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The Lost Child
by Mulk Raj Anand
Introduction to Chapter
Summary in English
‘The Lost Child’ is an interesting story. It describes the working of a child’s mind. In this story, a child wants to buy a number of things. He feels sad when his parents don’t buy anything for him. But when he is separated from his parents, he loses interest in everything. It was the festival of spring. A large number of men, women and children were going to the fair. They were dressed in new clothes. They were in a happy mood. A child was also going with his parents to the fair. He was very happy. He was attracted by various things. He lagged behind again and again. His parents called him to come along. The child ran and joined his parents. The child wished to buy a toy from a toy shop. But his father stared at him with his red eyes. There was a mustard field on the way. The boy saw a beautiful butterfly in the field. He tried to catch it. His parents again called him. After sometime, the child’s parents rested under a banyan tree near a well. The child began to gather the fallen petals. At last, they reached the fair. The child saw a sweet-seller. He desired to have some burfi. But he knew that his father would not buy it for him. He would call him greedy. So, he did not press his demand. He then wished to enjoy a juggler’s tricks. He also wanted to have balloons and flowers. But he knew that his parents would not agree to his demands. So, he moved on along with them. Then the child saw a ‘roundabout’. He wished to enjoy a ride on that roundabout. He called his parents. But there was no reply. He turned back. His parents were nowhere to be seen. His heart was filled with fear. He started weeping. He ran about crying, “Mother, father.” He looked everywhere in the fair. But he could not find them anywhere. A kind man lifted him up in his arms. He tried to console the child. The man took him to the flower-seller, balloon-seller, snake-charmer and the joy-ride. But the child had lost interest in everything. He went on crying, “I want my mother, I want my father!”
Summary in Hindi
बसन्त ऋतु का मेला था। सभी व्यक्ति इसमें जा रहे थे। कुछ पैदल जा रहे थे। कुछ घोड़ों पर सवार होकर, कुछ
बैलगाड़ियों में। छोटा बच्चा अपने माता-पिता के साथ दौड़ा जा रहा था। वह आनन्दमग्न था। जब वह पीछे रह जाता
तो उसके पिता उसे आने के लिए कहते। वह दुकानों में खिलौने देखने के लिए पीछे रह जाता था। छोटा बच्चा एक
खिलौना चाहता था। परन्तु उसके माता-पिता इसे खरीद नहीं सकते थे। इसलिए उन्होंने उसे दूसरी वस्तुओं की ओर
देखने के लिए कहा।
यह सरसों के फूल आने का समय था। खेत इसके साथ सोने की तरह दिखाई दे रहे थे। सरसों के फूलों पर चिउरा
मक्खियाँ उड़ रही थीं। बच्चे ने उनमें से एक को पकड़ने की कोशिश की। परन्तु उसकी माँ ने उसे बुला लिया। वह
खुशी से अपने माता-पिता के पास दौड़ गया। उसने फाख्ते के कुजने की आवाज सुनी। तब उसने वृक्षों के झुण्ड से
फूलों की पंखुड़ियाँ उठा ली थीं। वह बरगद के वृक्ष के चारों तरफ भी दौड़ा। परन्तु फिर उसे उसके माता-पिता ने
बुला लिया था।
शीघ्र ही बच्चा मेले में पहुँच गया। उसने मिठाई विक्रेता को कहते हुए सुना, गुलाब जामुन, रसगुल्ला, बर्फी,
जलेबी”। मिठाई की दुकान भिन्न-भिन्न मिठाइयों से अत्यधिक सजाई हुई थी। मिठाइयाँ देख कर बच्चे के मुँह में
पानी आ गया। उसने कहा, “मुझे वह बर्फी चाहिए”। ‘बर्फी’ उसकी पसन्द की मिठाई थी। परन्तु उसके ऐसा कहने के
