LOST SPRING

Q. Explain ‘the steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag’
ans The steel canister was heavier than the plastic bag not even literally but even metaphorically because sahib was now burdened with the responsibility of a job. He had lost the child like innocence and carefree look. The plastic bag was lighter as it was his bag while the canister belonged to the owner of the tea shop. Sahib feels burdened as he is no longer the master of his own free will and there is no wonder or joy of discovering something new as there was in rag picking. His freedom is hired for a paltry sum and despite a regular and stable income,the steel canister has weighed him down devoid of all hope and dreams.
Q. 'years of mindnumbing toil have killed all initiative and the ability to dream.' Explain
Ans The above line is used by the writer Jung to highlight the pathetic condition of people living in Ferozabad. Ferozabad known for bangle making employs children at the furnaces, welding glass and making bangles. They work in the glass furnace with the high temperatures, in dirty dingy place devoid of air and light and often lose the brightness of their eyes as a result. Their living condition is comparable to the rag pickers of the Seemapuri . Their homes are like shack with crumbling walls, shaky doors no windows crowded with families of humans and animals living together in a primitive state. Their condition is accepted as a fate or destiny.
The sahukars,middlemen , the policemen, the keepers of law, the bureaucrats and the politicians form the vicious cycle of exploitation perpetuating poverty and suffering of generation after generation which eventually kills all their desires and enterprise.
Q. explain ‘few airplanes fly over ferozabad’
ans The writer was happy to learn that Mukesh despite his grinding poverty dreamt of becoming a motor mechanic and was even prepared to walk a long distance to the garage to achieve his dream. The writer encouraged by his motivation asked if he ever want to fly the airplanes. Mukesh was embarrassed as he could not think or imagine driving a plane but was content with the dream of cars. This shows the dearth of opportunities and the limited world of the slums of the Firozabad. The airplanes seems a farfetched reality is not only unachievable but also incomprehensible to the little Mukesh .
Q 'for children it is wrapped in wonder.' Explain
Ans The author describes the rag picking by poor children as seeking pleasure amidst the garbage. The wonder here refers to searching something new or valuable among the mounds of heap. The tedious and filthy act of scavenging the city holds excitement, wonder and curiosity of discovering something unknown and precious. The expression also indicates the innocence and simplicity of these unfortunate children as they pick the rag with the sense of enjoyment and not resentment. Their joy and amazement of stumbling into something treasurable makes the burdensome rag picking seem beautiful.
Q 'For them garbage is gold.' Explain
Ans The above metaphor is an evocative description of the abject poverty of the slum dwellers. Forced to live under inhuman living condition of the seemapuri slums, these people cherish the garbage as it is the only source of their livelihood. The expression also brings out the irony of how the waste of the city nurtures these impoverished beings, as they thrive on the left over. The author also attempts a contrast between the rich, poor and their ever widening gap, if the rich runs after gold similarly the poor are satisfied with the garbage, indicating their discarded existence.
Q 'Through the years it has acquired the proportions of fine art.' Explain
Ans It refers to the rag picking and the author uses hyperbole to narrate their daily toil and struggle to survive. The fine art signifies the special skill and art that goes into the process of rag picking which includes a thorough examination, dedication, determination as well as some amount of expertise and dexterity to collect the various types of rag. The author further recognizes the rag picking as an occupation involving skill by calling it as fine art(despite exaggeration)