Glimpse of India

 

            Lucio Rodrigues,  

            Lokesh Abrol, 

           Arup kumar Dutta 

All the lessons majorly talks about India. It doesn’t give the whole-view of the India but it widely tells about the people living in some small typical Indian towns. The people who are reading this chapter will get a glimpse of the habit, behavior, and things people do in the small Indian towns. It also widely talks about the natural wealth of the India which gives the overview of the India’s natural resources. The people reading this can purely understand that India is a country with good forest and natural resources.

Summary

A Baker From Goa

A baker from Goa is a story that relates to the time when there was Portuguese rule in Goa. The story is of a baker living in a Goan village. During those times people ate loaves of bread. These were made in big furnaces. The bakers known as paders would come to sell these bread in the street and would make a jingle sound with the bamboo. Although, nowadays we may not see these loaves but may sometimes see the furnaces and some bakers carrying on the traditional business of their forefathers. The author remembers the coming of the baker twice a day during his childhood days. He was the author’s friend and guide. The maidservants in the author’s house would buy loaves of bread which they ate with tea. During those days, bread was an important part of any occasion especially the sweet bread, Bol. Also, the baker had a peculiar dress, Kabai. It was a single-piece frock that would reach up to knees. Baking was a profitable business at that time.

Coorg

Coorg is a story describing the Coorg or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka. The author describes Coorg as a heavenly place that lies between Mangalore and Mysore. It is certainly God’s abode as it has evergreen forests, spices and coffee plantations. From September to March, the weather is good here and thus many tourists come to visit the place. The air here has the coffee aroma in it.  There’s a famous story about the Greek or Arabic descent of the Coorg people that a part of Alexander’s army had to settle here as it was not possible for them to return. They thus settled here and married with the locals. We may find people of Coorg wear Kuppia, a long black coat similar to the kuffia that Arabs wear. People of Coorg are also very brave. The Coorg Regiment of Indian Army is one of the most significant regiments. Also, our first army chief, General Cariappa hails from Coorg. The forests and hills of Coorg provide a major source of water to the River Cauvery. Also, Mahaseer, the largest freshwater fish is found in these waters. From the top of the Brahmagiri hills, we can see the complete view of Coorg. Also, Buddhists monks live in Bylakuppe in the Island of Nisargadhama near Coorg. 

Tea From Assam

The last story Tea from Assam starts with two friends, Rajvir and Pranjol travelling to Assam. On their way, they buy the tea from a roadside vendor. While sipping the tea, Rajvir tells Pranjol that people drink over 800,000,000 cups of tea throughout the world in a day. While Rajvir is looking at the beautiful and serene scenery, Pranjol is busy reading detective book. There were tea-bushes all over as far as one could see. They also saw a building which was a tea garden. Assam has the largest tea plantations and no one knows who discovered the tea for the first time. But, there are many legends associated with it. According to a Chinese legend, a few branches of tea fell accidentally in the boiled hot water. The Emperor liked the delicious flavour. This is how it came into being. As per an Indian legend, Buddhist Monk, Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids as to avoid sleep during meditation. About ten tea plants grew out of these and thus, they banish sleep when put in hot water and drunk. Both of them got down at Mariani Junction and went to Dhekiabari Tea Estate. There they saw women plucking tea leaves. Pranjol’s father had come to receive them there and said that he knew a lot about tea plantations. Rajvir says that he is keen to learn from him.