प्रति ध्यान नहीं दिया गया।
बच्चा अपने माता-पिता के साथ आगे बढ़ गया। उसने एक फूल बेचने वाले को कहते सुना, “गुलमोहर की माला”। बच्चा
फूलों की टोकरी के पास गया। उसे एक माला चाहिए थी। परन्तु वह जानता था कि उसके माता-पिता उसे वह खरीदने के
लिए मनी कर देंगे। इसलिए वह आगे बढ़ गया। तब उसने एक गुब्बारे बेचने वाले को देखा। उसके पास तरह-तरह के
रंगों के गुब्बारे थे। बच्चा जानता था कि उसके माता-पिता उसे गुब्बारा नहीं खरीदने देंगे। इसलिए वह आगे बढ़
गया।
बच्चे ने फिर एक सपेरे को देखा। वह एक सांप के आगे | बांसुरी बजा रहा था। वह सपेरे के समीप गया। परन्तु वह
जानता था कि उसके माता-पिता ने उसे इस प्रकार का संगीत सुनने के लिए मना किया था। इसलिए वह आगे बढ़ गया। तब
उसने एक झूला देखा। पुरुष, महिलायें और बच्चे आदि इसकी सवारी का आनन्द ले रहे थे। बच्चे ने कहा, “मैं झूला
झूलना चाहता हूँ, कृपया, पिता, माता।” परन्तु उसे कोई उत्तर नहीं मिला। बच्चा गुम । हो गया था।
बच्चे के गहरे गले से एक पूर्ण गहरी चिल्लाहट निकली। वह चिल्लाया, “माँ, पिता।” उसकी आँखों से आँसू बह
निकले। वह चिल्लाता रहा और इधर उधर दौड़ता रहा। परन्तु वह अपने माता पिता को नहीं देख सका। मनुष्य हँसते और
बातें करते रहे। तब वह एक मन्दिर की तरफ दौड़ा। वहाँ एक अपार भीड़ थी। बच्चा व्यक्तियों के पैरों के
बीचों-बीच कुछ कदम आगे बढ़ा। परन्तु उसे पीछे धकेल दिया गया। एक व्यक्ति ने उसकी चिल्लाहट सुनी। उसने उसे
अपने हाथों में उठा लिया।
व्यक्ति ने बच्चे से पूछा कि वह वहाँ कैसे पहुँचा। उसने उससे उसके माता-पिता के नाम भी पूछे। परन्तु बच्चे
ने इतना ही कहा, “मुझे मेरे पिता चाहिएँ।” व्यक्ति बच्चे को झूले के पास ले गया। उसने उससे पूछा कि क्या वह
घोड़े की सवारी करना चाहता है। परन्तु बच्चे ने केवल यही कहा कि उसे उसकी माँ चाहिए। तब | व्यक्ति ने उससे
पूछा कि क्या उसे गुब्बारा चाहिए ? परन्तु बच्चा | सिसकियाँ भरता रहा। वह अपने माँ बाप को ही चाहता था।
व्यक्ति फिर बच्चे को फूल बेचने वाले के पास ले गया। उसने उससे पूछा कि क्या वह फूलों की माला अपने गले में
डालना चाहेगा। बच्चे ने अपनी नाक मोड़ी। उसने इतना ही कहा, “मुझे मेरी माता चाहिए। मुझे मेरे पिता चाहिएँ।”
तब व्यक्ति ने उसे पूछा कि वह कौन-सी मिठाई पसन्द करेगा। बच्चे ने अपना चेहरा मोड़ा। उसने इतना ही कहा,
“मुझे अपनी माँ चाहिए। मुझे अपने पिता चाहिएँ।”
Full Explanation
A child goes to a fair with his parents. He is happy and excited and wants the sweets and toys displayed
there. But his parents don’t buy them for him. Why then does he refuse when someone else offers them to
him?
IT was the festival of spring. From the wintry shades of narrow lanes and alleys emerged a gaily clad
humanity. Some walked, some rode on horses, others sat, being carried in bamboo and bullock carts. One
little boy ran between his father’s legs, brimming over with life and laughter.
बसंत का पर्व था । ठंडी छाया में संकरे गली - कूँचों की से सुन्दर वस्त्रधारी मोड़ ऐसी बनी होकर उमड़ रही थी जैसे किसी बिल में से चमकीले रंगों वाले खरगोश उमड़ पड़ते हैं । शहर के फाटक से बाहर की तरफ चमकती हुई चाँदी जैसी धूप के उमड़ते समुद्र में वे प्रवेश करते थे और मेले की तरफ सेज गति से चल देते थे । कुछ लोग पैदल जा रहे थे , कुछ घोड़ों पर सवार थे , कुछ बाँस की बैलों वाली गाड़ियों में बैठे हुए जा रहे थे । मस्ती व हँसी से छलकता हुआ एक नन्हा - सा लड़का अपने माता - पिता को टाँगों के बीच - बीच दौड़ता चल रहा था । खुशियों से भरा हुआ वह सवेरा उन सभी लोगों को फूलों व गीतों से से हुए खेतों में निकल आने पर बधाई व खुला निमंत्रण दे रहा था ।
“Come, child, come,” called his parents, as he lagged behind, fascinated by the toys in the shops that
lined the way.
