Chapter – 2: Lost Spring

Q. No. 11) From this chapter, it is evident that the author has an attitude of
a. sympathy.
b. apathy.
c. empathy.
d. bewilderment.
Ans. Option (a)
[Sympathy Vs Empathy:

Sympathy is a feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune. It involves recognizing
that someone is going through a difficult time and feeling sorry for them. Sympathy is often
expressed through words of comfort or acts of kindness, but it doesn't necessarily involve
sharing the other person's feelings or experiences.

Empathy, on the other hand, is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
person. It involves putting oneself in another person's shoes, imagining what it would be like to
be in their situation, and feeling the emotions they are feeling. Empathy involves not only
recognizing someone else's pain or joy but also experiencing it vicariously.

In summary, sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, while empathy is feeling with someone.
Sympathy is a more cognitive response, while empathy is a more emotional response. Empathy
requires a greater degree of emotional involvement and personal identification with the other
person's experience.]

Q. No. 12) Why does Anees Jung say that the bangle makers are caught in a vicious web?
Ans. The bangle makers are caught in a vicious web because they
 are compelled by family and traditions to follow the same lineage as their forefathers that
too at an early age.
 are exploited at the hands of the Sahukars, middlemen, policemen, lawmakers,
bureaucrats, and politicians
 toil day and night, but are not paid appropriate wages · cannot form cooperatives for their
betterment.
 cannot dare to dream.

Q. No. 13) What does the description of Mukesh's family in Lost Spring reveal about gender
roles?
Ans.
 reveals patriarchy and inequality in the treatment of men and women.
 that women are still assigned stereotypical gender roles such as being in charge of
household chores and care-giving, as seen with Mukesh's sister-in-law.
 that women need to respect the older men in the family by covering their faces.
Q. No. 14) What do we come to know about the author of Lost Spring, Anees Jung, through her
interactions with Saheb and Mukesh?
Ans.
 Observed in detail – observant.
 Is moved by their plight - sensitive/empathetic.
 Feels helpless about her inability to do anything for them.

Q. No. 15) How is the bangle industry of Firozabad a curse for the bangle makers?
Ans. Because of the following reasons:
 high temperatures, lack of proper ventilation, and light
 long working hours in front of the hot furnace
 eyes are more adjusted to dark than light
 dust from polishing bangles affects their eyes
 exploited by moneylenders, police, bureaucrats, politicians
 fear of being ill-treated by police
 lack of a leader who can organize them
 live in a state of intense poverty
 sleep on an empty stomach, and live in stinky lanes overcrowded with humans and
animals.

Q. No. 16) Why do you think Mukesh is content to dream of cars and doesn’t dream of flying a
plane?
Ans. Mukesh dreams of owning a car one day but doesn't dream of flying a plane because his
aspirations are limited by the environment in which he lives. Mukesh and his family belong to a
community of "bangle-makers" who are excluded from mainstream society and denied access to
education, healthcare, and other basic amenities.
Mukesh has never been to school and his desire to own a car reflects his yearning for a sense of
dignity, mobility, and social status that he lacks in his current circumstances.

Flying a plane is an ambition that requires a level of education, skills, and resources that are
beyond Mukesh's reach. He has never seen an airplane, let alone flown in one, and doesn't have
the knowledge or means to pursue such a goal. Mukesh's dreams are thus bounded by the
realities of his social and economic situation, and he finds solace in imagining a more modest
but still meaningful future for himself.

Q. No. 17) "Mukesh is not like the others. His dreams loom like a mirage amidst the dust of
streets that fill his town Firozabad." Justify the statement in the light of contrast in the mindsets
of Mukesh and the people of Firozabad.
Ans. Firozabad- is dominated by the bangle industry, most families are engaged in making
bangles work around furnaces, physically and mentally hazardous but no one dares to do
anything else.
Mukesh - aspires to be a mechanic, unlike his peers, dares to dream, determined to walk to a
garage and learn to drive, his passion would help him break away from tradition and achieve his
goal.
Q. No. 18) Do the poor have the right to dream? Why then does the author call Mukesh's dream
'a mirage'?
Ans. Everyone has the right to dream-even Mukesh in spite of the challenges of his life. But his
dream is like a mirage. Mukesh belonged to a marginalized family. He disliked the profession
of bangle-making and wanted to become a motor mechanic. He lives in such poor conditions
that it is impossible for him to learn to drive a car. He is bound by the traditional family of
working in the bangle industry. Working for years in those bangle-making mills will make him
blind. The bangle-making communities are not equipped to break out of the vicious circle of
politicians middlemen etc. So the dream is compared to a mirage/hallucination.

Q. No. 19) Do you believe that ‘God-given lineage can be broken’? Support your position with
a rationale.
Ans. The idea of "God-given lineage" implies that a person's social status, opportunities, and
destiny are predetermined by their birth in a particular family or community. This notion is
often associated with the caste system in India and other hierarchical systems that divide people
based on their birth.
From a rational perspective, the notion of breaking God-given lineage is consistent with the
principles of social mobility and meritocracy, which are based on the idea that individuals
should be judged on their abilities and achievements rather than their social background.

