~,sY0u }lead • .
· (PageI7) ~igh temperatures, in dingy cells without air and
at is saheb Jookmg for m the garbage du . hgh~. Consequently, the children, who slog their
I ~,re ;she and where has he come from? mpsl
\at does Saheb look for in the 'garbage dum
,r W , . ps?
· All India 2015
the garbage dumps, Saheb looks for usef 1 .
1ns l!li.·ch can be sold for cash. As these item u items
w1,1 h . s can be
traded for m?n;r, \ er ar~ JUSt We~ 'gold' for him
;~\h' 1;. 1~
saneb and his See~ apuri, a slum o~
the periphery o e 1. lS amily ha,d migrated from
Ballgladesh. '
What explanation~ does the author offer for the
2 children not wearmg footwear?, . .
or What does the reference ~o chappd/s•in 'Lost Spring'
tell us about the economic condition of the
ragpickers? . ·' All India 2016
The author offers various·explanations given to h
1n5 by the children like, simply n<Jt caring to take thee~
trouble of taking their slippers down from the shelf
wwear them, not wearing footwear is a tradition
and so on. However, she feels that it is simply an' · :-
excuse to hide a perpetual state of poverty, as many
families cannot afford to \my footwear for their
children. The reference to chappa,ls is symbolic of any
kind of footwear, which the ragpickers cannot
afford.
3 Is Saheb happy working at the tec;,-sta)I? Explain.
Forei"°' 2010; All India 2009
or How was Saheb's life at the tea stall? Foreign 2015
or What job did Saheb take up?
. Was he happy?
All India 2014
Ans Saheb took up the job of performing odd jobs at a
tea stall, but was unhappy because he was tied
down by the work he had·to'do, thus losing
his independence, which he had earlier as·a
ragpicker.
Think as you Read (Page 20) .
1 What makes the city of Firozabad famous?
Ans Bangle-making makes the city of Firozabad famous.
Beautiful bangles can be seen all over. Every second
f~y is engaged in the business of bangle-making,
It 15 the centre of India's glass-blowirlg industry
where families );lave spent generations w0rking
around furnaces.
2M . the hazards of working In the glass bangles
.
. ent,on
industry,
AnJ Th ' hazard of working in the glass bangles
. e main
;dustry is to lose your sight over a period of t~e.
th
angles are manufactured in glass furnaces Wl
dayhght hours in a cloistered room close to these hot
furnaces, often lose the brightness of their eyes.
O_ther hazards are developing lung and brain related
diseases.
3 How is Mukesh's attitude to hissituation different
from that of his family? Foreign 2009
or "ft is his karam, his destiny." What is Mukesh's
family's attitude towards their situation?
All India 2015
or How is Mukesh different from the other
bangle-makers of Firozabad? All India 2014
Ans Mukesh's attitude to his situation is different from
that of.his family because he is determined to
become a car mechanic. His father, a bangle-maker,
could not do anything for his family except teach
them the art of making bangles.
· His grandmother accepted her husband's going
blind from polishing bangles as·'his karam, his
destiny'. She believes that they cannot break their
. ,'god-given lineage'. However, Mukesh does not want
to pursue this trade.
Understanding the Text (Page 20)
·, 1 What could be some of the reasons for the
· , migration of people from villages to cities?
· Ans The main reason for the migration of people from
villages to cities is the search of a better livelihood.
Poverty and poor facilit~es_in the villages are a major
'push' factor. Life in the cities has a charm of its own
and attracts the villagers. Another reason is that
. people come to the cities looking for work, leaving
. behind agricultural fields which are unproductive.
2 Would you,agree that promises made to poor
children are rarely kept? Why do you think this
happens in the incidents narrated in the text?
Ans I fully agree that promises made 'to the poor children
· are rarely kept. Promises are made both at the
national and intema~ional levels to provide healthy
. lives, quality education; protection against abuse,
exploitatibn and violence; and combating HIV/AIDS.
Yet, it is estimated that 246 million children are still
engaged in child labour, most of them working in. ·
hazardous conditions.
In the text, the author asks Saheb half-jokingly, if he
will enrol in a school that she starts. Actually, the
author was not at all serious about starting the
school, but Saheb thought that she had promised to
start one. She did not keep her promise because it
was not seriously made.
 ""I;:!;:

AJJ-h,One ENGLISH c ~
. .