He hurried towards his parents, his feet obedient to their call, his eyes still lingering on the
receding toys. As he came to where they had stopped to wait for him, he could not suppress the desire of
his heart, even though he well knew the old, cold stare of refusal in their eyes.
"आ जा बच्चे" उसके माता पिता ने पुकारा जब वह रास्ते के खिलौनो की दुकानों से आकर्षित होकर पीछे रह गया था । वह अपने माता - पिता की तरफ दौड़ा , उसके पैर उनकी पुकार के प्रति आज्ञाकारी थे । दूर हटते हुए खिलौनों पर उसकी आँखें अभी भी जमी हुई थीं । जब वह वहाँ पर आया जहाँ पर उसके माता - पिता उसकी प्रतीक्षा में रुके हुए थे तो वह अपनी मन की इच्छा को नहीं दबा पाया यद्यपि वह अपने माता - पिता की आँखों में इंकार की पुरानी व ठंडी नजर को अच्छी तरह से जानता था ।
“I want that toy,” he pleaded.
His father looked at him red-eyed, in his familiar tyrant’s way. His mother, melted by the free spirit
of the day was tender and, giving him her finger to hold, said, “Look, child, what is before you!”
It was a flowering mustard-field, pale like melting gold as it swept across miles and miles of even
land.
मुझे कह खिलौना चाहिए . ' उसने विनती की । अपनी जानी - पहचानी शैली में उसके पिता ने उसकी जक लाल - लाल आँखों से देखा । उस दिन के स्वच्छन्द वातावरण से द्रवित होकर, उसकी माँ नरम थी, और उस असो अगुली पकड़ाती हुई वह बोली : देखो , बच्चे तुम्हारे आगे वह क्या है । वह फूलों से भरा हुआ एक सरसों का खेत था जो मीलों तक सपाट फैली हुई धरती पर पिघले हुए सोने की भांति इस छोर से उस छोर तक फैला हुआ था
A group of dragon-flies were bustling about on their gaudy purple wings, intercepting the flight of a lone black bee or butterfly in search of sweetness from the flowers. The child followed them in the air with his gaze, till one of them would still its wings and rest, and he would try to catch it. But it would go fluttering, flapping, up into the air, when he had almost caught it in his hands. Then his mother gave a cautionary call: “Come, child, come, come on to the footpath.”
टिड्डों का एक झुंड तेज बैंगनी रंग वाले पंखों को इधर - उधर उड़ा रहा था जो फूलों से मिलने वाली मधुरता को खोजती हुई एक अकेली काली तितली की उड़ान में बाधा डाल रहा था । उन पर नजर रखे हुए उस बालक ने उनका तब तक पीछा किया जब तक कि उनमें से एक अपने पंख मोड़ कर आराम करने बैठ और उसने उसे पकड़ने की चेष्टा नहीं कर ली । किन्तु जैसे ही वह उसे अपने हाथों में पकड़ने को हुआ वह अपने पंख फड़फड़ाता हुआ हवा में ऊपर को चला गया । अपने को उसकी पकड़ से बचाते हुए एक साहसी काले भँवरे ने उसके कान के पास अपनी गुनगुन से उसे रिझाने की चेष्टा की तथा वह तो लगभग उसके होठों पर बैठ ही गया था कि तभी उसकी माँ ने पुकार कर चेतावनी दी : ' आ जा , बच्चे , आ जा , पगडंडी पर आ जा । '
He ran towards his parents gaily and walked abreast of them for a while, being, however, soon left
behind, attracted by the little insects and worms along the footpath that were teeming out from their
hiding places to enjoy the sunshine.
“Come, child, come!” his parents called from the shade of a grove where they had seated themselves on
the edge of a well. He ran towards them.
प्रसन्न चित्त से वह अपने माता - पिता की तरफ दौड़ा और कुछ देर के लिए उनसे आगे निकल गया , किन्तु शीघ्र ही फिर पीछे छूट गया , वह पगडंडी के उन छोटे - छोटे कीट - पतंगों की तरफ आकर्षित हो गया जो धूप का आनन्द लेने के लिए अपने - अपने छिपने के स्थान में से निकल कर चले आ रहे थे । आ जा , बच्चे , आ जा , ' उसके माता - पिता ने एक कुंज की छाया में से पुकारा जहाँ पर कगार पर जा बैठे थे । वह उनकी तरफ को दौड़ा गया ।
A shower of young flowers fell upon the child as he entered the grove, and, forgetting his parents, he
began to gather the raining petals in his hands. But lo! he heard the cooing of doves and ran towards
his parents, shouting, “The dove! The dove!” The raining petals dropped from his forgotten hands.
