throw light on the callousness of society and political class to the sufferings of the poor
Answers
The question refers to the story “Lost Spring” by Anees Jung. The author interacts with underprivileged children and gives the readers an insight into their lives, while also exposing the callousness of society and the politicians, to the suffering of the poor.
In the story, the author highlights the case of Saheb. Saheb is a young ragpicker whose daily routine revolves around “scrounging for gold in the garbage dumps”. He has not known any other life. He walks barefoot, and his simple dream is to own a pair of shoes. Saheb is trapped in his routine until he finds work at a local tea stall. The child has not had the opportunity to enjoy his childhood because he has been busy trying to help his family make ends meet. Education is a tool that can help fight poverty, but there is no school around Saheb’s home, because the politicians are not bothered about the poor, their fight for survival and their living conditions. Society in general also does not try to help the poor.
The poor are completely on their own, without any support or even guidance of any sort from any(o)ne.
The same is the case of the bangle makers of Firozabad. Society has such strongly defined caste rules that a bangle maker’s son is destined to follow his family traditions. Opting for any other profession is rebellion, and not acceptable. This, despite the fact that the bangle-makers lose their eyesight because of professional hazards. Yet, the younger generations are expected to voluntarily become bangle-makers.
Speaking of politics, the bangle makers are exploited by the middlemen who pay them very little for the bangles. The middlemen sell the bangles at much higher rates, pocketing a huge profit themselves, while the original creator is left to struggle in poverty and blindness. The politicians and local officials do not bother about the exploitation and the plight of the bangle makers. They are indifferent to the sufferings of the poor, despite being aware of it. If society wants, awareness can be spread, safety can be improved, middlemen can be punished, poverty can be reduced and the life of the poor can be improved, but the unfortunate bit is that neither society nor the politicians have the will to do anything for the poor.
Answer:
Frow light on the callousness of society and Political clase to the sufferings of the pooky.