Lost springs-forgotten childhoods

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Lost springs

Lost springs by Anees Jung is an account of the poverty stricken societies of India. It is a mirror to the lost childhoods denied the opportunities of education and are forced to work for a living.

Childhood is the spring of life. Spring is the season of hope and growth. Baby leaves sprout and trees flower during spring. Similarly childhood bears semblance to spring that it is the time when future adults are shaped. Spring is also the time of youth and joy,as it brings life to earth. The young children likewise enjoy the pleasures of life during this time.

'Lost spring',the term itself effects a paradox. It is therefore the account of several children in the backdrop of Indian society whose lives doesn't have the colour or happiness of spring,but is monotonous and dull. It is majorly an account of Child Labour in India. According to the statistics,India is the country which houses the most child labour in the world,about 20%. A huge section of our youth work in hotels,and in hazardous conditions to earn a living. This is contrary to the fact that child labour is prohibited by law in India. The constitution entitles every children below the age 14 the right to elementary education.

The major reason for child labour is poverty. Some children have to support their family on their own shoulders. Some are merely exploited and abused by greedy businessmen who seek more profits by employing children who have lesser demands and since they don't form a trade union to fight back. Some are employed in their family business by their loving parents,who are unaware that child labour is illegal. But the abject poverty they live in leave these children no choice but to work to sustain their lives. Where food is a luxury,education is not even a wildest dream. Being illiterate and uneducated,they cant be expected to have a bright future ahead of them. Engaging in jobs in a hazardous environment often subjects them to several life-hazards and chronic disorders,like the children engaged in bangle making end up blind before they reach adulthood. They are 'lost futures'.

'Lost spring' means 'lost dreams'. These children are not even allowed to dream. The adults give then the feeling that this is their 'karma',their destiny. The inertia of their adults towards their own pitiful condition is brought about by their practical experience of the trap woven around them by middlemen and authorities subjecting them to a perpetual state of poverty. They are beaten up if they try to resist. Their forefathers have been,and their future generations will be, in the same plight as them. Deprived for generations and denied the control of their own lives,they have taken refuge in the excuse that it is their fate,and get adjusted to it with no groans. They are even entrapped by the superstitious beliefs and cultural norms of society,like some castes being forced to do certain menial jobs. Though prohibited by law,these practices are very prevalent in India.

Thus,the stigma of caste and obligation to family prevents them from dreaming. Rag picking children like Saheb used to lead carefree lives until he got employed in a milk booth. Though it was a means of survival,it was a form of slavery to him.Even in such tender ages they have to do backbreaking work to make a living. They are convinced about their incapability to overcome their misfortunes. 'Lost Springs' are therefore 'Lost hopes'. Save the exception of a few optimistic kids like Mukesh who dreams to be a motor mechanic despite all the huddles that surround him.But his dream is a mere mirage-there is almost no chance that it might come true.

Child labour is a misfortune and a national shame. It gives rise to anti-social, unhealthy, bed-ridden individuals who are a curse to the society. These children become social menaces rather than assets. It is a waste of valuable human resources. A poor community is a dormant society whose infinite potential lay underutilized. Providing them proper education and other necessities like food,these valuable resources can be developed and harnessed. They shall get to live a civilized life.

Eradication of poverty is the best way to tackle this social evil. Only then can poor families send their children to school. Efforts should be made to spread awareness about the harms of child labour. We need an active society which acts as the watch dog of this law. Legislation and strict implementation of laws entitling the child labour offenders to a life of prison needs to be done. The fact that The Right to Education Act is treated with much respect here in our country,gives us hope.

We can pray and hope for the day,when all trees can flower and all baby sprouts can grow to be healthy plants.