“Come, child, come!” they called to the child, who had now gone running in wild capers round the banyan
tree, and gathering him up they took the narrow, winding footpath which led to the fair through the
mustard fields.
ताजा फूलों की एक फुहार बालक पर ठीक उस समय गिरी जब वह कुंज के अन्दर गया और अपने माता - पिता को भूल कर वह झड़ती हुई पंखुड़ियों को अपने हाथों में बटोरने लग पड़ा । परन्तु देखो ! उसने फाख्ताओं की कुहक सुनी और अपने माता - पिता के पास वह चिल्लाता हुआ दौड़ा , ' फाख्ता ! फाख्ता ! ' वह अपने हाथों की पंखुड़ियों को भुला बैठा और वे नीचे झड़ गईं । ' आ जा , बच्चे आ जा ! " उन्होंने बच्चे को पुकारा , जो अब बरगद के वृक्ष के चारों तरफ मस्ती से कूद - कूद कर दौड़ रहा था । उसको साथ लेकर वह सँकरी चक्करदार पगडंडी पर आ गये जो सरसों के खेत से होकर मेले को जा रही थी ।
As they neared the village the child could see many other footpaths full of throngs, converging to the
whirlpool of the fair, and felt at once repelled and fascinated by the confusion of the world he was
entering.
A sweetmeat seller hawked, “gulab-jaman, rasagulla, burfi, jalebi,” at the corner of the entrance and a
crowd pressed round his counter at the foot of an architecture of many coloured sweets, decorated with
leaves of silver and gold. The child stared openeyed and his mouth watered for the burfi that was his
favourite sweet. “I want that burfi,” he slowly murmured. But he half knew as he begged that his plea
would not be heeded because his parents would say he was greedy. So, without waiting for an answer, he
moved on.
जब वे गाँव के पास पहुंचे तो बच्चे ने और अनेक भीड़ - भरी पगडंडियाँ देखों जो सिमटती हुई मेले की भँवर
में जा रही थीं , और उसे वह दुनिया जिसमें वह जा रहा था , एकाएक खराब भी लगी तथा अच्छी भी प्रवेश स्थान
के एक कोने से एक हलवाई चिल्लाया : " गुलाब जामुन , रसगुल्ला , बर्फी , जलेबी । " चाँदी और सोने के
पत्तरों से सजी हुई रंग - बिरंगी मिठाई के सजे हुए ढेर के तले उसकी दुकान पर एक भीड़ उमड़ रही थी । बालक
आँखें फाड़ कर घूर रहा था और बर्फी के लिए उसके मुँह में पानी भर रहा था क्योंकि वह उसकी प्रिय मिठाई थी
। मैं बर्फी चाहता हूँ , ' वह धीरे - से बुड़बुड़ाया । किन्तु माँगते हुए वह अच्छी तरह जानता था कि उसके
माता - पिता उसे लालची कहेंगे । सो उत्तर की प्रतीक्षा किए बगैर वह आगे को चल दिया लगी ।
A flower-seller hawked, “A garland of gulmohur, a garland of gulmohur!” The child seemed irresistibly
drawn. He went towards the basket where the flowers lay heaped and half murmured, “I want that garland.”
But he well knew his parents would refuse to buy him those flowers because they would say that they were
cheap. So, without waiting for an answer, he moved on.
A man stood holding a pole with yellow, red, green and purple balloons flying from it. The child was
simply carried away by the rainbow glory of their silken colours and he was filled with an overwhelming
desire to possess them all. But he well knew his parents would never buy him the balloons because they
would say he was too old to play with such toys. So, he walked on farther.
A snake-charmer stood playing a flute to a snake which coiled itself in a basket, its head raised in a
graceful bend like the neck of a swan, while the music stole into its invisible ears like the gentle
rippling of an invisible waterfall. The child went towards the snake-charmer. But, knowing his parents
had forbidden him to hear such coarse music as the snake-charmer played, he proceeded farther.