3 (iii) say 'NO' to child labour in

What fo_r~~s conspire to keep the w~rke~s in the
bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?
or Why does the author say that the bangle-makers
are caught in a vicious web? All India 2010
Ans. The workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad
are kept in poverty by being exploited at the hands
of the sahukars, the middlemen, the policemen, the
law-makers, the bureaucrats and the politicians.
Thus they remain steeped in poverty. They cannot
form cooperatives for their betterment. Moreover,
their children are als~ ~ompelled to join the same
trade at an early age, thus remaining in' the vicious
web.
Talking about the Text (Page 20)
1 How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his
dream? .
Ans ~ukes_h belongs to a family of bangle--makers, but
his attitude to his situation is different from that of
other family membe~s. He dreams of becoming a
motor-mechanic and learning to drive a car. His
.det~rmination for becoming a motci~-mechanic and
learning to drive a car seems to be,very strong.
That is why he says that he will walk to the garage.
There he will have to meet the ·owner of the garage
an,d request him for -any petty work pertaining to
the garage. · (vi) She still has bangles on her wrist, but not
Through his sincere efforts and hard work and the
guidance of his owner, he can attain the skills of a
mechanic and then gradually that of car driving. In
this way, he can surely realise his dream.
2 . Mention the hazards of working in_the glass .
bangles industry.
Ans Refer to the answer of Q 2 in 'Think as you read'
related to us during the child any iv
ren· or1
hours. . sschr/
(iv) feel the need to do somethin l
children, exemplifying the sav;g f0r s11
. will h . r•ng ' (,I
there IS a , t ere Is a way, ' IVher,
(v) create awareness, in society b' ·
plight of the underpriVilegecta 0ut tn,
people in power can help them. so tn,;
Thinking about Languag~ (P
agei1
1 carefully read the following phrases and 1
sentences ta~en from t~e t~xt. Can You
identify the literary device m each exa
. mpte,
(i) Saheb-e-Alam, which means the Lo d ·
· . the Universe, is directly in contrast;0 01
Sdheb is in reality. · Wh~
(ii) Drowned in an air of desolation.
(iii) Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of
Delhi, yet miles away from it,
metaphorically.
(iv) For the children it is wrapped in wonde
for the elders it is a means of survival. r,
(v) As her hands move mechanically liNe the
tongs of a machine, I wonder if she kno'lrl
the sanctity of the bangles she helps mali
light in her. eyes.
(vii) Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.
(viii) Web of poverty.
(ix) Scrounging for gold.
(x) And survival'in Seemapuri means
rag-picking. Through. the years, it has
acquired the proportions of afine art.
,I ; I

(page 20) above. · (xi) The steel canister seems heavier than the
plastic bag he would carry so lightly over
3 Why should child labour be eliminated and how? his shoulders. . ·
Ans Child labour should.be eliminated to bring back Ans (i) ·Hyperbole (ii) Metaphor
the 'spring' in the lives of poor children ·like Saheb (iii) . Contrast (iv) Contrast
and Mukesh. We can do this by inculcating the
(v) Simile (vi) Contrast ·
values to
(vii) Contrast (when compared to the
(i) have a strong will to ensure that all children get
basic education. This may be done by helping perception of people in other cities)
them join the 'open school' .system if they are (viii) Metaphor
not able to attend a regular school. (ix) Hyperbole
(ii) have a sense of commitment of wanting to help (x) Hyperbole

~I
these children; an example can be to find better (xi) Contrast
employment for the adults in their families .
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OLflPLE CHOICE . 6 The title 'Lost Spring' symbolises .................. .

,~oesr10N~ . .· . [i Mark]
, (a) lost age
(b) lost memories
Q romises like ~m7abound in every corner (c) lost blooming ,hildhood
,eut Pbleak world. This suggests that · · · (d) loS't destiny
1of hlibere is no dearth of promises which remain
Ans (c) lost blooming childhood
(3) unfulfilled. .
b) tbere is a scarcity of people promising things for 7 Saheb was employed at ........................ •
· -(a) a sweet shop · (b) a cafe
( betterrnent. . . . .
'(c) a jewell~ry shop (d) a tea-stall
eople rnake a .lot of promises which are often
(cl iulfilled. Ans (d) tea-stall
rornises rnade, live up to the expectations of 8 Which efthe following efforts will help Mukesh
(d) p materialise his dream of becoming a car driVer?
people.
there is no dearth of promises which remain (a) Going to Garage
,is (a ) fill d . . . (b) Hard work
~· unful e ·
(~)_r,ollowing the gt!.idance of his owner
from this chapter, it is evident that the author (d) Ali of the above _
2MS an attitude of . ....
(a) sympathy. (b) apathy. . 'A~s (d) ,Al:l·of ~he above
(c) empathy. (4) b_ewilderment. -9··What ·are the hazards of working in the_glass
bµngles industry?
Ans (a) sympathy. (a) Impaired Vision
3'That's why they left, lobkif!g forgold in the big .itb)'Affects mental health
city.' Here 'gold' in~icates ' ,, . · ('c) 'Miserabldife
(a) misfortune of circumstances., (d) Both (a) and (c)
(b) ample wealth. Ans (d) Both (a) and (c) _ ; '""
(c) means of survival. 10 What.compels the workers in Bangle Industry
(d) a sign of luxury.
of Aiozabad to poverty? .
Ans (c) means of survival. (a) Ancestral Profession (b) Society _
: ·•· · . ('c) Low Facilities · (d) Poor surroundings
4 Choose the statement that is NOT TRUE about
ragpickers in Seemapuri. , · . · · .'. . Arii {_a} An~estral Profession _ _
(a) Children are equally involyed m rag picking as
. 11. How is,Mukesh-'s .attitude different from -his
their parents. .
(b) The ragpickers settle down in a place .. family?
, , (a) _"&eirlg a fighter . . · ·
permanently. .. ,, .· . {b ). Being daring and clear about his goals
(c) Rag picking has accomplispeditself as a skill
(c) Not ~lear.
and form of art. . th ( d) Beirig studious ' .. - ,
(d) Ragpickers live in unsteady sh~nties,on e .
AhS (b') Being daring an~'clear about_his goals
outskirts of Delhi. . ,
Ans (c) Rag picking has accornplishe,d itself ,a s a skill . 12' The author called garbage as 'gold' in the t ., .,,,,.
,,

and form of art.

·given story because ..................... · '

\
~.

/
#

(a) of gems in it.

