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NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 2 The Lost Spring

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Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 2 Question 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.

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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.

Access NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 2 The Lost Spring Questions and Answers

Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context:

(i) Looking for 

Ans: try to locate or discover

(ii) Slog their daylight hours 

Ans: struggle persistently during the daytime

(iii) Roof over his head 

Ans: a place to live

(iv) Perpetual state of poverty 

Ans: endless impoverishment

(v) Dark hutments 

Ans: encampment of huts devoid of any light

(vi) Imposed the baggage on the child 

Ans: force the profession on the child


Think as you read: 

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

Ans: Saheb was searching for rupee notes, coins, and other useful objects in the garbage dumps. Their family was uprooted from their village in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and had no option but to shift to Seemapuri, a slum on the outskirts of Delhi, and look for a source of income.


2. What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?

Ans: One of the explanations that the author came across when she saw many shoeless rag-picking children in her neighborhood was that it was a tradition to remain barefoot among them and other poor children in the country. She soon realized that her justification was wrong and just supported this idea and state of utter destitution.


3. Is Saheb happy working at the tea stall? Explain.

Ans: Saheb valued his freedom and had a carefree look on his face. Working at the tea stall meant sacrificing this freedom since he had a master to obey. The job paid him 800 rupees and all his meals but he felt that the weight of the steel canister was more than his rag-picking plastic bag and he was not content with it.


Think as you Read: 

1. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?

Ans: Firozabad is the centre of India’s glass-blowing industry and is especially famous for glass bangles.


2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

Ans: The glass bangles industry is a hazardous industry. The workers often end up blind if they are exposed to the work for many years. The furnaces are set in extremely elevated temperatures and lack proper ventilation. Since most of the workers are poor, they work without protective eye gear and leave them blind. Burns and cuts while working are quite frequent and inhaling the fumes can lead to lung cancer. The workers put their lives in danger to fill their stomachs.


3. How is Mukesh's attitude to his situation different from that of his family?

Ans: Mukesh’s family wanted him to learn the art of bangle making and carry the skill forward. It was quite common for the kids to learn the art and carry forward the family profession. But Mukesh wanted to be a motor mechanic and drive a car. He dreamt and was halfway towards his goal. The people of his community considered that it was their fate to work as bangle makers to earn their bread. Mukesh was resolute to learn the intricacies of being a mechanic and travel to learn it. His determination made him rise above his family members.


Understanding The Text

1. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities?

Ans: People move to cities in search of work and aid to fill their stomachs. There are better opportunities for work in the cities, compared to villages. Better health and civic facilities are also present in the large cities and towns to meet the demands of the population there. Sometimes natural calamities and destruction of land also force farmers to shift to the city for labour work.


In the story, Saheb and his family had to shift to Seemapuri because their farmland in Dhaka got destroyed in the storms. They had no alternative other than shifting to the city to fill their empty stomachs.


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: Yes, I believe that the promises made to the poor children are seldom kept. Their dreams and aspirations are just considered to be part of their imaginative brain and hence are not taken seriously. It is painful to see a young kid’s dream not being encouraged which makes them less motivated to pursue them. People seldom make promises with the kids just to avoid shattering their hearts.


In the story, the narrator makes a promise to Saheb about opening a school and encourages him to study. She sows a seed of hope in his heart, and when after a few days he enquires her about the school, she realizes how hollow her promise was and she was embarrassed about her action.


3. What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?

Ans: The people working in the bangle industry are forced to work in that industry since that’s the only craft they know to fill their stomachs. They aren't skilled in any other field and have accepted it as their fate to work in the bangle industry and be exploited by the deceptive middlemen. A proper legal system and the social system should be provided to them so that they can flourish with the help of their craft and come out of perpetual poverty. 


Thinking about the Text:

1. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realize his dream?

