Difference between Mukesh and Saheb-e-Alam

Mukesh and Saheb-e-Alam are two characters who appear in the story "Lost Spring" from the NCERT textbook Flamingo for Class 12. While both of them are children who work as ragpickers in the city of Seemapuri near Delhi, they have some notable differences.

1. Background

Mukesh comes from a family of lower-caste bangle makers who were forced to leave their traditional occupation due to the decline in demand for their products. On the other hand, Saheb-e-Alam is a Muslim boy whose family migrated from Bangladesh and settled in Seemapuri as refugees.

2. Education

Mukesh has never been to school and cannot read or write, while Saheb-e-Alam has had some education and can read a little bit.

3. Attitude

Mukesh is resigned to his fate as a ragpicker and does not dream of anything beyond it. He is content with earning a few rupees a day and spending them on small pleasures like tea and cigarettes. Saheb-e-Alam, on the other hand, is more ambitious and wants to become a doctor or engineer someday. He is also more aware of the injustices and inequalities in society and feels angry about them.

4. Personality

Mukesh is more introverted and keeps to himself most of the time. He is not very talkative and does not express his feelings openly. Saheb-e-Alam, on the other hand, is more outgoing and sociable. He likes to interact with people and share his thoughts and ideas with them.

In conclusion, while both Mukesh and Saheb-e-Alam are children who work as ragpickers in Seemapuri, they have different backgrounds, education levels, attitudes, and personalities. These differences reflect the complex social and economic realities of the area and show how poverty and discrimination affect different people in different ways.