Word Meaning

A Baker From Goa

Glimpse -  views झलक | Destination - place, fixed points  नियत  स्थान | Influences - impact, effect  प्रभाव | Baker - who bakes bread  रोटी बनाने वाला | Pre- Portrait - Painting a character of a manप्रथम चरित्र चित्रण | Traditional - old customs  पुराने रीति रिवाज | Reminiscing - remembrance, old   स्मृतियां पुरानी | Nostalgically - thinking fondly   गहनता से सोचना | loaves of bread -  bread, रोटियां | Vanished - disappeared, लुप्त होना | Moulders - wasters   नष्ट करने वाले | Furnaces - fire places   भट्टिया | Extinguished - blown out बुझाना | Thud -  a  low dull sound  धमाके का शब्द | Heralding -  announcing    घोषणा करना | Profession - work, business  व्यवसाय | Pedar -  slow moving  धीरे धीरे से चलने वाला | Companion - friend  मित्र | Jingling - a kind of sound  एक प्रकार की आवाज | Supported - helped  सहायता करना | Banged -  break, a kind of silence  आवाज करना, तोड़ना | Vertical - straight  सीधी | pushed aside - turn back  पीछे करना | Rebuke - scolding  डांटना | Parapet - wall at the edge of a bridge  दीवार,  रॉक | peep into - looked  झांकना | Fragrance - scent, smell  सुगंध | Properly - rightly  ठीक प्रकार से | Loses - finishes   खत्म करना | Engagement - marriage  शादी, सगाई | Bolinhas - a kind of sweet  एक प्रकार की मिठाई | Absolutely - completely  पूर्ण रूप से | Kabai - a kind of dress   एक प्रकार की विशेष ड्रेस | Comment - remarks  टिप्पणी | Recorded - noted  रिकॉर्ड करना | Profitable - beneficial  लाभदायक Starved - remained hungry  भूखा मरना | Prosperous - happy and rich    समृद्धशाली | Plump - fat  गोल मटोल | Physique - body शरीर की बनावट | Testimony -  statements  कथन |

Coorg

Coastal - near the cost समुद्र तट | drifted from - carried along  लाई गई  उतारी गई | Inhabitat  - resided by  बसा हुआ | Marital - relating with war  युद्ध संबंधी | Creatures - animal that remains  जानवर | Evergreen - always  green सदा हरी रहने वाली | Pores - rains  बरसात होती है | Commences - starts आरंभ होना | Showers - rain  बूंदाबांदी होना | Invigorating - enlivening  बलशाली | Colonial -  pertaining a Colony  उपनिवेश संबंधी | Tucked - with complete nearness    सटे  हुए | Canopies - hanging covers that from a shelter | Prime - best quality अच्छी गुणवत्ता | Fiercely - very much अत्यधिक | Descent - lineage  संतान | Impractical - impossible  दुसाध्य | Apparent - clear स्पष्ट | Traditions - customs  रीति रिवाज | Rites - customs   रीतियाँ | Distinct - different अलग | Mainstream - a tradition that most people follow  मुख्यधारा | Embroidered - work of needle and thread    कढ़ाई | Hospitality - custom of welcoming  आदर सत्कार | Recount - recall  याद करना | Numerous - many  बहुत सी | Tales - Stories  कहानियां | Valour -bravery  बहादुरी | Related - concerning  संबंध होना | Permitted - allowed  आज्ञा देना | Abound - overflow  भरपूर होना | Partially - a small part कुछ हिस्सा | Ripple - current of the wave  लहरें | Splash - dripping  छपाके | Scrubbed - rubbed  रगड़ना | Mahouts - who take care of a elephant  जो हाथी की देखभाल करता है | Laid back - peaceful  शांतिप्रिया | Adventure - courageously  साहसी कार्य | Converts - changes  बदल लेते हैं | canoeing - travel in a river with large narrow boat  तंग किश्ती में नदी में यात्रा करना | Trails - path created by walking  चलने द्वारा रास्ता  बनना  | Region - area  क्षेत्र | Rappelling - going down a  dift by sliding down a rope  रस्सी के द्वारा फिसल कर चट्टान के नीचे जाना | Trackers -  travellers यात्री | Watchful - vigilant   देखना | Loris - a kind of lemar  एक प्रकार की छिपकली | Slender - polite  नरम | step aside - keep away  दूर रहना | Prefer - look nice  अच्छा लगना | panoramic view - a view of a wide  बड़े क्षेत्र का दृश्य | Entire - complete  संपूर्ण | Misty - foggy  धुंधला | Settlement - Colony  बस्ती | Bonus - extra dividend  लाभांश | Monks - Sadhu  साधु | Ochre - yellow and Orange colour  गेरुआ रंग | Robes - dress  बाना | Discovered - find out  ढूंढना | Surprises - wonders  हैरान करता है | Wild - wicked   जंगली |