Ans: Mukesh wanted to become a motor mechanic and drive a car. It was a dream not typical for someone who was living in the slums and hence by dream big he had already raised himself on a pedestal. He will have to face many obstacles but with his willpower and determination, I believe he can achieve his dream. He was willing to take a long walk to learn the skill shows the determination and passion he holds. He just needs to take these small steps and work on them religiously.


2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.

Ans: The glass bangles industry is a hazardous industry. The workers often end up blind if they are exposed to the work for many years. The furnaces are set in extremely elevated temperatures and lack proper ventilation. Since most of the workers are poor, they work without protective eye gear and leaves them blind. Burns and cuts while working are quite frequent and inhaling the fumes can lead to lung cancer. The workers put their lives in danger to fill their stomachs.


3. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?

Ans: Poor families have more kids because they feel that the more the number of working hands, the easier it will be to sustain the family. What they don't realize is that young years for kids are to devote themselves to studies and playing instead of toiling hard to earn. 


Industries and local food restaurants prefer kids as workforce since they charge less and work for a greater number of hours. They could be exploited easily without expecting them to revolt anytime soon. These hazardous conditions can not only cripple them physically but cause ailments that could lead to their death.


Government should keep a better check on these industries and implement proper laws to regulate the workforce. Strict actions must be taken if any factory is noticed appointing young lids as working staff. The public should be aware of these things and shouldn't encourage such behavior.


Thinking about language:

1. Although this text speaks of factual events and situations of misery it transforms these situations with almost poetical prose into a literary experience. How does it do so? Here are some literary devices:

Hyperbole is a way of speaking or writing that makes something sound better or more exciting than it really is. For example, Garbage to them is gold.

A Metaphor, as you may know, compares two things or ideas that are not very similar. A metaphor describes a thing in terms of a single quality or feature of some other thing; we can say that a metaphor "transfers" the quality of one thing to another. For example, The road was a ribbon of light.

Simile is a word or phrase that compares one thing with another using the words "like" or "as". For example: As white as snow.


Carefully read the following phrases and sentences taken from the text. Can you identify the literary device in each example?


1. Saheb-e-Alam which means the lord of the universe is directly in contrast to what Saheb is in reality.

Ans: Irony


2. Drowned in an air of desolation.

Ans: Metaphor has been used in the sentence. It compares two things or ideas that are not remarkably similar. Air has no density, and one can practically drown in air. Even then it has been used by the author to show the gravity of things happening.


3. Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically.

Ans: Antithesis has been used in the sentence. It is used either as a proposition that reverses a previously mentioned proposition. The author mentions Seemapuri is present on the periphery of Delhi and then juxtaposes it by saying it’s miles away and contrasts the present idea.


4. For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders, it is a means of survival.

Ans: Antithesis has been used in the sentence. It is used either as a proposition that reverses a previously mentioned proposition. The author contrasts the idea for adults and children. For children, it is a thing of wonder while for adults it is just survival.


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.

Ans: Simile has been used in the sentence. It is used when we compare things or people using as, like, etc. In the sentence, hands are compared with tongs of a machine.


6. She still has bangles on her wrist, but not light in her eyes.

Ans: Pun has been used in the sentence. A pun is used to imply a humorous effect. The writer mentions that there were bangles on her wrist but no happiness or light in her eyes, creating a humorous effect.


7. Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.

Ans: Pun has been used in the sentence. A pun implies a humorous effect. Firozabad is near Delhi and many planes fly from there since it is the capital. The statement has been used to create slight laughter.


8. Web of poverty.

Ans: Metaphor has been used in the sentence. It compares two ideas or things that are not remarkably similar. Poverty does not from a physical web but is still compared with it to show its networking and density.


9. Scrounging for gold.

Ans: Metaphor has been used in the sentence. It compares two ideas or things that are not remarkably similar.  Gold is a precious metal and cannot be begged for and hence the ideas are not related.


10. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of fine art.

