NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Chapter 2 English Prose – Lost Spring

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Chapter 2 English Prose – Lost Spring, we have covered all the chapter questions. This solution will prove beneficial for students who are preparing for the board and other competitive examinations along with the board exam.All the concepts of programming have been made quite accurate and authentic in this whole solution which will help you to make notes and also increase your interest in financial. Class 12 English Solution Notes is based on the CBSE Class 12 syllabus, which will also prove useful in the board exams and competitive exams.

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NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Chapter 2 English Prose – Lost Spring

All the English solutions Class 12 have been prepared by our top subject experts who are completely authentic. All PDF solutions provided by www.mathspdfsolution.co and we have solved all types of questions 1 mark, short questions and long questions and provide the solutions given below.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
What did garbage mean to the children of Seemapuri and to their parents?
Or
In what sense is garbage gold to the rag pickers?
Or
‘Garbage to them is gold.’ Why does the author say so about the rag pickers?
Answer:
Garbage means ‘gold’ to the poor rag pickers because some of it can be sold for cash, thus becoming a means of survival for the children of Seemapuri and for their parents. It is providing them their daily bread and a roof over , their heads.

Question 2:
What does Saheb look for in the garbage dumps?
Or
What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
Answer:
In the garbage dumps, Saheb looks for useful items which can be sold for cash. As these items can be traded for money, they are just like ‘gold’ for him. Saheb and his family live in Seemapuri, a slum on the periphery of Delhi. His family had migrated from Bangladesh.

Question 3:
“It is his karam, his destiny.” What is Mukesh’s family’s attitude towards their situation?
Or
How is Mukesh different from the other bangle-makers of Firozabad ?
Or
How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?
Answer:
Mukesh’s grandmother says this, as she believes in destiny, meaning that their family cannot escape from their God-given lineage of bangle-makers and will remain bangle-makers, continuing to suffer. But Mukesh has the courage to dream of becoming a motor mechanic, thus breaking free from destiny.

Question 4:
How was Saheb’s life at the tea stall?
Or
What job did Saheb take up? Was he happy?
Or
Is Saheb happy working at the tea stall? Explain.
Answer:
Saheb took up the job of performing odd jobs at a tea stall, but was unhappy because he was tied down by the work he had to do, thus losing his independence, which he had earlier as a rag picker.

Question 5:
Describe Mukesh as an ambitious person.
Answer:
Mukesh is an ambitious person because he wants to become a motor mechanic by breaking free from the vicious web of generations of families being involved in bangle-making. He has the courage to dream of becoming a motor mechanic, thus breaking free from destiny.

Question 6:
What kind of gold did the people of Seemapuri look for in the garbage? (Lost Spring)
Answer:
The people of Seemapuri look for items in the garbage which can be traded for money, meaning ‘gold’, as it helps them earn their daily bread and have a roof over their heads. For a child, garbage may mean something wrapped in wonder, whereas for the elders it is a means of survival.

Question 7:
Why had the ragpickers come to live in Seemapuri?
Or
To which country did Saheb’s parents originally belong? Why did they come to India?
Or
Why did Saheb’s parents leave Dhaka and migrate to India?
Answer:
Once Saheb’s parents lived in Bangladesh, amidst the green fields of Dhaka. There were many storms that swept away their fields and homes. That’s why they migrated to Delhi and settled down in Seemapuri looking for an occupation.

Question 8:
Whom does Anees Jung blame for the sorry plight of the bangle-makers?
Answer:
Anees Jung blames the vicious circle of the sahukars (moneylenders), middlemen,
policemen, bureaucrats and politicians for the sorry plight of the bangle-makers. They don’t allow the bangle-makers to organise themselves into a cooperative.

Question 9:
What is Mukesh’s dream? Do you think he will be able to fulfil his dream? Why? Why not?
Or
Who is Mukesh? What is his dream?
Or
Is it possible for Mukesh to realise his dream? Justify your answer.
Or
What was Mukesh’s dream? In your opinion, did he achieve his dream?
Or
Why is Mukesh’s dream of learning to drive a car a mirage?
Answer:
Mukesh belongs to the bangle-makers of Firozabad where each family is engaged in bangle-making. On asking, Mukesh says, “I will be a motor mechanic. I will learn to drive a car.” Thus, he wants to be his own master. However, because he is caught up in the vicious cycle created by others, he will not be able to realize his dream and will remain a bangle-maker.