5 What farced Saheb to be a ragpicker? (b) of its encashment value. I'>

(a) Destiny
(c) of survival.
:, .
(b) Acute Poverty (d) of desires.
(c) His Parents Ans (b) of its encashment value . .
(d) People around him
Ans (b ) Acute Poverty

Coordinator Principal
fl 15 AJJh,One
. . ENGLISH COR~E
Cl
.
ass 1~ ·,.
, <t~.
,,,i' (iv) Every other family in Firozabad is engaged in
:i' Ci> ~XTRACT BASED making bangles _ind~cates that_ _
'1
,I QUESTIONS (4 Marks] (a) bangle ma~m~ 1s the only mdustiy that
flourishes m Frrozabad.
Read the extracts given below and answer the b) the entire population of Firozabad is 1,,
qeustions that follow by choosing the correct option. ( . ~•Vo]v
irI bangle m akmg. erj
1 "I will learn to drive a car,'" he answers, (c) majority of the p opulakinati_on irI Firozabact is
lo?king straight into my eyes. His dream mvolved irI bang1e m g. .
looms like ,a mirage amidst the dust of streets ( d) bangle making is the most loved occupat1on. .
that fill his town Firozabad, famous for its Firozabad. · in
bangles. Every other family in Firozabad is Ans (i) (c) illusory and indistinct.
engaged in making bangles. It _is the centre of (ii) (a) I and 5 ,. .
,Ii:ic!ia's_glas~-blowing industry where families (iii) ( d) Firozabad has e~<:rg~d as a, nascent
· · h~ve spent generations workirig around . producer of bangles m the country.
fui-naces,' wielding glass, making bangles for (iv) ( c) majority ?f the populati_o n in Firozabad is
all the women in the land it seems. involved m bangle making.
Mukesh's family is among them. None of
•th~m know that it is illegal for children like 2 She still has bangles on her wrist, hut no llghr
in her eyes. "Ek ':aqt se~ bhar ~ana bhi naJtin
him to work in the glass furnaces with high -khaya." ·s he says, m 'a v01ce drained of joy. She
temperatur~s, in dingy cells without air and has not enjoyed even one full meal in her
. light; that the law, if enfqrced, -could get him
entire lifetime-that's what she has reaped! Her
.and ail those 20,000 children. out of the hot ·
husband, an old man with a flowing beard
.furn~c~s wher~ they slog their daylight ~ours,
.o ften losing the brightness of their eyes .. says, "I know nothing except bangles: All I
l\r,lukesh's eyes ~earn as b~ volunteers to take have done is make a house for the family to
rile home, which he proudly says is being live in."
rebuilt. · · Hearing .him.one wonders ·jfhe has achieved
(i) The simile 'dream looms like a.mirage amidst what many have failed in their lifetime. He has
the dust of streets' indicates that his dream a roof over his head!
was The cry of not having money to do anything
(a) a reality, yet seemed distant. except carry on th~ business of making _
(b) lost.in the sea of dust.
·bangles, not even enough to eat, rings in every
( c) illusory· and indistinct. ·. -
home. The young men echo the lament of the
(d) hanging in the dusty air.
elder.s. Little has moved with time, it seems in
(ii) 'I "Jill l~arn ·to drive a car:' he answers~ lo~king Firo~abad, years of mind-numbing toil have
straight into my eyes. This sentence h1ghhghts killed all initiative and the ability to dream.
Mukesh was
2.fearless (i) 'She still has bangles on her wrist, but no light in
, '1: determined
4. valiant her eyes.' This implies that .
3. hopeful (a) she is married but has lost the charm m her
5. ambitious 6. stern eyes. ·
(a) I and 5 ·· (b) 2 and 4 ,
( b) she is a married woman who has lost her grace
( c) 2 and 5 ( d) 3 and 6
and beauty. f
(iii) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE ( c) though she is married, her eyes are devoid 0
w
u· with,refeience to the extract?
(a) Children work in badly lit and poorly
happiness. _
(d) she is a married woman who has lost her
5
<(:'
ventilated furnaces.
(b) The children are unaware that it is forbidden
eyesight.
(ii) 'He has a roof over his head!' The tone of the
a:: by law to work in th_e furnaces.
author is
o..· ( c) Children toil in the furnaces for -hours which
(a) pessimistic.
:E affects their eyesight.
(b) empathetic.
<C . (d) Firozabad has emerge~ as a nascent producer
X of bangles in the country. (c) sympathetic.
w (d) optimistic.
 11
(Stories of Stolen Childhood)
~priO,
oi'
ose the term which best matches the
i;i cn° ment 1he young men echo the lam {iii) What is an excuse to explain away a perpetual
,1 state d 5 , · ent of state of poverty? •
;rel er.
tne cceptance (b) reflection (a) Walking barefoot
(a) a
reiteration (d ) doubtfulness (b) To term 'walking barefoot' a tradition
(c) To rease the 'worn out shoes'
o{mind-num b'mg to,., have killed all/ . . .
(C)
rears
.. t d I 7ih. n,t,at,ve (d) Not to bring chappals out of shelf
f! dtheab1/lty o ream. ,s showsthat
on be bangle makers are exhausted yet th (Iv) The word 'perpetual' used in the extract means
(a) enterprismg
t . dh
an ave dreams.
ey are (a) constant (b) ceasing ·
be drudgery of• work has destroyed th e1r
. (c) transient (d) ephemeral
b) t
( willingness to improve their lot. Ans (i) (d) Because his mother did not bring them
c) tbe daily grind has stolen the dreams of the down from the self ·
( bangle makers and made them dull. (ii) (c) He shuffles his shoes withourresponding
d) tbe bangle m,ak~rs have been working so hard (iii) (b) To terin 'walking barefoot' a tradition
( (bat there's no time to dream. (iv) (a) constant
i) (c) though_ she is married, her ey~s are devoid
4 In his hand is a steel canister. "I now work in a
~s ( of happmess.
· tea stall down the road," he says, pointing in the
(il) (d) optimistic. distance. "I am paid 800 rupees and all my
(iii) (c) reiteration meals." Does he like the job? I ask. His face, I
('V) (b) the drudgery of work has destroyed th~ir see, has lost the carefree look. The steel canister
1
willingness to improve their lot. seem~ heavier than the plastic bag he would
l "Wh.y aren't you wearing chappals?" I ask one. carry so lightly over his shoulder. The bag was
"My mother did not bring them down from his. The canister belongs to the man who owns
the tea shop. Saheb is no longer his own master!
the shelf," he answers simply.
(i) What is Saheb holding while on his way?
"Even if she did he will throw them off," adds
(a) Rag picking bag
another who is we3,ring shoes that do not (b) A pair of different colour shoes
match. When I comment on it, he shuffles his
(c) A gold coin
feet and says nothing. "I want shoes", says a · (d) A steel canister
third boy who has never owned a pair all his
life. Travelling across the cou.ntry I have seen (ii) How has the new job impacted Saheb? .
(a) He earns more money and better food now
children walking barefoot, in cities, on village
(b) He has lost his carefree look now
roads. It is not lack of money but a tradition to (c) He saves the time to go to school now
stay barefoot, is one explanation. I wonder if (d) He has no time to play now.
this is only an excuse to explain away a
. (iii) Why does the steel canister seem heavier than
perpetual state of poverty.
the plastic bag he would carry so lightly?
/I) Why was the one, being asked, not wearing (a) The bag was his
chappals? (b) The canister belongs to the shop owner
(a) Because he had none (c) Saheb ~s no longer his own master
(b) Because one of them was broken
(d) All of the above
(c) Because his father had asked him not to wear
(d) Because his mother did not bring them down (iv) ......... means 'canister' used.in the extract. w
(a) Vessel (b) Humdinger u·
from the self
('j11
What does the boy do when the narrator
comments on unmatching shoes?
(c) Implication
Ans (i) (d) A steel canister
(d) Fuss
6-,
<(,: .
(a) He changes his shoes (ii) (b) He has lost his carefree look now cc:
(b) He hides behind the other boys (iii) (d) All of the above o..
le) He shuffles his shoes without responding
Id) He rebukes the narrator and mocks her dress
(iv) (a) Vessel <!
~ -

