LOST SPRING

Stories of stolen childhood

- CLASS XII
Pre-reading activity: Brainstorming
 Pre-reading activity: Brainstorming (In
continuation….)
1. Where are the boys and what are they doing?
2. Can you expect what they are scrounging for?
3. What will they do with it?
4. Some broken/ disposable glasses, pieces of plastic material
and some objects. Can you add some more what they can
find there?

Refer to the previous

slide
Pre-reading activity: Brainstorming
(In continuation….)

Name the sectors that

are forcing children to
work?
(Child Labour)
Focus: Child Labour
1. Garment Industry
2. Brick kilns
3. Unorganized Sectors
4. Agriculture
5. Fireworks
LOST SPRING
About the author: Anees Jung
She was born in Rourkela and spent her
childhood and adolescence in Hyderabad.
She received her education in England and
United States of America.
She has been an editor and columnist for major
newspapers in India and abroad, and has
authored several books.

The following is an excerpt from her book titled Lost Spring, Stories of
Stolen Childhood. Here she analyses the grinding poverty and traditions
which condemn these children to a life of exploitation.
Notable books from Anees Jung
When a place becomes a person
(1977)
Unveiling India (1987)
The Song of India (1990)
Night of the New Moon: Encounters
with Muslim women in India. (1993)
Seven Sisters (1994)
Breaking the Silence (1997)
Courtyard (2003)
Lost Spring: Stories of stolen
childhood (2005)
 Pre-reading activity: Questions
(In continuation….)
What are the main four seasons?
 The four main seasons
Winter Spring Autumn Summer
 Pre-reading activity: Questions
(In continuation….)
What are the characteristics and natural changes that occur
during “Spring”?
Spring
What are the characteristics of the spring?
 Spring

2. Breeding activities also

increase during this time, with 3. Characterized by
many animals giving birth. increase in rainfall
1. Season of "rebirth",
"rejuvenation" and new
beginnings.

4. Farmers and agriculturalists sow

their seeds as temperatures become
5. A lot of special flowers bloom in this season, giving favourable for plant growth.
colourful touch to the nature.
 Pre-reading activity: Questions
(In continuation….)
What are the characteristics and natural changes that occur
during “Summer”?
Summer
What are the characteristics of the summer?
 Summer

2. All the animals and birds

1. Season of hardship for
the less fortunate and fun
for the fortunate.
search for the water and
3. Characterized by hot,
food. Some of them may die
warmest and longest days in
due to lack of water and
the year.
food.

4. Farmers will
have limited
special types of
crops for the
summer and wait
5. Most of the plants will die in this season for the rainfall.
due to lack of water. Leaves and plants
dries up if not properly watered and cared.
 Pre-reading activity: Questions
(In continuation….)
What are the characteristics and natural changes that occur
during “Autumn/ Fall”?
Autumn
What are the characteristics of the autumn/ fall?
 Autumn
2. Animals prepare
themselves for the long
months ahead. They collect
and store the food for the
upcoming winter.
1. Transition season from 3. Characterized by
summer into winter shorter days and
longer nights.

4. Farmers will not

have that much work
since the lands will
turn into barren lands
and bare trees.

5. In the fall as the weather grows colder, many plants stop producing
food. Leaves turn into yellowish red colour.
 Pre-reading activity: Questions
(In continuation….)
What are the characteristics and natural changes that occur
during “Winter”?
Winter
What are the characteristics of the winter?
 Winter

2. Animals go into hibernation, a

state resembling sleep where the
animal remains inactive, usually
housed in a shell, remaining so
until summer arrives.
1. Season of in
activeness and
hibernation. 3. Characterized by falling snow
and freezing cold temperatures,
usually exacerbated by strong
winds.

4. Farmers will not

sow the seeds because
5. Trees and plants shed their leaves in the the snow will hinder
winter in order to survive the harsh weather. the growth of plants
 Pre-reading activity: Questions
(In continuation….)
Discuss in groups and draw an analogy between the human age
groups and these four seasons?
Match between age groups and seasons

Childhood Autumn/ Fall

Youth Summer

Middle Age Winter

Old Age Spring

 Ages and seasons analogy

Winter Spring Autumn Summer

Old age Childhood Middle age Youth
 Pre-reading activity: Questions
(In continuation….)
Write some points on similarity between Spring and
Childhood stage.
Conclusion:
Childhood is like
spring season

Similarly, the
Spring being the
childhood of human
best season of a
life is often linked to
year, is full of
spring, as it marks
color, fragrance,
the beginning of
freshness,
human life, full of
renewal and
joy, pleasure, play
growth.
and growth.
Introduction

The writer expresses her concern over the exploitation of

childhood in hazardous jobs like rag-picking and bangle
making.
Abject poverty and thoughtless traditions result in the loss of
childhood of millions of children like Saheb and Mukesh by
working hard to support themselves and their families rather
than enjoying their childhood by playing and seeking
education.
There is a dire need to provide these poverty stricken
children, opportunity to dare, dream and do and a life of
dignity.
Theme of the lesson: Lost Spring
Anees Jung through her story, “Lost Spring” deals with the
deplorable condition of poor children street children who get
forced to miss the simple joyful moments of childhood
because of their socio-economic conditions.
The author Anees Jung strives hard to eliminate child labor
through her book.
Theme of the lesson: Lost Spring
She propagates the education of children and enforcement of
strict laws against child labor by the government.
The message is to put an end to child exploitation and let all
children enjoy their days of the spring
Lost Spring:
The lesson can be divided into 3 sub parts i.e. the stolen
childhood of Saheb-e-Alam, Mukesh and Savita.
 Saheb-e-Alam: Introduction
Saheb is a young boy of school-going age.
Before he is a rag picker and was looking for “gold” in the
garbage dumps of the big city.
Meaning of Saheb-e-Alam
◦ Lord of Universe: But he is a rag picker.