Ans: Hyperbole


11. The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulder

Ans: Paradox


2. The beauty of the glass bangles of Firozabad contrasts with the misery of the people who produce them.

This paradox is also found in some other situations, for example, those who work in gold and diamond mines, or carpet weaving factories, and the products of their labor, the lives of construction workers, and the buildings they build.

(i) Look around and find examples of such paradoxes.

(ii) Write a paragraph of about 200 to 250 words on any one of them. You can start by making notes.

Here is an example of how one such paragraph may begin:

You never see the poor in this town. By day they toil, working cranes and earthmovers, squirreling deep into the hot sand to lay the foundations of chrome. By night they are banished to bleak labour camps at the outskirts of the city...

Ans: You never see the poor in this town. By day they toil, working cranes and earthmovers, squirreling deep into the hot sand to lay the foundations of chrome. By night they are banished to bleak labour camps at the outskirts of the city. Poor live miserably but it does not mean they lack skills. There are various fine fabrics and hand embroideries that are done by the locals in India and are famous and have demand across the world. Lack of proper investment and financial exposure forces them to live in filthy conditions. Their condition is so worse, especially in these times of crisis that they have to sell their work at minimum prices to sustain themselves and their families. They work hard the entire day and then just have to sell off their stuff to earn the wages for survival. They are illiterate and often exploited. The worst risk is not to the workers but to the skill that is lost. Since the craft is not well paying, only a few artisans prefer to learn the skill further. This reduces the number of people involved in the craft and eventually after some centuries the craft is no more.  They do not know the loss they are facing and how the technology could be used to earn more than just the survival amount. The rich and privileged should respect them for the work and time that they give and provide them properly for the work they do.


Benefits of The Lost Spring NCERT Solution Class 12 English

  • NCERT Solutions to Flamingo Class 12 English Chapter 2 Question Answers are provided by subject matter experts and master teachers at Vedantu. These experts hold years of experience in dealing with the CBSE Syllabus, ensuring the authenticity and accuracy of the solutions.

  • The English Class 12 Chapter 2 Question Answers are constantly checked and updated to make sure they comply with the latest 2024-25 CBSE syllabus.

  • NCERT Solutions to Lost Spring Class 12 Question Answers PDF are FREE to download. This helps students study anywhere, anytime, on the go. 

  • The Lost Spring NCERT solutions cover everything the chapter offers in one place so that students do not waste time looking through different sources.


Conclusion

The Lost Spring is an extract that highlights evils like widespread poverty and its effect on the people in the country. Things like unemployment, illiteracy, and unequal distribution of wealth are some of the leading causes of poverty, and the lives of people affected by it are worse than one can imagine, as seen in the chapter. Vedantu offers NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 2 Question Answers in PDF format, FREE to download. These solutions are checked and compiled by master teachers and subject matter experts, ensuring their accuracy and authenticity.


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Chapter-wise Solutions for NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo

The next section covers the NCERT Solutions to the Class 12 Flamingo textbook chapter-wise. You can refer to these solutions to gain a headstart on your study process and ace your examinations.




Chapter-wise NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English (Flamingo - Poem)



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FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 2 The Lost Spring

1. How do the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 2, 'The Lost Spring', help in preparing for the 2025-26 board exams?

The NCERT Solutions for 'The Lost Spring' are designed to help students prepare effectively for the CBSE 2025-26 board exams by providing:

  • Accurate Answers: Step-by-step solutions to all textbook questions, ensuring you understand the core concepts.
  • CBSE Pattern Alignment: Answers are structured as per the latest CBSE guidelines, helping you learn the correct way to present information in exams.
  • In-depth Analysis: Detailed explanations for complex questions, especially those involving themes like poverty and child labour, to build a strong foundation.
  • Time-saving Resource: A consolidated place for all chapter questions and answers, saving valuable preparation time.

2. What is the correct method to answer the question, 'Is Saheb happy working at the tea stall?' as per the NCERT textbook?