Question 10:
In spite of despair and disease pervading the lives of the slum children, they are not devoid of hope. How far do you age?
Answer:
In spite of growing up amidst despair and disease, children who live in slums have the desire to achieve something big in life. This shows that they are not devoid of hope. Saheb, a ragpicker, is eager to go to a school and learn. Mukesh, who works in dark, dingy cells making bangles, dreams of becoming a motor- mechanic, against his family tradition.

Question 11:
Why could the bangle-makers not organise themselves into a cooperative?
Answer:
The bangle-makers could not organize themselves into a cooperative because they were trapped in the vicious circle of sahukars, middlemen, policemen, bureaucrats and politicians, who exploited them.
If they tried to organize themselves, they would be beaten by the police and put in jail.

Question 12:
Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
Answer:
The glass bangles industry has a very hazardous working environment. People work in the glass furnaces with high temperatures, in dingy cells without air and light. Most end up losing their eyesight even before they become adults. Adding to their misery, they are caught in a vicious circle of people who exploit them.

Question 13:
Why does the author say that the bangle-makers are caught in a vicious web?
Or
What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?
Answer:
The bangle-makers in Firozabad are exploited at the hands of the sahukars, the middlemen, the policemen, the law makers, the bureaucrats and the politicians. Thus they remain steeped in poverty. They cannot form cooperatives for their betterment. Moreover, their children are also compelled to join the same trade at an early age, thus remaining in the vicious web.

Question 14:
What does the title ‘Lost Spring’ convey?
Answer:
Spring is associated with childhood. Just as spring is the season when flowers bloom, similarly, childhood is’ the period when an individual blooms and grows. Anees Jung here presents the horrific truth about the life of children in India who are victims of child labor and are not allowed to grow and bloom freely. Their childhood or springtime is lost.

Question 15:
What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?
Answer:
Some of the children simply do not care to take the trouble of taking their slippers down from the shelf to wear them. Another explanation she receives is that not wearing footwear is a tradition. However, she feels that it is simply an excuse to hide a perpetual state of poverty, as many families cannot afford to buy footwear for their children.

Question 16:
What makes the city of Firozabad famous?
Answer:
Firozabad is famous for its bangle-making industry. Beautiful bangles can be seen all over. Every second family is engaged in the business of bangle-making. It is the center of India’s glass-blowing industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces.

Question 17:
What would be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to the cities?
Answer:
People migrate from villages to cities in search of a better livelihood. Poverty and poor facilities in the villages are a major ‘push’ factor. Life in the cities has a charm of its own and attracts the villagers. Many people also come to the cities looking for work, leaving behind fields which are unproductive.

Question 18:
Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
Answer:
Children are the future of the nation and, if brought up properly, can serve as strong pillars in a country’s development. Child labor robs the children of the very essence of childhood, and often leaves them overburdened, undernourished, uneducated and diseased. Increased awareness and strict enforcement of laws can help in eliminating child labor.

Question 19:
Bring out the irony in Saheb’s name.
Answer:
Saheb is A poor ragpicker who lives in Seemapuri. His full name is ‘Saheb-e-Alam’, which means ‘Lord of the Universe’.
The irony lies in the meaning of his name itself. According to his name, he should be a king and enjoy all the luxuries of life. But unfortunately, he is a barefoot ragpicker, who lacks even the basic necessities.

Question 20:
‘It is his karam, his destiny’. Explain.
Answer:
Mukesh’s grandmother believes in destiny. She believes that they cannot escape from the God-given lineage. It is their destiny to suffer like this. They were bom in the caste of bangle-makers and will always be one, for they do not have any control over their destiny.

12345 Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Describe the difficulties the bangle makers of Firozabad have to face in their lives.
Or
Describe the circumstances which keep the workers in the bangle industry in poverty.
Answer:
The bangle makers of Firozabad are exposed to multiple health hazards while working. Many of them are children who work near hot furnaces during daylight, often losing their eyesight before adulthood. Years of mind-numbing toil have killed all initiative and the ability to even think of taking up another profession. They are not able to organize themselves into a cooperative due to bullying and exploitation by the politicians, authorities, moneylenders and middlemen. They live in stinking lanes choked with garbage, having homes with crumbling walls, wobbly doors, no windows, overcrowded with families of humans and animals coexisting in a primeval state. They have not even enjoyed even one full meal in their entire lifetime because of their poverty.