एक आदमी एक बाँस पकड़े हुए खड़ा था जिसमें से पीले , लाल , हरे व बैंगनी गुब्बारे उड़ रहे थे । उन रेशमी रंगों की इंद्रधनुषी शोभा पर वह बालक मुग्ध हो गया और उसके अन्दर उन सभी को ले लेने की तीव्र इच्छा जाग उठी । किन्तु वह अच्छी तरह से जानता था कि उसके माता - पिता उसके लिए गुब्बारे कभी नहीं - खरीदेंगे क्योंकि वे कह देंगे कि वह अब वैसे खिलौनों से खेलने के हिसाब से काफी बड़ा हो गया है । सो , वह आगे को चलता गया । एक साँप के सामने एक सपेरा बीन बजाता हुआ खड़ा था । एक टोकरी में वह साँप कुंडली मारे हुए बैठा था । उसका फन शान से ऊपर को उठा हुआ था जैसे किसी हंस की गर्दन हो , जबकि संगीत अदृश्य कानों में चोरी - चोरी ऐसे प्रवेश कर रहा था जैसे किसी छोटे - से झरने की हल्की - हल्की लहरें हों । बालक उस सपेरे के पास गया । किन्तु यह जानते हुए कि उसके माता - पिता ने उसे ऐसा फूहड़ संगीत सुनने से मना किया हुआ जैसा कि सपेरे बजाते हैं , वह आगे बढ़ गया ।
There was a roundabout in full swing. Men, women and children, carried away in a whirling motion,
shrieked and cried with dizzy laughter. The child watched them intently and then he made a bold request:
“I want to go on the roundabout, please, Father, Mother.”
There was no reply. He turned to look at his parents. They were not there, ahead of him. He turned to
look on either side. They were not there. He looked behind. There was no sign of them.
A full, deep cry rose within his dry throat and with a sudden jerk of his body he ran from where he
stood, crying in real fear, “Mother, Father.” Tears rolled down from his eyes, hot and fierce; his
flushed face was convulsed with fear. Panic-stricken, he ran to one side first, then to the other,
hither and thither in all directions, knowing not where to go. “Mother, Father,” he wailed. His yellow
turban came untied and his clothes became muddy.
एक चक्करदार झूला पूरे जोर चल रहा था । आदमी , औरतें व बच्चे चक्कर में घूम रहे थे , और चक्कर खाती हुई
हँसी के साथ चीख - पुकार मचा रहे थे । बालक उनको चक्कर लगाते हुए गौर से देख रहा था । उसके चेहरे पर एक
मुस्कराहट के साथ गुलाबी आभा थी ,, उसने एक साहसिक प्रार्थना की : " मैं उस चक्र पर घूमना चाहता
हूँ , कृपा करके , पिताजी , माँ । " कोई उत्तर नहीं मिला । वह अपने माता पिता को देखने के लिए मुड़ा। वे
उसके सामने नही थे। वह दूसरी तरफ देखने को मुड़ा । वे वहाँ भी नही थे । उसने पीछे मुड़ कर देखा उनका कोई
निशान नही था ।
उसके सूखे कंठ में से एक भरा - पूरा रुदन उमड़ पड़ा और अपने शरीर को एकाएक झटका देकर , अपने खड़े होने
वाली जगह से , भयंकर रूप से भयग्रस्त होकर वह दौड़ पड़ा । " माताजी , पिताजी ! " उसकी आँखों से गर्म व
भयग्रस्त आँसू लुढ़क रहे थे ; उसका तमतमाया हुआ लाल चेहरा डर से ऐंठा हुआ था । डर से व्याकुल , वह पहले
एक ओर को दौड़ा , फिर दूसरी तरफ , इधर - उधर सब तरफ , उसे जानकारी नहीं थी कि वह कहाँ पर जाए
। “ माँ , पिताजी , " अब वह और तीखी श्वास के साथ रो पड़ा , थूक निगलने के कारण उसका कंठ भीग रहा था ।
उसका पीला साफा खुल गया , और उसके कपड़े , पसीने से भीग कर , यहाँ - वहाँ कीचड़ वाले हो गये थे जहाँ -
जहाँ धूल उसके पसीने पर बैठ गई थी ।
Having run to and fro in a rage of running for a while, he stood defeated, his cries suppressed into sobs. At little distances on the green grass he could see, through his filmy eyes, men and women talking. He tried to look intently among the patches of bright yellow clothes, but there was no sign of his father and mother among these people, who seemed to laugh and talk just for the sake of laughing and talking.
