Lost Spring by Anees Jung is the second chapter in the Class 12 English Flamingo textbook. This story is not fiction—it brings out the harsh truth of child labour in India. Through two real-life narratives, the chapter shows the lost childhood of children who are forced into work due to poverty. The story follows Saheb, a ragpicker from Seemapuri near Delhi, and a boy from Firozabad who works in the glass-blowing industry. Both stories speak about lost dreams, lost potential, and a lost spring—the beautiful season of childhood.
I chose to write about Lost Spring because it still mirrors the reality of many Indian children. Even today, thousands of children work on streets, in factories or in houses instead of going to school. It is easy to ignore them when we’re caught up in our own lives. But reading this chapter makes you pause and think. This is not just for exam preparation. It’s important for young readers to be aware of the unequal world around them. The more we understand these stories, the more we feel responsible as citizens to bring some change—even in small ways. That’s why I feel this chapter should be understood with empathy, not just remembered for marks.
Summary of Lost Spring
The chapter Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen Childhood is divided into two parts. Each part tells the story of a child who has lost his childhood because of poverty and social pressure.
Part I: Sometimes I find a rupee in the garbage
- This part talks about Saheb, a ragpicker boy who lives in Seemapuri. He once had a home in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but his family moved to India after storms destroyed their fields.
- Now, Saheb roams the streets barefoot, collecting garbage. He doesn’t go to school because his family can’t afford education.
- Even though he works, Saheb remains cheerful. But deep inside, he dreams of a better life—one with proper clothes, shoes, and schooling.
- When he gets a job at a tea stall, he earns ₹800 a month. But he is no longer his own master. His name means “Saheb-e-Alam” (Lord of the Universe), but in reality, he has nothing.
Part II: I want to drive a car
- This part is based in Firozabad, the hub of India’s glass-blowing industry.
- Here, children like Mukesh are born into families that have been making bangles for generations.
- The work is dangerous. They work near hot furnaces all day, and most of them lose their eyesight at a young age.
- The sad part is that these children and their families don’t even dream of anything else. They believe it is their fate.
- But Mukesh is different. He wants to be a motor mechanic. He wants to break the cycle.
Themes and Messages
Here are the key messages from Lost Spring:
- Child Labour: The chapter highlights how children are pushed into work instead of getting a proper childhood.
- Poverty and Helplessness: Both stories show how poverty forces families to make tough choices.
- Loss of Innocence: Children like Saheb and Mukesh have dreams, but life takes those dreams away.
- Hope and Change: Mukesh’s small but strong dream shows that change is possible, even in the toughest situations.
Character Sketch
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| Saheb | A ragpicker from Seemapuri, full of dreams but stuck in poverty. |
| Mukesh | A bangle maker from Firozabad, who wants to become a motor mechanic. |
| Anees Jung | The writer, who observes and shares these children’s lives through her thoughtful narration. |
Download PDF – NCERT Class 12 Flamingo Chapter 2
You can download the official PDF of Lost Spring from this website. It’s free and accessible to all.
