Seemapuri, a place on the
outskirts of Delhi, and has come from Dhaka, Bangladesh, with his family in
search of a better life after they lost their homes and fields due to natural
calamities.
Q.2 What explanations does the author
offer for the children not wearing footwear?
Answer:
The author provides two explanations for why the children do not wear footwear.
One explanation is that it is due to a tradition of walking barefoot, which has
been passed down through generations. However, the author questions whether
this is merely an excuse to hide the fact that the children are too poor to
afford shoes, pointing to the “perpetual state of poverty” that these
children live in.
Q.3 Is Saheb happy working at the
tea-stall? Explain.
Answer:
No, Saheb is not happy working at the tea-stall. Although he is now paid ₹800
and provided meals, the work at the tea-stall has taken away his carefree
spirit. The steel canister he carries seems heavier than the plastic bag he
used to carry as a ragpicker, symbolizing the loss of his freedom. He no longer
feels like his own master, as he did when he was scavenging for garbage.
Q.4 What makes the city of Firozabad
famous?
Answer:
The city of Firozabad is famous for its glass bangles. It is the center of
India’s glass-blowing industry, where nearly every family is involved in making
bangles. These bangles, in a variety of colors, are traditionally worn by women
and have a cultural significance related to marriage in Indian society.
Q.5 Mention the hazards of working in the
glass bangles industry.
Answer:
Working in the glass bangles industry is hazardous due to several reasons. The
workers, including children, work in dark, dingy cells with high temperatures
from the furnaces. Prolonged exposure to these conditions can lead to severe
health issues, such as losing their eyesight at a young age due to the strain
on their eyes from welding glass in dimly lit rooms. Additionally, they inhale
harmful glass dust, which can cause respiratory problems.
Q.6 How is Mukesh’s attitude to his
situation different from that of his family?
Answer:
Mukesh’s attitude is different from that of his family because he dreams of
breaking free from the traditional occupation of bangle making. Unlike his
family, who believe they are destined to be bangle makers and accept their
situation, Mukesh has a vision for a better future. He wants to become a motor
mechanic and is determined to pursue his dream, even though it seems difficult
in his circumstances.
Understanding
the Text:
Q.1 What could be some of the reasons for
the migration of people from villages to cities?
Answer:
Some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities include
poverty, unemployment, and natural disasters. In rural areas, people often lack
basic resources like food, water, and education. Many migrate to cities in
search of better job opportunities and the hope of a better life, as was the
case with Saheb’s family, who migrated from Bangladesh to Seemapuri after
losing their fields and homes.
Q.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:
Yes, promises made to poor children are rarely kept. This happens because such
promises are often made without serious intention or commitment. For example,
when the author jokingly asks Saheb if he would attend school if one were
built, she realizes that her promise is hollow. The systemic neglect of the
poor means that their hopes and dreams are often disregarded or forgotten by
those in power.
Q.3 What forces conspire to keep the
workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?
Answer:
Several forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad
in poverty. These include the stranglehold of middlemen, the corruption of
local authorities, and the lack of education and awareness among the workers.
The workers are exploited by middlemen who control the distribution of bangles
and pay the workers very little. The workers are also trapped by the societal
stigma of their caste, which limits their opportunities to break free from the
cycle of poverty.
Talking About the Text:
Q.1 How, in your opinion, can Mukesh
realise his dream?
Answer:
Mukesh can realise his dream of becoming a motor mechanic through
determination, persistence, and access to learning opportunities. He must
overcome the societal expectations placed on him due to his caste and family
occupation of bangle making. Mukesh is willing to walk to the garage to learn
the skills needed, which shows his determination. However, to fully achieve his
goal, he would also need financial support, guidance, and access to education
or vocational training in the field of mechanics.
Q.2 Mention the hazards of working in the
glass bangles industry.