थोड़ी देर तक यहाँ - वहाँ दौड़ने के बाद जब वह हार कर खड़ा हो गया , तो उसका रोना दब कर सिसकियों में बदल गया । हरी घास पर थोड़ी दूर पर , अपनी आँसुओं से भरी हुई आँखों से , उसने आदमियों व औरतों को बातचीत करते हुए देखा । उसने चमकीले पीले वस्त्रों के मध्य , ध्यान से देखने की चेष्टा की , किन्तु उन लोगों के बीच , जो सिर्फ हँसने व बोलने की गर्ज से हँसते - बोलते दिखाई दे रहे थे , उसे अपने माता - पिता का कोई चिह्न दिखाई नहीं दिया ।
He ran quickly again, this time to a shrine to which people seemed to be crowding. Every little inch of space here was congested with men, but he ran through people’s legs, his little sob lingering: “Mother, Father!” Near the entrance to the temple, however, the crowd became very thick: men jostled each other, heavy men, with flashing, murderous eyes and hefty shoulders. The poor child struggled to thrust a way between their feet but, knocked to and fro by their brutal movements, he might have been trampled underfoot, had he not shrieked at the highest pitch of his voice, “Father, Mother!” A man in the surging crowd heard his cry and, stooping with great difficulty, lifted him up in his arms
वह फिर बेचैनी से दौड़ा , इस बार वह उस समाधि की तरफ दौड़ा जहाँ लोगों की भीड़ जमा हो रही थी । उस स्थान की इंच - इंच भूमि आदमियों से ठस रही थी किन्तु वह लोगों की टाँगों में से दौड़ा , उसकी हिचकियाँ चल रही थीं , " माँ , पिताजी ! " मन्दिर के प्रवेश द्वार के पास भीड़ बहुत घनी हो गई थी , लोग एक - दूसरे से भिड़े जा रहे थे , भारी - भारी आदमी जिनकी आँखें डरावनी व हत्यारों की - सी थीं और मजबूत कंधे थे उस बेचारे बच्चे ने उन लोगों के पैरों के बीच में से घुसकर रास्ता बनाने के लिए संघर्ष किया परन्तु यदि वह अपनी आवाज को एकदम तीखी करके नहीं चीखता तो वह लोगों के धक्के - मुक्के के बीच में गिर कर उनके पैरों के तले कुचल गया होता । वह जोर से चीखा : " पिताजी , माँ ! " उस उमड़ती भीड़ में से एक आदमी ने उसकी चीख सुनी तथा बहुत कठिनाई से झुककर उसने अपनी बाँहों में उठा लिया । .
“How did you get here, child? Whose baby, are you?” the man asked as he steered clear of the mass. The
child wept more bitterly than ever now and only cried, “I want my mother, I want my father!”
The man tried to soothe him by taking him to the roundabout. “Will you have a ride on the horse?” he
gently asked as he approached the ring. The child’s throat tore into a thousand shrill sobs and he only
shouted, “I want my mother, I want my father!”
" बच्चे, तुम यहाँ पर कैसे आ गए? तुम किसके बेटे हो ? ' उस भीड़ में से बाहर को रास्ता बनाते हुए उस आदमी ने पूछा । अब वह बालक पहले से भी अधिक दु: खी होकर रो पड़ा और केवल यही चीखा: " मुझे अपनी माँ चाहिए, मुझे अपने पिताजी चाहिए । " उस आदमी ने बच्चे को चक्र के पास ले जाकर उसे चुप कराना चाहा । क्या तुम उस घोड़े पर चढ़ना पसंद करोगे? ' उसने उस चक्र के पास पहुँचते हुए प्यार से पूछा । बालक का कंठ एक हजार तीखी सिसकियों में फट पड़ा और वह केवल इतना ही चीखा: " मुझे अपनी माँ चाहिए, मुझे अपने पिताजी चाहिए! "
The man headed towards the place where the snake-charmer still played on the flute to the swaying cobra. “Listen to that nice music, child!” he pleaded. But the child shut his ears with his fingers and shouted his double-pitched strain: “I want my mother; I want my father!” The man took him near the balloons, thinking the bright colours of the balloons would distract the child’s attention and quieten him. “Would you like a rainbow-coloured balloon?” he persuasively asked. The child turned his eyes from the flying balloons and just sobbed, “I want my mother, I want my father!”