X ··
w

Coordinator
 II/ :
II/ I
/i I
AJJh,One ENGLISH CORE J,-'
i! Class
l: 5 Mukesh · ·
1~
,I i
"I . Insists on being his own master. be a motor mechanic," he repeats. Ii
'
will be a motor mechanic", he announces. to a garage and learn. But the gara e \\>ijJ,
"D0
you know anything about cars?" I ask. way from his home. "I will walk,,,~ !s
1
ai/
"I will l earn to drive a car " he answers "Do you also dream of flying a Plane)~ns4ts ·,
100ki n~ straight into my eyes.
' ' suddenly silent. "No," he says, star· e. lie
His dream tngat th 4
looms like a. mirage amidst the dust of streets ground. 1

that fill his town Firozabad famous for its (I) Which two worlds has the narrator div;
bang~es~Every other family' in Firozabad is people of Firozabad? ded¼e
(a) The exploited and the exploiters
7ngaged in making bangles.
(b) The educated and uneduca.ted
(i) What does Mukesh aspire to be?
(a) A. computer engineer (c) The dreamers and the cr~shers
.(o) A motor mechanic (d) The males and females
., ' '·' ' "\
( c) A bangle maker ( d) A rag picker (ii) What is the role of Sahukars
(a) To establish to bangle industry
(ii) How <jo~s Mukesh respond .to the narr~tor?
.. fa) 'fhat".tie would fly the aeroplane (b) To empoly the people
" .. (b) That he w'Ji:i1d initiate a bangle Industry (c) To lend money on higher rate of interest
( c >., That he would connect Firozabad to Paris ( d) To share the burden of the working class
· ·. (d f That he would learn to drive a car (iii) What is first and foremost to do something
(iii) ' Why iP Firo;abadjamousfor its bangles? different? · ·
. (a) Beqmse glass is found mainly in Firozabad (a) Dare to face police ' · ( b) Dare to dream bi
'(b) Because it is the centre of India's glass blowing ( c) Dare to qu~t family ( d) Dare to earn g
,.,, · · industry
(iv). The word ~tigma' in the extract means
· ( c) ' Because every other family of Firozabad is (a) esteem (b) honour
· e11-gag~d in bangle making , (c) exal!ation (d) blot
(d) Becc;Juse Firozabad has .been 't he hub of bangle
Ans (i) (a) The.exploited and the exploiters
making , . ,'
(ii) ~c) To lend.money ~m higher rate of interest
(iv) ,;i···:... in the extract means 'delusion: s (ili) (b)· Dare to dream big
(a) Mirage (b) Loom · · ,
. (c) Dz;ecµn.. (d) Generat_ion
(iv) (d) blot
Ans (i) (b) ·Am~tor·mechanic
(ii) (d) ~hat .qe would learn to drive a car ·
$ SHORT ANSWER TYPE
(ill) (c)'·.{l~cause·every other family of Firozabad is .qUESTIONS [2 Marks]
Iengaged in bangle making , 1 Describe trye irony in Saheb's n_ame. Delhi201!
. ,, (i_v)', {a). ~1ge '_ I Ans Saheb i_s a poor ragpicker who,lives in
Listenitig to :the~, I see.two distinct '· · Seemapuri. His full name is 'Saheb-e-Alam',
1,
6
which means 'Lord of tlie Universe'. The irony
worlds-one of the family, caught in a web of lies in the meaning of his name itself: Accordin!
p~verty, burdened by the stigma of caste in to his name, he should be a king and enjo_y all
. which they are born; the other a vicious circle the luxuries of life. But unfortunately, he is a
of the sabukars, the middlemen, the ' barefoot ragpicker, who lacks even the basic
policemen; 't he keepers oflaw, the, necessities.
bureaucrates and the politicians. Together 2 Why had the ragpickers come to live in j(III
they have imposed the baggage on the child Seemapuri? F~reiP
that he cannot put down. Before he is aware, 1 · ;11;nal~
or To which country did Saheb's parents' Oflo•
he accepts it as naturally as his father. To do belong? Why did they'come to India? tJOII
anything else would mean to dare. And daring Compartlllen
;: is not part of his growing up. When I sense a or Why did Saheb's parents /eave Dhaka and ,oii
-C,, flash of it in Mukesh I am cheered. "I want to migrate to India? Compart111~•
...
J

