Lost Spring- Anees Jung: Guide notes and answers |CBSE Class 12

Q1)Write a short note on 'Life at Seemapuri'

Answer:- Although Seemapuri was a place on the ' periphery of Delhi' still metaphorically it was miles away from it. This was because of the poor living conditions available at Seemapuri which were far apart from the high class standard for living in Delhi. Delhi provide people with skyscraper, high-class lifestyle, furnished flat, proper drainage facilities and many more. On the contrary Seemapuri, the dwelling place for "squatter" from Bangladesh is a "wilderness" with structure of mud with roofs of tin and tarpaulin,devoid of sewage, drainage or running water facilities. They live without identity, without permits,only with ration card to get them into voter's list and enable to buy grains. Temporary house, demolished by storm and tattered clothes and sarees have been the fate of Seemapuri folk. Children grow up becoming partners of survival with destiny being rag-picking.

Q2) Justify the title "Lost spring".

Answer:-. The story "Lost spring" has a tinge of irony . Spring ,the best season and being full of colour, fragrance and freshness,it is also a season of renewal and growth . The childhood of human life is often likened to spring as it marks the beginning of human life and has a tremendous scope for growth. It is full of tenderness,joy, pleasure and plays. Children anywhere in the world are a source of great joy. But ironically millions of children like Saheb and Mukesh experience no spring in their lives for their childhood is consumed in making a living. Education,play and pleasure are not for them to enjoy. They must work to support themselves and their families. Thus the title brings out the depravity of child labour in a very telling way. So the title is justified.

Q3) What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?

Answer:-  Saheb, the rag-picker and one of the protagonist of the story is 'scrounging' for a rupee in the garbage which seems to be gold to them " wrapped in wonder". They have a hope to find more coin or sometimes even a ten rupees note.
           Saheb- e- alam resides in Seemapuri in the periphery of Delhi which is a 'wilderness' 'deviod of sewage or drainage',  etc.and without even identity.
            Saheb has come from Bangladesh and was a refugee.

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Portrait of a lady- Khuswant Singh: Guide notes for CBSE CLASS XI

Character sketch of grandmother:-

The story describes the entire phase of relationship which the author shared with his grandmother. In the early days of the author's life , his grandmother shared a strong bond with him. However, that tie of friendship loosened a little when they both shifted to the author's city house.
When the author started to go to the university,then this relationship was led to a complete separation. That phase of author's life was very painful. He got a room of his own and his grandmother led a life of seclusion. However, in spite of changes in the course of life, their feelings for each other remained unchanged. Even when he was leaving to go abroad, she didn't display any emotion but prayed continuously. Same was her reaction when the author came back after five years.
The author's grandmother was a lady who was very spiritual and not accustomed to the modern techniques, styles and way of life. She was short and fat,slightly bent. She was beautiful at heart. Being very caring, she used to wake up the author in the morning and get him ready for school. She was very concerned about the author's education. She was a kindhearted person and a pet lover as well. She visited to the temples frequently. She was very attached to the author and would spend hours talking to him about his education. She was deeply distressed at western education and learning of music. Author's grandmother was a pious woman as she used to tell the beads of the rosary and would say a prayer in a singsong manner.

Q) How was the author's relation with grandmother?

Answer:- 
The story describes the entire phase of relationship which the author shared with his grandmother. In the early days of the author's life , his grandmother shared a strong bond with him. However, that tie of friendship loosened a little when they both shifted to the author's city house.
When the author started to go to the university,then this relationship was led to a complete separation. That phase of author's life was very painful. He got a room of his own and his grandmother led a life of seclusion. However, in spite of changes in the course of life, their feelings for each other remained unchanged. Even when he was leaving to go abroad, she didn't display any emotion but prayed continuously. Same was her reaction when the author came back after five years.

Lost Spring- Anees Jung: Guide notes answer part-II | CBSE Class 12

Q1) The beauty of glass bangle of Firozabad contrast with the misery of the people who produce them. Comments.

Answer:-  The lives of workers of bangle factory in Firozabad is foil to the beauty of the glass bangle. Their life is colourless but their creation that is, the glass bangles reflect all colours of the rainbow. Bangles are colourful , bright , symbol of suhag of married Indian women which is considered to be auspicious and fill colour and happiness in their lives. But in contrast the producers are impoverished, deprived and remains in dark. They lose their eyesight, slog their day spending light hours in dark, stingy cells in front of furnaces. Human and animal's coexistence, as the life in the primeval state. They do not have leader to fight for them, they are helpless. Thus, they accept this to be fate , destined to be sufferers.

Q2) "Mukesh's dream is also like a mirage"-. Elucidate.

Answer:-  The dreams trapped in the childish mind and seen through the young eyes of Mukesh seems to be a mirage. Mirage, an optical illusion, which even after trying alot can't be approached. Mukesh's dreams were similar to that of a mirage which can only be seen but never can be approached in reality. Mukesh's dream to be a 'motor mrchanic' appears to be foil to the situation of Mukesh's life, trapped in the "vicious cycle" of policemen, middlemen,sahukars, politicians etc. who gradually push them into the net of exploitation, poverty, malpractices. So, Anees Jung has said that his dreams are like mirage, hard to reach, hard to acquire.

Q3)  What is the working condition in the bangle factory of Firozabad? 
Mention the hazards of these industries.

Answer:-  The working condition available to the workers of the glass bangle factory are very much poor compared to the beauty of the bangles. They have to work in extremely high temperature of furnace in the dingy, uncomfortable cells without air and light. They are not provided with proper remuneration with relation to the hard ship so taken up by them .Also proper safety measures are taken up to protect them from its harmfully effects.
           The hazards so faced by the workers of those industries are that the dust from polishing the bangles are injurious to eyes and they often loose eyesights before becoming adults  and their eyes are more adjusted to dark then to light , along with bear physical pain caused by the heat of furnace to earn the meagre income so provided to them.