Chapter 7 – Glimpses of India (all three parts). 10

Chapter 7 – Glimpses of India (all three parts).

Word Meanings – Glimpses of India

Part I: A Baker from Goa

• Heralding – announcing arrival

• Jingle – ringing sound

• Thud – dull heavy sound

• Furnace – oven for baking

• Loaves – pieces of bread

• Mingles – mixes with

• Vanished – disappeared

• Lantern – lamp with cover

• Kabai – long frock-like dress

• Bangles – round ornaments / here round bread

Part II: Coorg

• Drifted – slowly moved

• Martial – related to soldiers/war

• Descendants – children, family line

• Hospitality – warm welcome to guests

• Tales – stories

• Evergreen – always green

• Lush – rich growth of plants

• Trek – long adventurous walk

• Rugged – rough and strong

• Accoutrements – clothes and weapons

• Colonial – related to European rulers

Part III: Tea from Assam

• Brew – drink made by boiling (like tea)

• Stretched – spread over a large area

• Marvel – wonder, amazing thing

• Gulped – swallowed quickly

• Sturdy – strong and tough

• Spectacular – very impressive, beautiful

• Stunts – daring acts

• Vendor – seller

• Carpet – a soft covering / here, green tea gardens like a carpet

• Legend – old traditional story

 Chapter 7 – Glimpses of India

Part I: A Baker from Goa

Q1. What are the elders nostalgic about?
Elders remember the old Portuguese days when bakers were important. They recall the jingling sound of his bamboo staff, the loaves of bread, cakes, and the joy of children waiting eagerly for bread-bangles every morning.

Q2. Is bread important in Goa? How?
Yes, bread is essential in Goa. Every marriage requires sweet bread called bol. Cakes and sandwiches are needed at Christmas and parties. Bread is an inseparable part of festivals, ceremonies, and even daily meals in Goan households.

Q3. What is the baker called? What did he wear earlier?
The baker is called a pader. In Portuguese days, he wore a long frock called kabai. Later, he wore shirts and half-pants that reached below the knees, a unique dress still remembered by elders.

Q4. When did the baker come daily? Why did children run to meet him?
The baker came every morning with a basket of loaves. Children ran to him not for loaves but for bread-bangles, which were their favourite treats. His visit brought excitement and happiness to children every day.

Part II: Coorg

Q1. Where is Coorg located?
Coorg (Kodagu) is a small district in Karnataka, between Mysore and Mangalore. It is a beautiful hill station, rich in coffee plantations, forests, and natural beauty, and is often called the “Scotland of India.”

Q2. What is said about the Kodavu people’s descent?
The Kodavus are said to be descendants of Greek soldiers of Alexander’s army or of Arab origin. Their culture, martial traditions, and dresses show influences of these foreign ancestors, making their identity unique in India.

Q3. What is the main crop of Coorg?
Coffee is the main crop of Coorg. The coffee estates, with beautiful green plantations and the fragrance of coffee, add charm to the region and attract many tourists every year.

Q4. Describe the people of Coorg.
The people of Coorg are brave, hospitable, and generous. They welcome guests warmly. They are martial in traditions and are known for their courage. Many of them serve with pride in the Indian Army.

Q5. What adventure sports can be enjoyed in Coorg?
Coorg is a hub of adventure sports like trekking, rafting, canoeing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Tourists also enjoy watching birds and animals in the forests, making it an exciting place for nature lovers.

Part III: Tea from Assam

Q1. What excited Rajvir on his way to Assam?
Rajvir was excited to see the vast tea gardens spread like a green carpet over the hills. He was curious to learn more about tea and had only read about them in books earlier.

Q2. What legends are related to the discovery of tea?
One legend says a Chinese emperor discovered tea when leaves fell into boiling water. Another says an Indian monk chewed tea leaves to stay awake during meditation. Both legends highlight tea’s ancient and mysterious discovery.

Q3. Why is Assam famous for tea?
Assam is famous as the world’s largest tea-producing region. Its tea is exported worldwide, and India is among the biggest suppliers of tea. Assam’s tea gardens attract tourists and play a major role in India’s economy.

Q4. Who were Pranjol and Rajvir? Where were they going?
Pranjol was the son of a tea garden manager, and Rajvir was his school friend. They were going to Assam to spend summer vacations at Pranjol’s home in a tea estate.

Q5. What had Rajvir read about tea?
Rajvir had read that tea is the most popular beverage in the world, with more than 80 crore cups drunk daily. He also knew legends about its discovery in China and India.

A Baker from Goa

1. 

Describe the pen-portrait of a traditional Goan village baker.

The Goan village baker was called the pader. He usually wore a long frock called kabai. Later, he wore a shirt with trousers that were shorter than full pants. He carried a bamboo stick and a big basket full of bread, sweet bread (bol), and bangles. Children loved to see him because he gave them bread and treats. Women bought bread for tea and special occasions. His arrival was known by the “jhang-jhang” sound of his bamboo stick. The baker was an important and loved person in the village.

2. 

Baking was considered an important and a profitable profession in a traditional Goan village. Explain.

Baking was very important in Goan villages because bread was needed every day. People ate it with tea and also used it for snacks. No wedding, festival, or party was complete without bread. The bakers earned well and their families always had enough to eat. Villagers kept their accounts and paid the bakers at the end of the month. This made baking both useful and profitable.

Coorg

1. Where is Coorg located? When should one visit? Write an account of the life of the people of Coorg.
Coorg, also known as Kodagu, is a small district in Karnataka, situated between Mysore and Mangalore. The best time to visit is from September to March, when the weather is pleasant. The people of Coorg are brave, friendly, and hospitable. They are known for their tradition of valour and hospitality. Many Coorgis are in the Indian Army, and the Kodavus have a special connection with nature. Their homes are surrounded by coffee plantations, evergreen forests, spices, and wild animals. The people follow their old traditions and take pride in their culture.

Tea from Assam

1. What are the legends of the discovery of tea?
There are two popular legends about the discovery of tea.

• One says that a Chinese emperor discovered tea when tea leaves accidentally fell into the hot water he was boiling. He liked the refreshing taste.

• Another legend says that a Buddhist monk discovered tea when he chewed tea leaves to keep himself awake during meditation.

2. Narrate the story of a Buddhist monk behind the discovery of tea.
According to the Buddhist legend, a monk once fell asleep while meditating. Feeling guilty, he cut off his eyelids and threw them on the ground. From those eyelids, tea plants grew. The leaves of these plants helped monks stay awake during long hours of meditation. This is how tea was discovered, according to the legend.