Undoubtedly, the author, Anees Jung's aim is to bring to light the grinding poverty and traditions throught the chapter, Lost Spring. The story has two sections. First section highlights the
problem of rag pickers of Seemapuri situated at the outskirts of Delhi. The
children of rag pickers are suffering from direst of poverties and are forced
to resort to ragpicking. She interacts with a rag picker boy named
Saheb-E-Alam, who wishes to go to school but cannot.
The second section brings to the readers' focus the impoverished life conditions of bangle-makers of Firozabad. She interacts with a
boy named Mukesh who works as a worker in glass blowing unit in unhygienic
conditions. She takes the readers to Mukesh’s home where they see the abject
poverty of these people.
She does not hesitate to mention the corruption present in Government, courts, and police
departments due to which these poor people are trapped in a web of poverty. The
corrupt officers and officials are in league with the rich middlemen who force
them to live children like Saheb-e-Alam and Mukesh in perpetual poverty.
In conclusion it can be said that the chapter beautifully achieves its purpose to make people aware and think about the social issues of poverty, exploitation, and child-labor in our country.
