Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 2 Questions and Answers - Free PDF Download
Comprehensive NCERT Solutions for The Lost Spring Questions and Answers are provided by Vedantu in PDF Format, which is FREE to Download. Students can use this to study anywhere, anytime, on the go easily. The Lost Spring Class 12 English Flamingo chapter highlights the problems and harsh realities faced by everyday common citizens in India who live below the poverty line. Life is certainly not easy for these people, but they are brave enough to dream big and try to achieve something great in their lives. They believe that this brings meaning to their otherwise insignificant lives.
Table of Content
The NCERT Solutions to The Lost Spring Question Answers, as provided by Vedantu, are compiled by expert master teachers who hold years of experience dealing with the NCERT Syllabus and make sure they are constantly updated to comply with the latest CBSE Class 12 English Syllabus. This ensures the accuracy and relevance of the solutions.
Glance at English Chapter 2 The Lost Spring Class 12
Lost Spring' examines the lives of children in poverty, focusing on their struggles and unfulfilled dreams.
Saheb, a young ragpicker from Dhaka, finds a semblance of joy in his impoverished life. Despite being promised education, the promise remains unfulfilled, reflecting the broken promises made to the poor.
The story highlights the dire living conditions in Seemapuri, where children walk barefoot out of necessity, not tradition, and ragpickers survive with minimal identity and rights.
Saheb eventually works at a tea stall, earning a meagre salary. However, the job takes away his freedom and carefree attitude, symbolising the heavy burden of child labour.
Mukesh, a bangle maker from Firozabad, works in hazardous conditions. Despite being trapped in poverty and tradition, he dreams of becoming a motor mechanic, showing a spark of rebellion and hope.
The story underscores the systemic oppression faced by bangle makers, who are caught in a cycle of exploitation by middlemen, sahukars, and policemen, preventing them from escaping poverty and improving their lives.
FAQs on NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 2 The Lost Spring - 2025-26
1. What is the central theme of 'The Lost Spring' chapter?
NCERT Solutions for 'The Lost Spring' reveal that the central theme revolves around the exploitation of child labour and the loss of childhood innocence. Anees Jung presents two heart-wrenching stories that highlight how poverty forces children to abandon their dreams and education for survival.
The chapter depicts Saheb-e-Alam collecting garbage and Mukesh working in Firozabad's glass factories, symbolizing how socioeconomic conditions trap children in vicious cycles of poverty. Their lost spring represents the stolen childhood, dreams, and opportunities that should have been theirs by right.
2. Who is Saheb-e-Alam and what does his name signify?
Saheb-e-Alam is a young ragpicker whose name ironically means 'lord of the universe' in Arabic. Despite bearing such a grandiose name, he spends his days scavenging through garbage heaps in Seemapuri, searching for useful items to survive.
His name creates a stark contrast with his reality, highlighting the cruel irony of his existence. While his name suggests power and dominion, Saheb remains powerless against poverty and circumstances that have robbed him of education and childhood joys.
3. Why does Saheb not go to school according to the chapter?
Saheb claims there is no school in his neighbourhood, but when the author points out an existing school, he falls silent. This reveals that poverty, not the absence of schools, is the real barrier to his education.
His family's economic situation forces him to work as a ragpicker rather than attend school. The immediate need for survival through garbage collection takes precedence over long-term benefits of education, trapping him in a cycle of poverty and illiteracy.
4. What is the significance of Seemapuri in 'The Lost Spring'?
Seemapuri represents a settlement of refugees from Bangladesh who live in dire poverty without basic amenities. Located on the periphery of Delhi, it houses families who have made garbage collection their means of survival, passing this occupation from generation to generation like an inherited curse that defines their entire existence.
5. How does Mukesh's story differ from other children in Firozabad?
Mukesh stands apart from other children in Firozabad because he dares to dream beyond the traditional family occupation of bangle-making. While others accept their fate in the glass furnaces, Mukesh aspires to become a motor mechanic.
His determination to break free from the hereditary cycle of glass-blowing shows remarkable courage and vision. Despite facing tremendous odds and family pressure, Mukesh represents hope and the possibility of escaping predetermined destinies through sheer willpower.
6. What does the author mean by 'lost spring' in the context of child labour?
The phrase 'lost spring' symbolizes childhood robbed of its natural joy, innocence, and opportunities. Spring traditionally represents renewal, growth, and hope, but for these children, their formative years are spent in harsh labour instead of play, education, and development that should characterize childhood experiences and memories.
7. Where can students access comprehensive study materials for this chapter?
Students can find detailed explanations and Free PDF downloads of 'The Lost Spring' question answers through various educational platforms. Vedantu provides comprehensive study materials including chapter summaries, important questions, and detailed solutions.
These resources include MCQs, short answer questions, and long answer questions that help students prepare thoroughly for examinations while gaining deeper insights into the chapter's social themes and literary significance.
8. What role does the glass industry play in perpetuating child labour in Firozabad?
The glass industry in Firozabad creates a hereditary system where children are forced into bangle-making from an early age. Families depend on this hazardous work for survival, passing down the trade through generations without considering alternative options.
The industry exploits cheap child labour while exposing young workers to dangerous conditions including extreme heat and toxic fumes. This perpetuates a cycle where education becomes secondary to immediate economic needs, trapping entire families in poverty.
9. How does Anees Jung portray the contrast between dreams and reality?
Anees Jung masterfully illustrates the gap between children's aspirations and their harsh circumstances. While Saheb dreams of learning and Mukesh wants to drive cars, their reality involves dangerous, back-breaking labour that crushes these innocent ambitions under the weight of economic necessity and social constraints.
10. What message does the author convey about India's socioeconomic divide?
The author exposes India's stark socioeconomic inequalities where privileged children enjoy education and opportunities while underprivileged ones struggle for basic survival. This divide perpetuates social injustice and prevents the nation from utilizing its human resources effectively.
Jung criticizes a system that allows child labour to flourish while failing to provide equal opportunities for all children regardless of their economic background, emphasizing the urgent need for social reform and educational accessibility.