वह आदमी उस स्थान की तरफ को चल दिया जहाँ पर वह सपेरा अभी भी नाचते हुए नाग के सामने बीन बजा रहा था । " उस बढ़िया संगीत को सुनो , बच्चे , " उसने कहा । किन्तु बालक ने अपनी अंगुलियों से अपने कान बंद कर लिये और अपने स्वर को दुगना तीखा करके चीखा : “ मुझे अपनी माँ चाहिए , मुझे अपने ..पिताजी चाहिए । " वह आदमी उसे गुब्बारों के पास यह सोच कर ले गया कि गुब्बारों के चमकीले रंग बच्चे के ध्यान को बँटा लेंगे और उसे चुप कर देंगे । " क्या तुम एक इंद्रधनुषी रंग का गुब्बारा पसंद करोगे ? " उसने जोर देते हुए कहा । उस बालक ने उड़ते हुए गुब्बारों की तरफ से अपनी आँखें फेर ली और सिर्फ सिसकी भरी: " मुझे अपनी माँ चाहिए, मुझे अपने पिताजी चाहिए । "
The man, still trying to make the child happy, bore him to the gate where the flower-seller sat. “Look!
Can you smell those nice flowers, child! Would you like a garland to put round your neck?” The child
turned his nose away from the basket and reiterated his sob, “I want my mother, I want my father!”
Thinking to humour his disconsolate charge by a gift of sweets, the man took him to the counter of the
sweet shop. “What sweets would you like, child?” he asked. The child turned his face from the sweet shop
and only sobbed, “I want my mother, I want my father!”
वह आदमी अभी भी उस बालक को खुश करने की दयामयी इच्छा लिए हुए उसे फाटक के पास ले गया जहाँ पर फूल वाला बैठा हुआ था । " देखो ! बच्चे क्या तुम उन अच्छे - अच्छे फूलों को सूंघ सकते हो ? क्या तुम अपने गले में पहनने के लिए एक माला चाहोगे ? " बालक ने उस टोकरी की तरफ से अपनी नाक दूर घुमा ली और अपनी सिसकी को दुहरा दिया: " मुझे अपनी माँ चाहिए, मुझे अपने पिताजी चाहिए । " अपनी जिम्मेदारी में लिये हुए बालक को मिठाई का उपहार देकर सांत्वना देने के लिए वह आदमी उसे हलवाई की दुकान पर ले गया । " तुम कौन - सी मिठाई लोगे, बच्चे? " उसने पूछा । बालक ने हलवाई की दुकान पर से अपना चेहरा दूर घुमा लिया और सिसक कर सिर्फ इतना बोला: “मुझे अपनी माँ चाहिए, मुझे अपनी पिताजी चाहिए । "
Exercises
Question and Answers
Ans. The child visits the festival of spring with his parents.
Q.2 What was the boy fascinated first of all while he was on his way to the fair?
Ans. He was fascinated by the toys in the shops that lined the way.
Q.3 When did the father look at the boy with red-eyes?
Ans. The father looked at the boy with red-eyes when he made a demand for toys.
Q:4 What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
A: On his way to the fair the child sees toys, balloons of different colours, garland of gulmohar, sweets shop, a swing and a snake-charmer playing a flute. He gets attracted towards all these things. So, he lags behind.
Q:5 In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?
A: The child wants many things in the fair. He wants to have toys, different sweets, garland, balloons of different colours and has a keen desire to enjoy the roundabout. He moves on without waiting for an answer because whenever he stops to see things, his parents gave him a cautionary call, “come, child, come!”
Q:6 When does he realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?
A: The child sees a roundabout in the fair and gets attracted to it. He wants to have a ride on it. He asks his parents for permission to enjoy it. Having no response on the part of his parents he realises that he has lost his way. He starts crying bitterly at once and runs here and there in search of them.
Q:7 Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
A: The lost child loses interest in the things he had wanted earlier because he got lost in the fair. He is panic-stricken for being lost. Now, he first, wants his parents. He is afraid and feels unsafe.
Q:8 What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?
A: Yes, I feel that the child finds his parents at last. The kind-hearted person must have tried his best to find his parents. On the other hand, the parents of the child must have left no stone unturned to find their child.
Q:9 How was the child separated from his parents?
A: The boy was attracted to toys, balloons and sweets in the fair. He got fascinated with the flute music being played by the snake charmer. While watching the roundabout swing he got separated from his parents.
Q:10 How did the child react when there was no sign of his parents?
A: The child was very innocent. He gets confused and panic-stricken on not seeing his parents. He felt lonely without his parents amidst so much of crowd. The man who tries to console the child also does not achieve any success as the boy only needs his parents and no monetary benefit.