Question 2:
How is Mukesh’s attitude towards his situation different from that of Saheb? Why?
Answer:
Mukesh belongs to a bangle-making family, but he is not content with this profession. He dares to dream of becoming a motor mechanic and driving cars. He has strong will power and wants to achieve what he dreams about, unlike other people in his family. In contrast to this, Saheb is a rag picker who is content with his life, but becomes unhappy when he gets a job at a tea stall, even though now he is probably earning more and on a regular basis.
Saheb is unhappy because he has lost his independence, which he had as a rag picker. However, Saheb accepts his new situation, whereas Mukesh dares to want to break free from tradition. This is because Mukesh is more courageous and determined than Saheb will ever be.

Question 3:
Give a brief account of life and activities of the people like Saheb-e-Alam settled in Seemapuri.
Answer:
Seemapuri is a slum area located on the periphery of Delhi. Most of the residents of Seemapuri consist of people who are refugees from Bangladesh. Saheb’s family is among them. The area consists of mud structures, with roofs of tin and tarpaulin. It does not have facilities of sewage, drainage or running water. About 10000 rag pickers live here.
Their only means of livelihood is finding saleable items from rubbish. Thus, for them, the rubbish is as valuable as gold, for their survival depends on these. These rag pickers have lived here for more than thirty years without any identity. They do not have permits but have ration cards, thanks to the selfish whims and wishes of the politicians. With these they can get their name on the voter’s lists and also buy grains for themselves at a subsidized rate.

Question 4:
‘Lost Spring’ explains the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn thousands of people to a life of abject poverty. Do you agree? Why/why not?
Answer:
Yes, I do agree that ‘Lost Spring’ narrates the grinding poverty and traditions to which thousands of people have succumbed.
The story written by Anees Jung revolves around the pitiable condition of poor children who have been forced to live in slums and work hard in dirty conditions.
The first part tells the writer’s impression about the life of poor ragpickers who have migrated from Bangladesh but now are settled in the Seemapuri area of Delhi.
The second part narrates the miserable life of the bangle-makers in Firozabad. The stark reality of these families is that, in spite of back-breaking hard work that they put in, they cannot even afford two square meals a day. Besides, false and blind belief in traditions does not let their children take up other respectable and better paying jobs which will improve their financial situation.

Question 5:
The bangle-makers of Firozabad make beautiful bangles and make everyone happy but they live and die in squalor. Elaborate.
Answer:
Firozabad is the center of India’s glass-blowing industry. Families have spent generations in this business, making beautiful bangles of all hues and colors. But their own life is steeped in filth and misery. People work round the clock in glass furnaces at high temperatures, in dingy cells without air and light.
These workers are exposed to health hazards. They often end up losing their eyesight. Moreover, they are stuck in a vicious circle of exploitation. Even if they try to form a cooperative, they are beaten up and jailed for doing something illegal.
They live in filthy homes in lanes choked with garbage. In such conditions, families of humans and animals exist together in a primeval state. Thus, the bangle-makers of Firozabad make beautiful bangles but live and die in squalor.

Question 6:
“Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi, yet miles away from it, metaphorically.” Explain.
Answer:
Seemapuri is a place on the outskirts of Delhi where 10000 ragpickers and their families live. The people living there are squatters who migrated from Bangladesh in 1971. The ragpickers live in structures of mud, with roofs of tin and tarpaulin, devoid of sewage, drainage or running water.
No one can imagine that such a place exists on the periphery of Delhi, the capital of India. It stands in stark contrast to the metropolitan city of Delhi.
The main city of Delhi, and Seemapuri at its periphery, provide an exemplary case of contradiction.
In Delhi there is luxury and affluence, there are a host of opportunities and dreams, and in Seemapuri there is squalor, hopelessness and despair. There is no chance for the inhabitants of this area to strive towards the attainment of the prospects offered by Delhi. Thus, although Seemapuri is located at the periphery of Delhi, in the real sense, Delhi is as far as miles away from it.

