LOST SPRING (FLAMINGO)

                                                                        LOST SPRING 

-          ANEES JUNG

Good morning gentlemen. Hope, you all are safe and well. Today we are going to deal with a new chapter LOST SPRING. Before we go deep into the chapter let us go through the learning objectives of the chapter.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to:

·         Identify the reasons why Sahib, Mukesh and their communities work in their respective professions.

·         Describe the living and working conditions of both the children.

·         Develop sensitivity towards Child Labour.

·         Narrate real life experiences from their life situations of children working as labourers.

Before we read the chapter let us have some information about the author.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anees Jung (b. 1944) is an Indian author, journalist and columnist for newspapers in India and abroad, whose most known work,Unveiling India (1987) was a chronicle of the lives of women in India, noted especially for the depiction of Muslim women behind the purdah. Born in Rourkela, Anees hails from an aristocratic family in Hyderabad – her father, Nawab Hosh Yar Jung, was a renowned scholar and poet, and served as the musahib(adviser) to the last Nizam (prince) of Hyderabad State. Her mother and brother are also Urdu poets. After schooling and college at Osmania University in Hyderabad, she went to the United States for higher studies at University of Michigan Ann Arbor, where she did her Masters in Sociology and American Studies.

Anees Jung's Lost Spring: Stories of stolen childhood (2005) focuses on children from deprived backgrounds, and includes the story of a child who is kidnapped and forced to work in the carpet industry in Mirzapur. Others are maltreated by alcoholic fathers or married off early or sexually abused, though some find refuge in schools set up by well-meaning NGOs.

Let us have an introduction to the lesson.

As we all know, spring is the season associated with optimism and hope. It also works as a metaphor for the childhood stage of our life. Right from the time we’re born until late childhood, every child hopes for new beginnings and a bright future. The phase of childhood is all about innocence, energy, and tremendous inclination towards outdoors activities along with fun and play. And playtime does not have any limits. It is also a time of getting more skill and knowledge and going to school.

The story, “Lost Spring” deals with the deplorable condition of poor children who get forced to miss the simple joyful moments of childhood because of their socio-economic conditions. These children are not given the opportunity of schooling and are compelled to start working early in life. The author Anees Jung strives hard to eliminate child labour through her book. She propagates the education of children and enforcement of strict laws against child labour by the government. The message is to put an end to child exploitation and let all children enjoy their days of the spring and joy.

Today we will deal with part one of the lesson.

PART - ONE

Sometimes I find a rupee in the garbage. The first part tells the writer’s impressions about the life of the poor rag pickers. The rag pickers have migrated from Dhaka and found a settlement in Seemapuri. Their fields and homes had been swept away by storms. They had come to the big city to find a living. They are poor. The writer watches Saheb every morning scrounging for “gold” in her neighbourhood. Garbage is a means of survival for the elders and for the children it is something wrapped in wonder. The children come across a coin or two from it. These people have desires and ambitions, but they do not know the way to achieve them. There are quite a few things that are unreachable to them, namely shoes, tennis and the like. Later Saheb joins a tea stall where he could earn 800 Rupees and all the meals. The job has taken away his freedom.

The first part of the lesson focuses on a particular character Saheb. It deals with the life of Sahib, how he leads his miserable life. It also explores the pathetic condition of rag pickers. The desires of these children are shattered and they are not able to get good education or job. The author clearly depicts their pitiable condition by explaining their inner feeling and emotion.  

Now you should read the first part of the lesson.

Word meanings

·         Perpetual – everlasting

·         Periphery – outskirts

·         Glibly – using words that are clever, but are not sincere

·         Desolation – the feeling of being very lonely

Now, try to find out the answer to the given MCQ questions

Q1- According to the author what was garbage for the parents?

A) Means of entertainment
B) means of joy
C) Means of sorrow
D) Means of survival

Q2- According to the author what was garbage for the children?

A) Means of entertainment
B) Means of time pass
C) Means of playing
D) a wonder

Q3- Who was Saheb?

A) a shopkeeper
B) a servant
C) a ragpicker
D) all

Q4- What was Saheb looking for?

A) eggs
B)gold
C)coins
D) toys

Q5- Why was Saheb not happy working at the tea stall?

A) Getting no money
B) no food
C) hard work
D)  no freedom

Q6- What is the meaning of Saheb E Alam?

A) Owner
B) Rich man
C) Poor man
D) Lord of the Universe

Q7- Saheb hailed from which place?

A) Delhi
B) Seemapuri
C) Greenfields of Dhaka
D) None

Q8- What do the boys appear like to the author in the story?

A) Morning crows
B) Evening crows
C) Morning birds
D) Evening Birds

Q9- Why did Saheb leave his house?

A) Because storm swept away his house and field
B) to enjoy a life of leisure
C) to find friends
D) to go to college

                                                            HAPPY LEARNING

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