(Stories of Stolen Childhood)
sprlf1g
i; sabeb's parents lived in Banglad
, Otl~de t tbe green fields of Dhaka Th esh,
t aJf1l s h . ere were
Ant Mukesh's grandmother believes in destiny. She
111at1Y storrn~ t s~ept a':"ay their fields and
kOJlles-Tbat s_wsy t ey m~glrated to Delhi and
1• tl d down ID eemapun ooking for
¢e. an
occUPauon.
hat did garbage me~n to the children of
3 5ee,napuri and. to thetr parents? AU India 2015
Jn what sense ,s garbage gold to the ragpickers?
or Compartment 2014
Ans The bangle-makers could not organise
,r,arbage to them is go_ld.' Why does the author
or IJ'f so about the ragptckers? Delhi 2008
~arbage rneans '~old' to the poor ragpickers
Ans because sorne of 1t can be ~old for cash, thus
becorning a means of survival for the childre f
seemap~i ~d for their parents. It is provid~;
(heill their ~aily bread and a roof over their heads.
What kind of gold did the people of Seemapuri
4 Jookfor in the garbage? Foreign 2015
The people of Seemapuri look for items in the
5
An garbage whic~ can be traded for money,
meartlng '1a,Jld', as it helps them earn their daily
bread and have a roof over their heads. For a
child, garbage may mean something wrapped in
wonder, whereas for the elders it is a means of
survival.
5 Describe Mukesh as an ambitious person.
Foreign 2015
Ans Mukesh is an ambitious person because he
wants to become a motor-mechanic by breaking
free from the vicious web of generations of
families being involved in bangle-making. He
has the courage to dream of becoming a motor
mechanic, thus breaking free from destiny.
6 What is Mukesh's dream? Do you think he wjll
be able to fulfil his dream? Why? Why not?
Compartment 2014
or Who is Mukesh? What is his dream? Delhi 2012
or Is it possible for Mukesh to realise his dream?
Justify your answer. All India 2009
or What was Mukesh's dream? In your opinion, did
he achieve his dream? Foreign 2009
or Why is Mukesh's dream of learning to drive a
car a mirage?
Ans ~ukesh belongs to the bangle-makers of
Firozabad where each family is engaged in
bangle-making. On asking, Mukesh says, "I will
be a motor-mechanic. I will learn to drive a car."
Thus, he wants to be his own master. However,
because he is caught up in the vicious cycle
ci:eated by others, he will not be able to realise
his dream and will remain a bangle-maker.
II
I\
'\ I
1 'It Is his korom, his destiny'. Explain.
believes that they cannot escape from the
God-given lineage. It is their destiny to suffer
like this. They were born in the caste of
bangle-makers and will always be one, for they
do not have any control over their destiny.
8 Why could the bangle-makers not organise
themselves into a cooperative? All India 2012
themselves into a cooperative because they were
trapped in the vicious circle of sahukars,
middlemen, policemen, bureaucrats and
politicians, who exploited them. If they tried to
organise themselves, they would be beaten by
the police and put in jail.
9 In spite of despair and disease pervading the
lives of the slum children, they are not devoid of
hope. How far do you agree? Delhi 2013
Ans In spite of growing up amidst despair and
· disease, children who live in slums have the
desire to achieve something big in life. This
shows that they are not devoid of hope. Saheb,
a ragpicker, is eager to go to a school and learn.
Mukesh, who works in dark, dingy cells making
bangles, dreams of becoming a motor- mechanic
against his family tradition.
10 Whom does Anees Jung blame for the sorry
. plight of the bangle-makers? Compartment 2014
Ans Anees Jung blames the vicious circle of the
sahukars (moneylenders), middlemen,
policemen, bureaucrats and politicians for the
sorry plight of the bangle-makers. They don't
allow the bangle- makers to organise
themselves int9 a cooperative.
11 What does the title 'Lost Spring' convey?
All India 2009
Ans Spring is associated with childhood. Just as
spring is the season when flowers bloom
similarly, childhood is the period when an
individual blooms and grows.
Anees Jung here presents the horrific truth
about the life of children in India who are
victims of child labour and are not allowed to
w
grow and bloom freely. Their childhood or
springtime is lost. u
12 Which industry was a boon and also bane for the
people of Firozabad? How? Compartment 2017
6<
Ans The bangle-making industry was a boon and
a:
0..
also bane for the people of Firozabad. It was a
boon because it gave them a livelihood so that :E
they could survive.