Answer:
The hazards of working in the glass bangles industry include:
- Exposure to extreme heat from the
furnaces, which can cause burns and other injuries. - Working in dark, poorly ventilated
spaces, which strains the workers’ eyes and often leads to early
blindness. - Inhaling harmful glass dust, which
can cause serious respiratory issues. - The monotonous, repetitive work
that takes a toll on both physical and mental health, especially for young
children forced into labor.
These hazardous
working conditions deprive workers of their health and future opportunities.
Q.3 Why should child labour be eliminated
and how?
Answer:
Child labour should be eliminated because it deprives children of their
childhood, education, and opportunities for a better future. It forces them
into exploitative work that can cause long-term physical and mental harm.
Eliminating child labour requires enforcing laws that protect children’s
rights, ensuring access to education for all, and providing financial support
to poor families so that children are not forced to work for survival. Raising
awareness about the importance of education and creating sustainable job opportunities
for adults can also help reduce the dependency on child labour.
Thinking About Language:
The text uses
several literary devices to turn the factual narrative into a poetic
experience. Here are the literary devices in some of the examples provided:
- Saheb-e-Alam which means the lord
of the universe is directly in contrast to what Saheb is in reality.
Literary Device: Irony
The name “Saheb-e-Alam” meaning “lord of the universe”
contrasts with the boy’s actual life, where he is a poor ragpicker. - Drowned in an air of desolation.
Literary Device: Metaphor
This phrase compares the atmosphere of hopelessness to being
“drowned,” conveying a feeling of overwhelming sadness. - Seemapuri, a place on the
periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically.
Literary Device: Metaphor
This phrase compares Seemapuri’s physical proximity to Delhi with the
metaphorical distance due to the stark difference in living conditions. - For the children it is wrapped in
wonder; for the elders it is a means of survival.
Literary Device: Contrast
This phrase highlights the differing perceptions of garbage between
children, who see it with curiosity, and adults, who view it as a
necessity for survival. - As her hands move mechanically
like the tongs of a machine, I wonder if she knows the sanctity of the
bangles she helps make.
Literary Device: Simile
The phrase compares the girl’s hands to mechanical tongs to emphasize the
mechanical, emotionless nature of her work. - She still has bangles on her
wrist, but not light in her eyes.
Literary Device: Contrast
The contrast between the physical presence of bangles and the lack of
“light” in her eyes symbolizes the loss of joy and hope in her
life. - Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.
Literary Device: Understatement
This sentence subtly emphasizes the disconnect between the dreams of the
people of Firozabad and the reality of their limited opportunities. - Web of poverty.
Literary Device: Metaphor
The phrase compares poverty to a web, illustrating how people are trapped
and entangled in their economic conditions. - Scrounging for gold.
Literary Device: Hyperbole
The act of ragpicking is exaggerated as “scrounging for gold” to
emphasize how vital garbage is for the survival of the children. - And survival in Seemapuri means
rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine
art.
Literary Device: Hyperbole
This phrase uses exaggeration to convey the skill and importance of
rag-picking in the daily lives of Seemapuri’s residents. - The steel canister seems heavier
than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulders.
Literary Device: Metaphor
This metaphor symbolizes the weight of responsibility that Saheb feels
after taking a job, losing the freedom he once had as a ragpicker.
Things to Do:
Write a
paragraph about the paradox of the beauty of the glass bangles of Firozabad
contrasting with the misery of the people who produce them.
Answer:
In Firozabad, the glass bangles shimmer in beautiful colors—golden, green,
blue, and red—symbolizing the joy and auspiciousness of marriage. These
delicate ornaments are cherished by women all over India, yet the hands that
create them live in perpetual darkness. The workers, including children, labor
in inhumane conditions, welding glass in dark, suffocating spaces with no
sunlight. The beauty of the bangles is a stark contrast to the misery and
deprivation of the bangle makers, who lose their eyesight and health in the
process. This paradox reflects the broader injustice of how the poorest people
often create the most exquisite objects, yet they remain trapped in a cycle of
poverty and exploitation.