Question

How do the stories ‘The Last Lesson’ by Alphonse Daudet and ‘Lost Spring’ by Anees Jung illustrate the impact of socio-political factors on education?

Hint:

Compare the causes and effects of educational deprivation in each text. Use characters as lenses to highlight broader social issues.

Answer 1

Both The Last Lesson and Lost Spring depict how socio-political circumstances severely disrupt the right to education, albeit in different historical and social contexts. In The Last Lesson, Alphonse Daudet presents the impact of war and political dominance on cultural identity and education. The story is set in Alsace, where the French language is banned after the Prussian takeover. Franz, the narrator, realises the value of his language only on the day of his final lesson. M. Hamel, the teacher, delivers a heartfelt class, making the students aware of how they had taken their language and education for granted. The story shows how political control can rob people of their identity and educational freedom. In Lost Spring, Anees Jung portrays the harsh socio-economic realities that deprive underprivileged children of basic education. The story focuses on children like Saheb, who are forced into rag-picking due to poverty, and on bangle makers in Firozabad, who are trapped in generational labor. Their families are caught in a vicious cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and exploitation, with little hope of change. The system fails them—education remains a distant dream because of economic compulsion and societal apathy. While Daudet’s story is rooted in political oppression, Jung’s narrative exposes systemic neglect and economic disparity. Both texts make a powerful statement about how external forces—be it war, poverty, or apathy—can stifle the intellectual and emotional development of children. They underline the urgent need to protect and prioritise education as a fundamental right.