However, the notion of breaking God-given lineage can also be controversial and challenging,
particularly in societies where social hierarchies are deeply entrenched and difficult to change.
It may be seen as a threat to established power structures and social norms and may face
resistance from those who benefit from the status quo.

Q. No. 20) How do you think the author’s life might have been impacted after her interactions
with the children and their families mentioned in ‘Lost Spring’?
Ans. Based on the book, it is clear that Anees Jung was deeply moved by the plight of the
children and families she encountered in the slums of Delhi. She was struck by the contrast
between the wealth and luxury of the city and the poverty and squalor of the slums, and she was
particularly affected by the resilience and dignity of the children who had to work in order to
survive.
It is possible that Anees Jung's experiences in the slums of Delhi may have influenced her
worldview and her approach to writing. She may have become more aware of the social and
economic inequalities that exist in Indian society and may have developed a greater empathy for
those who are marginalized and excluded.

Q. No. 21) How does the story, ‘Lost Spring’ highlight the apathy of society and those in power
to end the vicious cycle of poverty? Support your answer with textual evidence.
Ans.
1. Lack of access to education: The story depicts the fact that many children in the slums do
not have access to education. Even when they do attend school, they often drop out early
due to poverty or discrimination. The lack of education perpetuates the cycle of poverty
and prevents children from improving their circumstances.
 2. The exploitation of children: The story highlights the exploitation of children who are
forced to work in order to help support their families. Many of these children work long
hours in hazardous conditions for little pay.
3. Discrimination based on caste: The story portrays the discrimination faced by people
from lower castes in India. These people are often excluded from mainstream society and
denied access to education, healthcare, and other basic amenities.
4. Lack of political will: The story suggests that there is a lack of political will to address
the issue of poverty in India. The government has failed to implement policies that would
provide greater opportunities for the poor and marginalized, such as free education and
healthcare.

Q. No. 22) Certain traditions and lineage, condemn thousands of children to a life of abject
poverty and choke their aspirations.
i. Do you agree? Explain.
ii. How can we change this? Suggest some ways to tackle this issue.
Ans. i. Yes, I agree that certain traditions and lineage condemn thousands of children to a life of
abject poverty and choke their aspirations. The story "Lost Spring" by Anees Jung illustrates
this point by depicting the lives of children living in the slums of Delhi. Many of these children
are forced to work from a young age due to poverty and lack of opportunities. They are denied
access to education and other basic amenities, and their social status often determines their
future prospects. This is a clear example of how tradition and lineage can perpetuate poverty
and limit the aspirations of children.
ii. To tackle this issue, there are several steps that can be taken:

1. Education: Education is a key factor in breaking the cycle of poverty. By providing free
and accessible education to all children, regardless of their social status, we can help to
ensure that all children have an opportunity to improve their lives.
2. Empowerment: Empowering children and families to take control of their own lives can
also help to break the cycle of poverty. This can be done by providing training and
support in areas such as entrepreneurship and financial management.
3. Addressing discrimination: Discrimination based on caste, gender, or other factors must
be addressed in order to ensure that all children have equal opportunities to succeed.
4. Government policies: The government can play an important role in tackling poverty by
implementing policies that provide support and opportunities for those who are most in
need. This can include initiatives such as free education and healthcare and support for
small businesses and entrepreneurship.
5. Awareness and advocacy: Raising awareness of the issue of poverty and advocating for
change can also help to bring about positive change. This can involve community
outreach programs, social media campaigns, and other forms of advocacy.

Q. No. 23) 'The cry of not having money to do anything except carry on the business of making
bangles, not even enough to eat, rings in every home.'
(The Lost Spring)
'...far from the city, we make our roadside stand and ask for some city money to feel in hand'.
(A Roadside Stand)
Create a conversation between a bangle maker and the owner of a roadside stand with reference
to the above extracts.
You may begin the conversation like this:
Owner of a roadside stand: Your bangles are pretty. Tell me about your experience in this
business.
Ans. Owner of a roadside stand: Your bangles are pretty. Tell me about your experience in this
business.
Bangle Maker: Thank you. I have been making bangles for as long as I can remember. It's a
family business and we have been doing it for generations.

Owner of a roadside stand: I can understand. My situation is not very different. I also have a
small business, and I struggle to make ends meet.

Bangle Maker: Yes, it's not easy. We barely make enough to survive. The cry of not having
money to do anything except carry on the business of making bangles, not even enough to eat,
rings in every home.

Owner of a roadside stand: I know how it feels. That's why I came to the city to set up this
roadside stand. But even here, it's a struggle to make enough money to survive.

Bangle Maker: It's the same for us. We live far from the city, and when we come here to sell our
bangles, we ask for some city money to feel in our hand. It's a difficult life.

Owner of a roadside stand: Yes, it is. But we have to keep going. We can't give up. We have to
find ways to improve our situation.

Bangle Maker: I agree. We need more opportunities to improve our business and our lives. We
need support from the government and society to break the cycle of poverty.

Owner of a roadside stand: That's true. We need to work together and support each other. Only
then can we hope to overcome the challenges we face.