He roams the streets barefoot with other rag-pickers. This army of barefoot boys appears
in the morning and disappears at noon.
Saheb-e-Alam: Introduction
Saheb came from Dhaka, Bangladesh (Orange colored region
in left map) to Seemapuri, Delhi, India(Red coloured point in
right map).
Seemapuri: Saheb’s home town
Around 10000 rag pickers
liven structures of mud, with
roofs of tin and tarpaulin,
devoid of sewage, drainage or
running water.

Food is more important for

survival than an identity.
◦ “If at the end of the day we can
feed our families and go to bed
without an aching stomach, we
would rather live here than in the
fields that gave us no grain” said
some women.
Saheb-e-Alam: “But promises like mine abound in
every corner of his bleak world.”
The author asked Saheb about going
to school.
Saheb explained that there was no
school in his neighbourhood.
He promised to go to school when
they built one.
Half joking, the author asked whether
he would come in case she started one.
Saheb smiled broadly and agreed to
come.
After a few days, he ran upto the
author and asked if the school was
ready. The author felt embarrassed.
She had made a promise that was not
meant.

Author talks with Saheb about going to school and his desire to have shoes.
Saheb-e-Alam: Perpetual state of
poverty.
“A dream come true”:
◦ Saheb is wearing discarded tennis
shoes. One of them has a hole.
Saheb does not bother about the
hole.
◦ For one who has walked barefoot,
even shoes with a hole is a dream
come true.

”Out of his reach”:

◦ Tennis, a game is out of his reach.
Its impossible to a poor boy like
Saheb to play a “rich-people”
game.
Saheb-e-Alam: Working at tea stall

Saheb now has a regular income. He is paid 800 rupees and all his
meals. Thus, food is no problem.
But his face has lost the carefree look. The steel canister in his hand
now seems a burden. He is no longer his own master. He may have
to work for longer hours.
The helplessness of doing things at his own will makes him sad.
 While reading activity
(In continuation….)
Describe the irony in Saheb’s name.
What kind of gold did the people of Seemapuri look for in the
garbage?
What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from
villages to cities?
What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing
footwear?
How was Saheb’s life at the tea stall?
Saheb-e-Alam: Important points
Saheb-e-Alam : Important points
Lost Spring
This lesson can be divided into 3 sub parts i.e. the stolen
childhood of Saheb-e-Alam, Mukesh and Savita.
1. What did Mukesh insists on ?
2. His dream looms like a _________ amidst
the dust of streets that fill his town
Firozabad, famous for its ___________.
3.What was the occupation of Mukesh’s
family ?
4. Describe the place where Mukesh lives.
Mukesh: Introduction
Mukesh is the son of a
poor bangle-maker of
Firozabad (Orange region
in Uttar Pradesh map).
Mukesh is born in the
caste of bangle-makers.
◦ They know no other work
other than making bangles.
Firozabad: Mukesh’s home town
It is the centre of India’s glass-blowing industry.
Families have spent generations working around furnaces,
welding glass, making bangles for the women in the land.
Firozabad: Mukesh’s home town
Its full of stinking lanes choked with garbage, crumbling
walls, wobbly doors, no windows, crowded with families.

Colourful outside: Dark inside

◦ All the colourful bangles are ◦ The boys and girls sit in dark
kept on the four-wheeled welding pieces of coloured glass into
handcarts. circle of bangles.
5. As custom demands, daughters-in-law must veil their faces
before male elders. What does this statement signify?
6. What do you know about the lineage of the
bangle-makers? How are they affected by bangle-making?
7. “It symbolises an Indian woman’s suhaag, auspiciousness in
marriage. It will dawn on her suddenly one day when her
head is draped with a red veil, her hands dyed red with
henna, and red bangles rolled onto her wrists. She will then
become a bride. Like the old woman beside her who became
one many years ago.” What does this statement signify ?
Firozabad: Middle men
The middle men in Firozabad keeps the bangle makers in
poverty.
These include the moneylenders, the middlemen, the
policemen, the keepers of law, the bureaucrats and the
politicians.

Money lenders Police men

Firozabad: Middle men
The middle men in Firozabad keeps the bangle makers in
poverty.
These include the moneylenders, the middlemen, the
policemen, the keepers of law, the bureaucrats and the
politicians.