However it was a bane because they were force~
to work in their industry for generations, as their
children had to also work in bangle-making to
make ends meet, as the earnings were meagre.
Additionally. their eyes and general health were
ruined due to continuously working close to the
furnaces used for making bangles.
13 How was Saheb's life at the tea-stall?
. All India .2020
Ans Saheb took up the job of performing odd jobs _at ·
a tea stall, but was unhappy because he was ue?
down by the work he had to do. Thus, he lost his
independence, which he earlier had as a ragpicker.
1, , . ; ' ' '. .
14 ."listening to them, I see two distinct worlds... " In
the context of Mukesh, the bangle maker's son,
which two worlds is Anees Jung referring to?
Delhi .2018
Ans .The two worlds that the author refers to are
those represented by Mukesh's parents and
Mukesh respectively. Mukesh has the courage to
dream big in spite of all adversity, whereas the
other banglemakers of Firozabad have resigned
to their fate, and have suppressed all their hopes
arid desires. Mukesh refuses to follow the
'God-given lineage' of bangle-making and wants
to be a motor mechanic when he grows up.
G) LONG ANSWER TYPE
QUESTIONS . rs MarksJ , The job he takes up at a tea stall is one of hi
1 "Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi,
yet miles away from it, metaphorically." Explain.
Ans Seemapuri is a place on the.outskirts of Delhi
where 10000 ragpickers and their families live.
The people living there are squatters who
migrated from Bangladesh in 197(i) The
ragpickers live in structures of mud, with roofs
of tin and tarpaulin, devoid of sewage, drainage
or running water. No one can imagine that such
a place exists on the periphery of Delhi, the
capital of India. It stands in stark contrast to the
metropolitan city of Delhi. The main city'of
Delhi, and Seemapuri at its periphery, provide an
exemplary case of contradiction.
In Delhi there is luxury and affluence, there are
a ~ost 9f opportunities and dreams, and in
w Seemapuri. there is squalor, hopelessness and
u de_spair. There !s no chance for the inhabitants of
6<C this area .to stnve towards .the attainment of th
prospects offered by Delhi.
Th~s, although Seeinapuri is located at th
· e
a: penphery of Delhi, in the real se~se Delh _e_
0.:
many miles ~Way from it. , i is
::E '
2 Give a b~ief account of life and activi;ies o' th
~
w
·
people like Saheb-e-Alam settled in 5eemapur,,
1 :
DeJhi20U
Allinone ENGL
ISf.f C
..
Ans Seemapun 1s a slum
o~~"\I
periphery of Delhi Marea loca 1 q11 ,,,,
. . ost of eq 1' ,r
Seemapun consist of the 011 ~o!
from Bangladesh. Sah~~?Ple \.vb~sid:~, ',}-;'
them. The area consists s fallli! .qte~ts~
roofs of tin and tarpau)' of llluct r' lsq 111,
i
have facilities of sewagin. They 01t~c~0i11
water. About 10000 ragpe: dkrainag 1101 \
le ers 11· eOt '
Their only means of livel'h ve h tti~11
saleable items from rubb~ ~od is fi ere. ~
the rubbish is as valuabl;sas· Thus, 1:ing
survival depends on what th &old, fo 1 the,
rubbish. These rag pickers hey find { th~'·
more than thirty years With;ve lived 1he
They do not have permits bu Ut anr'id ererb
1
cards, thanks to the selfish ~h~ave tq1~nt 1
ti
of the politicians. With these ~Ills qnd n.
0
their name on the voter's lis~ t ey can : 11~
buy grains. for themselves at as anbd _als 0 ei
su S1d·
3 'Saheb is no longer his own master-td ri1
0
Ans Grinding poverty and the necess·1 · rnrneri
. subsistence have involved Saheb ~Yfora hfe
Rummagmg . th rough garbage doeInragPie~i
him with a regular income but gi:e~~rolic:
freedom. He has all the liberty in th
roam with his friends in the streets e ~01ld1i
any worries to bother him. Without
. Also, he can hunt for 'gold' in the garb
dumps·. It provides him a hope and a
every day in the form of a rupee or a ten-ru
ti:
note. So, he looks forward to ragpicking.
at~empts to become hi~ own ~aster. Ironic~
this farther enslaves him. He 1s now not freei,
roam aimlessly in the streets. His new '
occupation binds him to serve somebodyel1e
4 Describe the difficulties the bangle-makerso/
Firozabad have to face in their lives. Delhi2011
or Describe the circumstances which keep the
workers in the bangle industry in poverty.
Delhi201f
Ans The bangle-makers of Firozabad are exposedlo
multiple health hazards while working. Manr
of them are children who work near hot
furnaces during daylight, often losing their
eyesight before adulthood. Years of .
mind-numbing toil have killed all initiauve
and the ability to even think of taking up
another profession. They are not able to 10
organise themse~es into a cooperative due
· · ns
bullying and exploitation by the politJCla
authorities, moneylenders and middlemen.
'
They live in stinking .lanes choked wil h us
garbage, having homes with crumbling wa·1h
wobbly doors, no windows overcrowde~wtiJl ,
fa?1ilies of humans and animals coexi_stJ:~
pnmeval state. They have riot even enJDY
even one full meal In their entire llfetime
because of their poverty.
 ·es of Stolen Child
, . ;s karom, his destiny" that mad
,ff ,s hifother go blind. How did Muk e Mukesh's
I g~n:elief by choosing a new vocati:sh dlspr~ve
1n15 ;ng hiS own destiny? Comp;and
,riok sb disproved this belief that ment 2015
,1 o~e . h' d
i I" te·JllakUlg was 1s estiny by h . whereas Mukesh dares to want to break free
/1 paoS.,ocation and making his owned oosmg a
ew' estiny H
0 ·ded to become a motor-mecha . · e
deC;rive a car. As he had seen his me and learn
iotbers suffer because of the vicio~sar~ntls and
o d l · · enc e of
,,overtY an expl' ~1~at1on by the sahukars
r··ddleJllen, po 1t1C1ans
!Ill °
• • and the p 1Ke,
. he' did
oot want to remam m the bangle-makin
ofession. He had the courage to bre kgf
pr f il lin a ree
froIIl thde am y 1k ealge ofd?angle-making and
was rea y to wa a ong istance to reach a
!llotor garage to learn the vocation of ·
mechanic. He had even thought that ~:rwould
request the garage owner to hire him initial! a
ahelper and learn tdh: trade. Finally, he also y s
wanted to learn to ~ive a car.. Thus, Mukesh
was ready to make his destiny by choosing a
new vocation and break the age old belief.
The bangle-makers of Firozabad make beautiful
6 bangles and make everyone happy but they five
and die in squalor. Elaborate. Delhi 2010
Ans Firozabad is t~: centre of India's glass-blowing
industry. Families have spent generations in this
busmess, making beautiful bangles of all hues
and colours. But their own life is steeped in filth
and misery. People work round the clock in
glass furnaces at high temperatures, in dingy
cells without air and light.
These workers are exposed to health hazards.
They often end up losing their eyesight.
Moreover, they are stuck in a vicious circle of