Question 7:
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:
It often happens that promises made to poor children are rarely kept. It is mostly the people belonging to affluent classes who indulge in making false promises to innocent children.These promises act as a bait in some cases. In others, they are meant to avoid these children because they are regarded as a nuisance by most people.
When the author, Anees Jung, asks Saheb about school, his matter-of-fact reply that there is no school in his area forces her to say casually that she will build one. What the author does not realise at the moment is the fact that the innocent child has taken it rather seriously.
When he questions her again about the school, though she feels embarrassed at her false promise, it has left a deep impact on the child. Later in life, Saheb may never actually believe the promises made by people.

Question 8:
‘Saheb is no longer his own master.’ Comment.
Answer:
Grinding poverty and the necessity for a life of subsistence have involved Saheb, in ragpicking. Rummaging through garbage does not provide him with a regular income but gives him freedom. He has all the liberty in the world to roam with his friends in the streets without any worries to bother him.
Also, he can hunt for ‘gold’ in the garbage dumps. It provides him a hope and a thrill everyday in the form of a rupee or a ten-rupee note. So, he looks forward to it. The job he takes up at a tea stall is one of his’ attempts to become his own master. Ironically this further enslaves him. He is now not free to roam aimlessly in the streets. His new occupation binds him to serve somebody else.

Question 9:
How in your opinion, can Mukesh realize his dream?
Answer:
Mukesh belongs to a family of bangle-makers, but his attitude to his situation is different from that of others.
He is a daring boy and he dreams of becoming a motor-mechanic and learning to drive a car.
The determination and strong will of becoming a motor-mechanic and learning to drive a car seems to be very strong. That is why he says that he will walk to the garage. There he will have to meet the owner of the garage and request him to become a motor-mechanic.
He must request for any petty work pertaining to the garage. Through his sincere efforts and hard work and the guidance of his owner, he can attain the skills of a mechanic and then gradually that of car driving. In this way, he can surely realize his dream.

Value Based Questions

Question 1:
Most of us do not raise our voice against injustice in our society and tend to remain mute spectators. Anees Jung in her story, ‘Lost Spring’ vividly highlights the miserable life of street children and bangle makers of Firozabad. She wants us to act. Which qualities does she want th,e children to develop?
Answer:
Anees Jung wants the children to become free . from the vicious cycle of poverty into which they have fallen due to the middlemen, sahukars and law enforcement officials. She wants them to be bold enough to raise their voice against their oppressors. She wants them to be fearless and optimistic so that they can dream of taking up other occupations, just like Mukesh, who wants to be a motor-mechanic.
She wants them to become free from their traditional occupation so that they can realize their life’s ambitions. She sees the spark of such a quality in Mukesh, who is willing to go to any lengths to become a motor-mechanic. She wants some people to help them develop these qualities so that they can be free from injustice and exploitation, taking up other respectable and better paying jobs which will improve their financial condition.

Question 2:
‘Lost Spring” brings out the condition of some children in India who do not go to school, work in inhuman conditions and live in slums. We, as Indians, have failed in our duty in some way. What values do we need to inculcate among the people to bring back the spring’ in the lives of these poor children?
Answer:
In ‘Lost Spring’ Mukesh, Savita and Saheb are all victims of child labor. We have not understood their situation adequately. To bring back the ‘spring’ in the lives of these poor children, we must inculcate the values to

1. have a strong will to ensure that all children get basic education. This may be done by helping them join the ‘open school’ system.
2. have a sense of commitment of wanting to help these children; an example can be to find better employment for the adults in their families.
3. say ‘NO’ to child labor in any work related to us during the children’s school hours.
4. feel the need to do something for such children, exemplifying the saying, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’.
5. create Awareness in society about the plight of the underprivileged so that people in power can help them.

Miscellaneous Question

Question 1:
Carefully read the following phrases and sentences taken from the text. Can you identify the literary 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.
2. Drowned in an air of desolation.
3. Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically.
4. For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders it is a means of survival.
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.
6. She still has bangles on her wrist, but not light in her eyes.
7. Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.
8. Web of poverty.
9. Scrounging for gold.
10. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art.
11. The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulders.

Answer:

1. Hyperbole
2. Metaphor
3. Contrast
4. Contrast
5. Simile
6. Contrast
7. Contrast (When compared to the perception of people in other cities)
8. Metaphor
9. Hyperbole
10. Hyperbole
11. Contrast

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