"Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen Childhood" by Anees Jung is a poignant exploration of the abject poverty and exploitation faced by child laborers in India. The book is divided into two main parts, each focusing on the life of a specific child and their struggles.

Part I: "Sometimes I Find a Rupee in the Garbage" (Saheb-e-Alam) This section introduces Saheb-e-Alam, a young ragpicker boy living in Seemapuri, a slum on the outskirts of Delhi. Saheb and his family are Rohingya refugees who migrated from Dhaka, Bangladesh, seeking a better life. They live in dire poverty, without proper sanitation or amenities, and survive by scavenging through garbage. For Saheb, the garbage dump is both a source of survival and a place of wonder, where he occasionally finds a rupee or even a ten-rupee note, signifying hope amidst despair.

The author observes Saheb's bare feet and his daily routine of scrounging for discarded items. She notes his cheerful spirit despite his difficult circumstances. She engages in conversations with him, learning about his life, his friends, and his dreams, which include going to school and wearing shoes. However, these dreams remain largely unfulfilled due to the harsh realities of his existence.

Later, Saheb takes up a job at a tea stall, earning 800 rupees a month and all his meals. While this offers a regular income, the author observes that Saheb has lost his carefree look. He is no longer his own master; the steel canister he carries feels heavier than his ragpicker's bag, symbolizing the burden of responsibility and the loss of his childhood freedom.

Analysis of Part I: This section highlights the plight of refugee children forced into labor, their struggle for survival, and the loss of their childhood innocence. It subtly critiques the systemic issues that perpetuate poverty and prevent access to education. The “lost spring” for Saheb is the loss of his childhood, replaced by the harsh realities of earning a living.

Part II: "I Want to Drive a Car" (Mukesh) The second part shifts focus to Mukesh, a boy from Firozabad, a town famous for its bangle-making industry. Firozabad is a hub of child labor, with generations of families engaged in this hazardous occupation. Mukesh, unlike Saheb, has a strong desire to break free from his traditional family profession. He dreams of becoming a motor mechanic and driving a car, a dream that seems distant given his circumstances.

The author visits Mukesh's home, a dilapidated shack in a narrow, dirty lane, sharing space with animals and other families. She witnesses the arduous and dangerous work involved in bangle-making, where children work in dingy, unventilated rooms, constantly exposed to high temperatures and toxic fumes, often losing their eyesight even before adulthood.

Mukesh's grandmother speaks of their "God-given lineage" of bangle-making, highlighting the entrenched nature of their poverty and lack of opportunities. Mukesh's father, despite his years of hard work, has failed to improve his family's living conditions. The author describes the exploitation by moneylenders, middlemen, and corrupt officials who trap these families in a vicious cycle of poverty. Despite the bleak reality, Mukesh's determination to learn to drive a car stands out as a beacon of hope, a desire to create his own destiny rather than being confined to the family tradition.

Analysis of Part II: This section delves deeper into the generational poverty and exploitation prevalent in specific industries. It exposes the harsh working conditions, the health hazards, and the systemic oppression that keeps these families enslaved. Mukesh's aspiration represents the yearning for self-reliance and breaking free from inherited destinies.

Themes:
- Child Labour: The most prominent theme is the widespread existence of child labor, depriving children of their right to education, play, and a healthy childhood. The story exposes the reasons behind it – poverty, lack of opportunities, and societal apathy.
- Poverty: The narrative vividly portrays the abject poverty faced by these families, living in squalid conditions, struggling for basic necessities, and caught in a vicious cycle that seems impossible to break.
- Exploitation: The story highlights the exploitation of the poor by various agencies – moneylenders, landlords, middlemen, and even the police and politicians, who collectively perpetuate their misery.
- Dreams: Despite their grim realities, both Saheb and Mukesh harbor dreams. Saheb's fleeting hope of finding a rupee, and Mukesh's strong desire to drive a car, represent the innate human capacity for aspiration, even in the face of immense adversity.
- Resilience: The children, despite their hardships, display a remarkable resilience. They adapt to their circumstances and continue to strive for a better life, even if their efforts are often futile.