exploitation. Even if they try to form a
cooperative, they are beaten up and jailed for
doing something illegal.
They live in filthy homes irl lanes choked with
garbage. In such conditions, farrillies of humans
and animals exist together irl a primeval state.
Thus, the bangle-makers of Firozabad make
beautiful bangles but live and die irl squalor.
1 How is Mukesh's attitude towards his situation
different from that of Saheb? Why? Delhi 2015 ·
Ans Mu_kesh belongs to a bangle-making farrilly, but
he is not content with this profession. He dares
to_~eam of becomirlg a motor-mechanic and
dnvmg cars. He has strong will power and wants
to achieve what he dreams about, unlike other
people in his family. In contrast to this, Saheb is
~-r~gpick~r who is content with his life, but
~ orne~·unhappy when he gets a job at a tea
,. . ~/
\
Slall, even though now he is probably earning I
more and on a re~ular basis.
~aheb is unhappy because he has lost his
independence, which he had as a ragpicker.
However, Saheb accepts his new situation,
from tradition. This is because Mukesh is more
courageous and determined than Saheb will
ever be.
8 'Lost Spring' explains the grinding poverty and
traditions that condemn thousands of people to
a life of abject poverty. Do you agree? Why/why
not? AD India 2011
Ans Yes, I do agree that 'Lost Spring' narrates the
grinding poverty and traditions to which
thousands of people have succumbed.
The story written by Anees Jung revolves
around the pitiable condition of poor children
who have been forced to live in slums and work
hard in conditions which endanger their health.
The first part gives the writer's impression
about the life of poor ragpickers who have
migrated from Bangladesh but now are settled
in the Seemapuri area of Delhi.
The second part narrates the miserable life of
the bangle-makers in Firozabad. The stark
reality of these families is that, in spite of
back-breaking hard work that they put in, they
cannot even afford two square meals a day.
Besides, false and blind belief in traditions does
not le~ their children take up other respectable
and better paying jobs which will improve their
financial situation.
9 "For the children it is wrapped in wonder, for
the elders it is a means of survival." What kind
of life do the ragpickers of Seemapuri lead?
All India 2017
or Garbage to them is gold. How do ragpickers of
Seemapuri survive? Delhi 2017
Ans 'Lost Sprirlg: Stories of Stolen Childhood'
describes the plight of the poor ragpickers of
Seemapuri, a place on the outskirts of Delhi.
Ragpicking is the only source of livelihood for
·tbese families of ragpickers who have fled from
- Bangladesh irl the hope of firldirlg a better life. w
Due to successive storms and floods in u
Bangladesh, they lost all their crops there and
so they migrated. 6
For small children like Saheb and his friends, all
of whom were born and brought up in 0.
Seemapuri, ragpicking is also wrapped in
:E
wonder because sometimes they find
unexpected 'treasures' or' gold', i.e. items which <
X
can be sold for cash. w
 ------------------ _ All1#0ne~
· a Wonderful feeling for these smaJI children
It IS . h
Who live in abject poverty. For the elders In t e
ragpickers• fainuy, this Is the only means of.
5 and law enforcemen, officiaJ,. s~,
1lrvival, Though they have lived here for tlur1,Y
Years, they have no identity or facilities in eu
area and they live in a state of despair. th
1 and optimistic so that they can llld to he
0 Most of us do not raise our voice against
injustice in our society and tend to remain ~ute
Spectators. Anees Jung in her story, 'Lost Spnng'
Vividly highlights the mise;able life of street
Children and bangle-makers of Firozabad. She
wants us to act. Which qualities does she want
the children to develop? c
Co111partment
Ans .-\nee, Jung wan,, the children 2014
to become free
from the Vicious cycte of Poverty into which
-SELF ASSESSMENT- .
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS It Mark]
' .'
1 Wh~t leads the narrator to Seemapuri?
(a) Her tryst With destiny
(b) Her zeal to explore the World
· ( ci Her acquaintance With the barefoot rag-pickers
(~) her ancestry in Seemapuri
2 How do children grow up in transits homes?
(a) As weak and the malnourished
(b) As pick-pockets and thieves
(c) As the brave and the patriot
(d) As partners in Survival
Cs) EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS (4 Marks]
Read the extracts given below and answer the
qeustions that follow by choosing the correct option.
1 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 young men echo the lament of
their elders. Little has moved with time, it
seems, in Firozabad. Years of mind-numbing
toil have killed all initiative and the ability to
dream.
"Why not organise yourselves into a
cooperative?" I ask a group of young men who
have fallen into the vicious circle of
middlemen who trapped their fathers and
forefathers.
~~C11:
they have fallen due to the lllidd
to be bold enough to raise the;~ e\\-a, ·
their oppressors. She wan,, <he., Voj
"Iii
up other, occupations,
. . like Alureal\,·•1oi1t
Just
wants to be a motor-mechanic. kesh, , 1
She wants them to beco.rne free f 1
traditional occupation so that th:Ol!J. th~
their life's ambitions. She sees thl can re,
a quality in Mukesh, Who is W:illi" sp~~o
lengths to become a motor-.rnechan· " 8tog01
1
.
She wants some people to help thernIC·
these qualities so that they can be fr deve:
injustice an d exp1Oitation,
. . take up Otheerro
respectable and better Paying iobs Wht~
1
improve their financta1 condition. c
w toil?
What hOs been killed byrears ofmind nu,
(a) The prosperity of Firozabad
(b) Bangle making ability
(c)Joy of the people
(d) Ability of dream and initiative
(ii) Why does·the narrator ask the young men to
organise them into a co - operative?
(a) To derive some indirect benefit from them
(b) To help them come out of the vicious circle o
middlemen
(c) To face the polic~ bravely
(d) To shut bangle making industry
(iii) Why cry rings in every home of Firozabad?
(a) Middlemen exploiting the people
(b) Police hauling them for illegal acts
(c) Not havmg enough money to look beyoD
bangle making d
(d) Lack of education for the youth
r ,1 ......... mt
11v, • he extract means ,ex,.,
t eme/v:1 boring
and Uninspiring.'
(a) Mind numbing (b) Vicious
(c) Hauled (d) Spiral
2 Savita, a young girl in a drab pink '":'"• •;.,,
'ts
alongside and elderly woman, soldenn1p Jill
ofglass. As her hands move mechamc {.,,
the tongs of a machine, I wonder if sh~ 1,
the sanctity of the bangles she helps m e.
symbolises an Indian woman's suhaag,
 • (Stories of Stolen ChJldhood)
sP.r1r19
ii
iciousness in marriage. It will dawn on (a) impropriety -: 'I

