English Core- XII CBSE : Lost Spring

 LOST SPRING     By: ANEES JUNG

i)                   Conditions of Ragpickers at Seemapuri : Hints

Periphery of Delhi-miles away metaphorically-located nearby

lacks the luxury/glamour associated with the city.

Squatters from Bangladesh, came in 1971 10,000 rag pickers.

a.       Left homes in Dhaka-storms swept away fields & homes.

b.      Prefer living  here-with ration cards-can feed families; Children partners in survival

c.       Rag picking-fine art-is gold-gets them roof over head.

d.      For Children- wrapped in wonder/for parents-means of survival.

e.       Saheb-e-Alam -name ironical-means lord of universe-scrounges in the garbage.

f.       Would like to go to school, but there is none in the neighborhood, so picks garbage.

g.       Live in terrible conditions-structures of mud roofs of tins & tarpaulin,

h.      Devoid of sewage, drainage, running water.

i.        Saheb unhappy at tea stall-gets Rs, 800 all his meals

j.        Lost his freedom-bag his own-Canister belongs to owner of Tea shop.

k.      Desire but do not own shoes-

l.        Most of them moved around barefoot, due to poverty, not traditions as one was led to believe.

ii) FIROZABAD-   hazardous working conditions.

a.       Often lose brightness of eyes.

b.      Mind numbing toil-all these years has killed all initiative & ability to dream.

c.       Dingy cells, crumbling walls wobbly doors,

d.      Stinking lanes choked with garbage.

e.       Half build sack, man & animal co-existing in the small houses.

f.       Poor ventilation, high temperature,

g.       Poor lights and suffocating environment at the work place.

h.      Unwholesome meal to the members.

i.        Stigma of caste of bangle makers.

iii) Do not organize into co operatives-

                                            i.               vicious circle of sahukars, the middle men, the politicians, the policemen, the bureaucrats.

                                          ii.               if organized-hauled by police jailed beaten for doing something illegal .

                                        iii.               Life moves from poverty to apathy to greed & to injustice.

iv) Distinct worlds-

                                         i.                     One family caught in web of poverty

                                       ii.                     Burdened by the stigma of caste in which they are born;

                                     iii.                     The other a vicious circle of sahukars, middlemen, politicians, policemen, & bureaucrats.

                                     iv.                     Daring - not a part of growing up.

v) Miserable plight & occupation of the people in Firozabad-

a.                            Center of glass blowing industry.

b.                           Every family engaged in working at furnaces,

c.                            Welding glass, making bangles, for generations.

d.                           Has about 20,000 children working in hot furnaces, slogging daylight hours,

e.                            Often losing the brightness of their eyes before they become adults.

vi)MUKESH’S family live in terrible conditions-

                                                        i.                                                            Work in glass furnaces with high temperatures,

                                                      ii.                                                            Dingy cells, without air & light,

                                                    iii.                                                            Stinking lanes choked with garbage,

                                                    iv.                                                            Crumbling walls, wobbly doors, no windows,

                                                      v.                                                            Crowded with families of humans & animals co existing in a primeval state.

vii) Scene in Mukesh’s house-wobbly:     Hints:

                                      i.      Iron door,

                                    ii.      Half built shack.

                                  iii.      In one part,

                                  iv.      Thatched with dead grass,

                                    v.      A firewood stove over which was placed a large vessel of sizzling, spinach leaves.

                                  vi.      More chopped vegetables in a large platter.

                                vii.      A frail young woman, elder brother’s wife was cooking the evening meal for the whole family.

viii) Reaction to poverty-

                             i.   Resigned to their fate born to the caste of bangle maker;

                           ii.   Had worked hard but had not been able to either renovate his house

                         iii.   Send his sons to school.

                         iv.   Could only teach them bangle making.

                           v.   Mukesh’s grandmother had seen her husband go blind with the dust from polishing bangles.

                         vi.   Accepted fate- as God given lineage that could not be broken

ix) Mukesh dream-

                                i.   Dares to dream of being a motor mechanic.

                              ii.   Wants to be a motor mechanic-decided to go to a garage to learn about cars.

                           iii.   Walks all the distance to learn at mechanic garage.

x) Irony-

                                i.   Savita’s story-Yong girl,

                              ii.   Working mechanically,

                            iii.   Soldering pieces of glass.

                            iv.   Unaware of the sacred significance of bangles: Suhaag-for Indian women.

                              v.   Would realize it when she became a bride.

                            vi.   The old woman had bangles on her wrist but no light in eyes.

                          vii.   Had not enjoyed even a full meal in her life.

                        viii.   Husband knew only bangle making.

                            ix.   Had only built a house for his family