Tea From Assam

Youngster - young lad  नौजवान Classmates - class fellow   साथी कक्षा में पढ़ने वाला Vendor - seller   विक्रेता High pitched - high voice  ऊंची आवाज Sipped - drank पीना Steaming - Vapoured   भाप वाली Whew -Surprise  हैरानी Exclaimed - said in wonder हैरानी से कहना Detective - spy जासूस Ardent - firm  पक्का Keener - anxious  इच्छुक Admitted - accepted   स्वीकार करना Magnificent - Grand and decent  शानदार Densely - deep  गाने Stretched - spread  फैला हुआ | Dwarfing - small  छोटे Sturdy - powerful  शक्तिशाली Billowing - moving mass of cloud, steam etc. like a wane  लहराना Excitedly - with excitement  उत्तेजना से brought up - scared for  पालना Concentration - attention  ध्यान Discovered - searched  खोजी Legends - old stories  पुरानी कहानियां Twigs - branches  टहनियां Delicious - tasty  स्वादिष्ट Flavour - smell   सुगंध Ascetic - holy man   साधु Meditations - thinking of God  भक्ति Banished - exiled   निर्वासित Beverage - an agreeable liqueur  मदिरा Clattered -  made a sound   आवाज करना Veered - turned in a direction    मुड़ना Gravel - small pebbled Road   रोड़ी वाली सड़क Pruned - trimmed  काटना छांटना Aprons - clothes  कपड़ा Sprouted - grown उगे हुए

 

Oral Comprehension Check

1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

Ans: The elders in Goa were nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese, and their famous loaves of bread.

 

2.Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?

Ans: Yes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. The author has described about the existence of time-old furnaces and their still burning fire. The Goan society is still having moulders, bread mixers and bakers.

 

3. What is the baker called?

Ans: The baker is called a pader.

 

4. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?

Ans: The baker would come twice every day, once when he set out in the morning on his selling round, and then again, when he returned after emptying his huge basket. The children ran to meet him not because of their love of the loaf, but because they actually longed for the bread-bangles which sometimes, was a sweet bread of special make.

 

Oral Comprehension Check

1. Match the following. What is a must (i) as marriage gifts? cakes and bolinhas (ii) for a party or a feast? sweet bread called bol (iii) for a daughter’s engagement? bread (iv) for Christmas? sandwiches

Ans: (i) as marriage gifts? sweet bread called bol (ii) for a party or a feast? bread (iii) for a daughter’s engagement? sandwiches (iv) for Christmas? cakes and bolinhas

 

2. What did the bakers wear: (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was young?

Ans: (i) In the Portuguese days, the bakers had a peculiar dress known as the kabai. It was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees. (ii) When the author was young, he saw the bakers wearing a shirt and trousers, which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.

 

3. Who invites the comment − “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?

Ans: Anyone who wears a half-pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that “he is dressed like a pader”. This was so because the bakers were known as pader and they wore such half pants.

 

4. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

Ans: The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in pencil.

 

5. What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?

Ans: A ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ means a plump physique. Such a physique was linked to the bakers because they never starved. Baking was apparently a profitable profession. The baker, his family, and his servants always looked happy and prosperous and had a ‘jackfruitlike appearance’.

 

1.Which of these statements are correct? (i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times. (ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages. (iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese. (iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock. (v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days. (vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business. (vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times.

Ans: (i) Correct (ii) Correct (iii) Incorrect. The paders still exist in Goan villages. (iv) Incorrect. The paders wear shirts, and trousers that are shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants. (v) Incorrect. Bread and cakes are still an integral part of Goan life. (vi) Correct (vii) Incorrect. Baking is still a very profitable business in Goa.