itJ 5P
dde"nlY one day when her head · ·d
be! stl i1 h h d is raped (b) discord
·th a red ve· ' er an s dyed red with (c) immorality
, '111 . a and red bangl~s rolled onto her . (d) compatibility
1 Jieflll , b · b 'd · wrists.
i he ·wilL~h:n ecome a . n e. Like .the old
·5 rnan beside J;ier who became one many Ci) SHORT ANSWER TYPE
:~ ago. still has bangles on herwrist, QUESTIONS (2 Marks)
r t flO light in her eyes. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:
btl '
(i} HoW do Savita's hands move while sitting .1 Why did Saheb not go to school? . ,
alongside ~n elde(IY wom~n for soldering? 2 · Why does the author say that ragpicking has
(a) Like the tongs of a machine · ., . , become an art?
(b) Like the needle of a sewing machine
3 Garbage has an important meaning for the
(c) Like the hammer of a blacksmith .
children who are ragpickers. Why?
(d) like the pillar of an electrician
4 f-!ow are bangles important to an Indian woman?
(ii) When will Savita come to know the sanctity 5 Why hasn't Firozabad changed with time?
of bangles?
(a) When she ~rows_older . .
(b) When the elde~l}'wom,a n·teaches her jhe ~; } ., .~ .L.ONG ANSWER TYPE. ,
same . ~-. · (lUES1"1ONS · . (5 Marks)
(c) When red bangles are rolled onto her .· Answer the foiio wing questions in 120-150 words.
0

wrists
1 Justify th_e .title 'Los~Spring'.
(d) When she is empolyed in the bangle
2 'Survival in Seemapuri means ragpicking'. Discuss.
industry
3 'They talk endlessly in a ~piral that ~ov~s from
(iii) Why is Savita's voice drained of any joy? poverty to apathy to greed and to injustice.' Write
(a) She has been widowed
an article .about theinjustice being dqne to the
(b) She has lost her eyes
poor sections of society and also give som.e
(c) She has no children suggestions on how to improve _their cond~tion.
(d) She has been paralysed
{iv) Auspiciousness in the extra.ct means ......... •