📘 The Lost Child — Story by Mulk Raj Anand
Introduction:
The Lost Child is a touching short story written by Mulk Raj Anand, a famous Indian writer. The story revolves around a young boy who visits a fair with his parents during the spring festival. Fascinated by the sights and sounds of the fair, the child gets distracted and accidentally loses his parents, leading to an emotional journey that highlights love, security, and the bond between parents and children.
📝 Short Summary
The story presents the experience of a small boy who goes to a fair with his father and mother. He is attracted to various things in the fair—toys, sweets, balloons, flowers, and especially a roundabout swing. However, his parents either refuse his requests or divert his attention.
While looking at the roundabout, the boy turns to ask for permission—but realizes his parents are no longer by his side. Overcome with fear, he searches everywhere but fails to find them.
A kind stranger finds the crying child and tries to comfort him by offering sweets, balloons, and rides. But now, the child refuses everything. He wants only one thing—his parents. All the material attractions that once fascinated him suddenly lose their importance.
📖 Long Summary and Analysis
The story is set in an Indian village during the spring season, when a festive fair is organized. All villagers dress in colorful clothes and joyfully head toward the fair. A little boy is thrilled because his parents are taking him there.
On the way, the boy gets attracted to toys and sweets like burfi. But his father disapproves of his demands, and his mother cleverly distracts him. He also admires gulmohar garlands and balloons, but he knows his parents will not allow him to have them.
At the fair, the boy is fascinated by a roundabout ride. He turns around to ask his parents for permission to ride it, but to his shock, they are nowhere to be seen. He realizes he is lost in the crowd. Panic sets in, and he desperately searches for them, shouting for his “Mother! Father!”
An unknown man sees the child’s distress and tries to help. He offers the boy sweets, balloons, and rides to cheer him up. But the child refuses everything and continues crying for his parents, showing that nothing can replace their love and presence.
🌿 Theme of the Story
The central theme of The Lost Child is the unconditional love and emotional bond between parents and children.
Before getting lost, the boy is focused on material desires like toys and sweets. But once separated, he realizes that these things are meaningless without his parents. The story teaches us to value the love and care of our family before it’s too late.
It also reflects childhood innocence, the safety net parents provide, and the shift from material attraction to emotional need in times of distress.
🌟 Moral of the Story
We often take our loved ones for granted and only realize their true importance when they are no longer with us. Family and love are far more valuable than material pleasures.