Q:11 Who rescued the lost child? What did he offer to buy him? A: The man in the shrine rescued the lost child. He lifted him up in his arms and tried to soothe him. He took him to the nearest roundabout swing and offered to buy him flowers, balloons and sweets.
Q:12 How to ensure not to get lost.
A: It is very common that children get lost in fairs and crowds. Hardly a day passes when no child gets lost. It is the duty of both the parents and the children to ensure not to get lost. The parents need to be vigilant and more careful at crowded places. Before entering a crowded place, the parents should fix a point where the child should wait in case of getting lost. They should make the child memorise home address and telephone numbers. They should put or pin up a note on the pocket of the child with full details. They should attend to the need of the child and never leave him behind, in case he happens to stand at some shop.
On the other hand, the child should hold the hands of his parents at a crowded place. He should keep an eye on his parents so as not to lose sight of them. In case of any emergency the help of police, help centres and media can be taken.
Q:13 Compare the attitude of the child before and after his separation from his parents.
A: Before separation the child was very happy and excited at the fair. He was fascinated with all the things that were displayed at the stalls. He wanted to have all the things like his favourite toys, sweets, flowers, etc. He also wanted to go for a ride. But after separation the boy just wanted to be with his parents. He was not interested in any of those things which he kept longing to have from the stalls.
Multiple Choice Questions:
A) toys
B) sweets and garlands
C) balloons
D) all
Q2- Why did the child lag behind his parents?
A) because of the stops, he took to look closely at his favourite things
B) because he was walking slow
C) because he was crying
D) all
Q3- Why did the child keep moving without getting any answers?
A) because of distractions
B) because of too many attractions
C) because of his experience and assumed notions about his parents
D) none
Q4- What did the child want to eat at the fair?
A) Burfi
B) pastry
C) ladoo
D) jalebi
Q5- When did the child realize that he had lost his way?
A) while running
B) while eating ice cream
C) when he turned to take permission from his parents to take a ride on a roundabout
D) none
Q6- What did the child do when he realized that he had lost his way?
A) cried and ran here and there
B) felt happy
C) reported to the office
D) none
Q7- Why did the child lose his interest in all the things he was interested
earlier?
A) because of separation from his parents and losing his way
B) because of no response from his parents
C) because his interest was changed
D) can't say
Q8- What did the child realize?
A) The fair was charming
B) the toys were attractive
C) that parents are the most valuable asset
D) None
Q9- What did the child speak repeatedly after losing his parents?
A) I want my mother; I want my father!
B) I want ride
C) I want toys
D) I want swings
Q10- How did the generous man try to calm down the child?
A) showing him different toys
B) taking him to rides
C) talking to him and diverting his attention
D) All
Q11- Who is the author of the lesson "The Lost child"?
A) Sudha Murthy
B) Mulk Raj Anand
C) Amrita Pritam
D) All
Q12- What does the story show?
A) working of a fair
B) working of a village
C) village people are good
D) working of a child's mind
Q13- Where did the child go with his parents?
A) village fair
B) cinema hall
C) circus
D) All
Q14- What is the theme of the story?
A) Close bonding between parents and children
B) village people are good
C) we must go to village fairs
D) None
Q15- Who took the child to the fair?
A) parents
B) kind man
C) friends
D) none
Q16- Why were the parents holding the hand of their child?
A) to protect him from the crowd
B) because of their fears
C) to help him
D) None
Q17- What does the child's refusal to all the attractive things show towards the
end?
A) child lost his interest
B) child's obstinacy
C) bond of love between child and parents is above everything.
D) None
Q18- Name the characters in the lesson.
A) parents
B) generous man
C) The Lost Child
D) All
Q19- Why did the child say "No" to all the things he was earlier crying for?
A) lost interest
B) his interest was changed
C) because being with parents was more important
D) none
Q20. The child wanted to have balloons yet he walked on. Why?
(a) He knew his parents would never buy him the balloons.
(b) He knew his parents would say he was too old to play with such toys.
(c) Both A and B above.
(d) Neither A nor B.
Q21. What did the child want to have at the flower shop?
(a) A garland of roses.
(b) A garland of violets.
(c) A garland of gulmohur.
(d) A garland of lilies.
Q22. What shop was there at the entrance of the fair?
(a) A toy shop.
(b) A balloon shop.
(c) A- sweets shop.
(d) A flower shop
Q23. What did the parents say when the child lagged behind?
(a) ‘Come, child, come.’
(b) ‘Come, or you’ll be lost.’
(c) ‘Come, have these toys.’
(d) ‘Come, we’re getting late.’
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