Keepers of law Politicians Bureaucrats

Mukesh’s Attitude and his dream
Mukesh’s grandmother
thinks that the god-given
lineage can never be broken.
Her son and grandsons are
bom in the caste of bangle
makers.
But Mukesh wants to be a
motor mechanic.

He insists on being his own master by becoming a motor

mechanic.
Mukesh’s Attitude and his dream

“A mirage
amidst the
dust”.

Mukesh is breaking their

tradition by thinking of
becoming motor mechanic
Mukesh: Important points
Lost Spring
This lesson can be divided into 3 sub parts i.e. the stolen
childhood of Saheb-e-Alam, Mukesh and Savita.
Savita: Introduction
Savita is a young girl who lives in bangle making town called
Firozabad.
She lives with a old woman and a old man.
She knows nothing other than making bangles.
Her hands move mechanically like a tongs of machine.
Savita: Poverty
Savita does not even know the importance/ significance of
the bangles she is making.
Beside Savita, an old woman who is married and had bangles
on her wrist but no light is there in her eyes.
Savita: Poverty
The “Ek waqt ser bhar khana bhi nahin khaya” which means
they did not enjoyed even a full meal in her entire life time
shows the state of their poverty.
The old man had some credit in his lifetime as he built a
house to live in.
 While reading activity
(In continuation….)
Savita is a symbol of innocence and efficiency. Comment
on this statement.
The beauty of the glass bangles of Firozabad contrasts
with the misery of people who produce them. Comment
on this statement.
Savita: Important points
While reading activity
(In continuation….)
 While reading activity
(In continuation….)
Can you name the two distinctive worlds by seeing the first
and second set of images in the last slide?
Who are the people present in the first set of images (Classify
them as Oppressor/ Oppressed)
Who are the people present in the second set of images
(Classify them as Oppressor/ Oppressed?)
Two distinctive worlds
in the lesson.

Op
pr
sed ess
es or
pr s
Op
1. The families of the 1. The other world is
bangle-makers belong to the vicious circle of
one world. the moneylenders,
2. These workers are the middlemen, the
caught in the web of policemen, the
poverty. keepers of the law,
3. They are also burdened the bureaucrats and
by the stigma of the the politicians.
caste in which they are
born. They know no
other work.
 Post reading activities
(In continuation….)

What are the causes of

Child Labour?
Causes of Child Labour
 Post reading activities
(In continuation….)

What are the

consequences of Child
Labour?
Consequences of Child Labour
 Post reading activities
(In continuation….)

Can you name some

laws against Child
Labour?
Laws against Child Labour in India
 Post reading activities
(In continuation….)

How can we eliminate

child labour in India?
Eliminating and preventing child
labour
Glossary
Scrounging: searching
Mutter: speak in low voice
Glibly: Speaking/spoken in a confident way
Bleak: empty
Perpetual state of poverty: never ending condition of being
poor
Squatter: someone who settles lawfully on government land
with the intent to acquire a title to it
Tattered: torn transit homes: temporary homes
Figures of Speech
The important figures of speech are:
◦ Simile
◦ Irony
◦ Hyperbole
◦ Metaphor
◦ Contrast
 Figures of Speech
The important figures of speech are:
1. Simile:
• A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using the words
"like" or "as.“
• As slippery as an eel
• Like peas in a pod
2. Irony :
• Occurs when there's a marked contrast between what is said and what
is meant, or between appearance and reality based on humour.
• A traffic cop gets suspended for not paying his parking tickets.
• The Titanic was said to be unsinkable but sank on its first voyage.
 Figures of Speech
The important figures of speech are:

3. Hyperbole:
• Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
• I've told you to stop a thousand times.
• That must have cost a billion dollars.
4. Metaphor:
• A metaphor makes a comparison between two unlike things or ideas.
• Heart of stone
• Time is money
 Figures of Speech
The important figures of speech are:

5. Contrast
• Occurs when there's a marked contrast between what is said and what
is meant, or between appearance and reality not based on humour.
• Unlike most babies, Stuart could walk as soon as he was born
• The weather was snowy, yet it was not cold.
 Figures of Speech
Find figures of speech in the following sentences :
1. Saheb-e-Alam which means the lord of the universe is
directly in contrast to what Saheb is in reality.
(Irony)
2. Drowned in an air of desolation
(Hyperbole)
3. Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles
away from it, metaphorically.
(Metaphor)
 Figures of Speech
Find figures of speech in the following sentences :
4. For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders it is
a means of survival.
(Contrast)
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.
(Simile)
6. She still has bangles on her wrist, but not light in her eyes.
(Contrast)
 Figures of Speech
Find figures of speech in the following sentences :
7. Web of poverty
(Metaphor)
8. Scrounging for gold
(Hyperbole)
9. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the
years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art.
(Hyperbole)
10. The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag he
would carry so lightly over his shoulders.
(Metaphor)
Assignment
1.Where does the narrator Anees Jung encounter Saheb every
morning?
2.Why is the narrator embarrassed at having made a promise
that was not meant ?
3.What was Mukesh’s dream? Did he achieve it?
4.Which forces conspire to keep the workers in bangle
industry in Firozabad in poverty?
5, Why couldn’t the bangle makers organize themselves into
cooperatives?