To correctly answer this question, you should state a clear position and support it with evidence from the text. The correct approach is:

  1. Begin with a direct answer: No, Saheb is not happy working at the tea stall.
  2. Provide the reason: He has lost his freedom and the carefree look he had as a ragpicker.
  3. Use textual evidence for support: Explain that while he earns ₹800 and all his meals, he is now bound to a master. The author notes that the steel canister he now carries “seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulder,” symbolising the burden of his lost independence.

3. How do the NCERT Solutions explain the different hardships faced by the two main characters, Saheb and Mukesh?

The NCERT Solutions systematically break down the distinct yet similar hardships of the two protagonists:

  • For Saheb: The solutions detail his life as a refugee from Bangladesh, living in the slums of Seemapuri. They focus on the loss of his identity, the daily grind of rag-picking which is his only means of survival, and the eventual loss of freedom when he takes up a job at a tea stall.
  • For Mukesh: The solutions highlight his entrapment in a generational profession of bangle-making in Firozabad. They explain the hazardous working conditions in glass furnaces, the exploitation by middlemen, and the societal pressure that stifles his dream of becoming a motor mechanic.

4. What types of questions are covered in the NCERT Solutions for 'The Lost Spring'?

The solutions cover all question categories from the NCERT textbook to ensure comprehensive understanding. These include:

  • Think as You Read: In-text questions that check your immediate comprehension of the story's events.
  • Understanding the Text: Analytical questions that require a deeper interpretation of the chapter’s themes and character motivations.
  • Thinking about Language: Questions focused on identifying and explaining literary devices like metaphors, irony, and similes used by the author.
  • Inferential Questions: Exercises that train you to deduce the meaning of specific phrases and expressions from their context.

5. Why is it important to understand literary devices like metaphor and irony when solving questions for 'The Lost Spring'?

Understanding literary devices is crucial because they carry the deeper meaning of the chapter. For instance:

  • Irony: Recognising the irony in the name 'Saheb-e-Alam' (Lord of the Universe) for a poor ragpicker helps you write a more insightful answer about his tragic reality.
  • Metaphor: Identifying metaphors like the 'web of poverty' allows you to explain the complex, inescapable nature of the bangle makers' situation effectively.

The NCERT solutions guide you on how to identify these devices and use them to add depth to your answers, which can lead to higher marks.

6. What key points must be included when answering questions about the forces that keep the bangle makers of Firozabad in poverty?

A complete answer, as guided by the NCERT solutions, should include these interconnected forces:

  • The vicious circle of sahukars (moneylenders) and middlemen who exploit them.
  • The burden of the family lineage, which dictates that they must follow the bangle-making profession.
  • The absence of any leadership or cooperative to fight for their rights.
  • The fear of being beaten and jailed by the police and authorities if they try to organise.
  • A deep-rooted sense of acceptance that their condition is their destiny or 'karam'.

7. How do the NCERT Solutions help analyse the contrast between the children's dreams and their harsh realities in 'The Lost Spring'?

The solutions provide a structured framework to analyse this central theme. They guide you to compare the characters' aspirations with their circumstances by highlighting specific examples:

  • Saheb's lost dreams: The solutions explain how his simple desire for school and tennis shoes is crushed by the need to earn a living, first through rag-picking and then at the tea stall.
  • Mukesh's daring dream: They show how Mukesh’s ambition to be a motor mechanic is a form of rebellion against his predetermined fate in the hazardous bangle industry, helping you analyse his resilience.

8. What is the step-by-step approach to explaining the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry as per the NCERT exercise?

The NCERT solutions guide you to explain the hazards in a structured manner:

  1. Poor working environment: Mention the high-temperature furnaces and dingy, poorly ventilated hutments.
  2. Health risks: Detail the specific dangers, such as polishing the glass bangles, which often leads to blindness from the dust.
  3. Lack of safety: Emphasise that workers, including children, operate without protective gear, leading to frequent burns and injuries.
  4. Long-term illness: Note the risk of severe respiratory illnesses like lung cancer due to inhaling harmful fumes over many years.