Mukesh’s dream of becoming a motor mechanic represents a hopeful aspiration for a better future and a desire to escape the cycle of poverty associated with the glass-blowing industry. It signifies his quest for personal dignity, independence, and a profession ...

Mukesh’s family is involved in the traditional craft of glass-blowing, a labor-intensive and hazardous occupation that has been passed down through generations in Firozabad. This work entails long hours spent in hot, cramped workshops, where they create glass products, often ...

By describing Mukesh’s dream as a “mirage,” the author conveys the idea that his aspiration to become a mechanic is ultimately an illusion, difficult to attain given the harsh realities of his circumstances. Just as a mirage is an optical ...

The bangle industry in Firozabad traps workers through a combination of tradition, poverty, and systemic exploitation. Families often feel compelled to continue the generational craft of bangle-making, viewing it as their only means of survival, which perpetuates a cycle of ...