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.