 

2. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?

Ans: Bread is an important part of Goan life. Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol. For a party, bread is a must, while for Christmas, cakes and Bolinas are a must. Sandwiches must be prepared by the lady of the house on her daughter’s engagement. The author says that everybody loves the fragrance of loaves. The elders were given loaves and the children were given bread-bangles, which they longed for. Also, the fact that bakery is a profitable profession shows that the love for bread is enormous in Goa.

 

3.Tick the right answer. 

What is the tone of the author when he says the following?

(i) The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)

(ii) Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)

(iii) I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)

(iv) The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)

(v) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)

(vi) The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)

Ans: (i)Nostalgic (ii) Nostalgic (iii) Nostalgic (iv) Funny (v)Matter-of-fact (vi)Matter-of-fact II.

Thinking about the Text

1. Where is Coorg?

Ans: Coorg is the smallest district of Karnataka, located midway between Mysore and Mangalore.

 

2. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?

Ans: It is believed that Kodavu people are of Arabic origin. It is said that some of Alexander’s army men moved to south and settled there. Their costume, martial practices and marriage rituals also point to the fact that they are from Arabic origin.

 

3.What are some of the things you now know about (i) the people of Coorg? (ii) the main crop of Coorg? (iii) the sports it offers to tourists? (iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg? (v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?

Ans: (i)The people of Coorg are fiercely independent. They are of Greek or Arabic descent. They have a tradition of hospitality. They enjoy recounting numerous tales of valour related to their sons and fathers. Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license. The author has described the people of Coorg as a proud race of martial men and beautiful women. (ii) Coffee is the main crop of Coorg. The coffee estates stand tucked under tree canopies in prime corners. (iii) The sports that Coorg offers to tourists are river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, mountain biking, and trekking. (iv) The animals that one is likely to see in Coorg are birds, bees, butterflies, macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs, loris, and wild elephants. (v) The distance between Coorg and Bangalore is around 260 km.From Mysore, it is 146 Kms and there is good train connectivity between Mysore and Coorg. From Bangalore, bus services are also available. From the rest of India, anybody can reach Bangalore airport by flight and proceed towards Coorg.

 

4.Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated) (i) During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (para 2) (ii) Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south ,along the coast and settled there. (para 3) (iii) The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their sons’ and fathers’ valour. (para 4) (iv) Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high-energy adventure sports of Coorg. (para 6) (v) The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (para 3) (vi) Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (para 7)

Ans: (i) keep many visitors away (ii) as one story goes (iii)are more than willing to recount (iv) the most laid back individuals become converts to (v) draws support from (vi) keep a watchful eye

 

Thinking about the Language

1.Here are some nouns from the text. culture monks surprise experience weather tradition Work with a partner and discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of the adjectives given below. The first one has been done for you. unique terrible unforgettable serious ancient wide sudden (i) culture unique culture, ancient culture (ii) monks _________ (iii) surprise _________ (iv) experience _________ (v) weather _________ (vi) tradition _________ Ans: (i) culture unique culture, ancient culture (ii) monks serious monks (iii) surprise unique surprise, terrible surprise, unforgettable surprise (iv) experience unique experience, terrible experience, unforgettable experience (v) weather terrible weather (vi) tradition unique tradition, ancient tradition 2. Complete the following phrases from the text. For each phrase, can you find at least one other word that would fit into the blank? (i) tales of _______________ (ii) coastal _______________ (iii) a piece of ______________ (iv) evergreen ______________ (v) _____________ plantations (vi) _____________bridge (vii) wild __________________ You may add your own examples to this list.

 

Ans: From the text (i) tales of valour (ii) coastal town (iii) a piece of heaven (iv) evergreen rainforests (v) coffee plantations (vi) rope bridge (vii) wild elephants Other than the text (i) tales of morality (ii) coastal food (iii) a piece of cake (iv) evergreen hero (v) crop plantations (vi) sturdy bridge (vii) wild beasts

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