Glimpses of India

7 Glimpses of India:  Part I: A Baker from Goa: Multiple Choice Qs.

Q1.Who is the writer of A Baker from Goa?      Ans. Lucia Rodrigues Q2. What were the Portuguese famous for?      Ans. For baking loaves of bread Q2. Name the dress worn by the bakers in Portugues days.    Ans. Kabai Q3.What does a jack-fruit reger to in the lesson?      Ans. Shape of a fat and plum human body. Q4. What name was given to the bakers in those days?   Ans. Pader Q5.What is the financial stat5us of a baker in Goa?      Ans. sound/very good Q6.What is a kabai?      Ans. A dress worn by bakers in the past Q7. How many visits a baker used to pay in the author’s street?    Ans. Two (Twice a day) Q8. In which state of India did the Portuguese rule?      Ans. Goa Q9. What were the bols?      Ans. Sweet bread Q10. What eatable item was essential in marriage gifts?   Ans. Sweet bread Q11. What are the elders in Goa still nostalgic about?   Ans. The days when the Portuguese ruled over Goa Q12. Is bread still popular in Goa?   Ans. Yes.

Part II : Coorg 1.      Coorg is the smallest district of Karnatka 2.      Coorg is famous for: rain forests, coffee and spices 3.      Coorg is situated between Mysore and the coastal town Magalore. 4.      We find in Coorg all: martial men, beautiful women and wild animals. 5.      The people living in Coorg are the descendent of the Greek or the Arab. 6.      The river Kaveri gets its water from the hills and forests of Coorg. 7.      A large freshwater fish is called Mahaseer. 8.      The first Chief of the Army, General Cariappa was a Coorgi. 9.      Coorgis are known for their hospitality and tales of valour. 10.  Coorg is about 250-260 km from Bagalore. 11.  Coorg regiment is one of the most decorated regiments. 12.  The rope bridge leads you to the island of nisargdhama. 13.  Madikeri is the only gateway to Coorg

Part III: Tea from Assam

Material for Multiple Choice Qs

1.      Rajvir and Pranjol were fond of reading detective stories.

2.      Pranjol’s father was a manager at a Tea Garden.

3.      Tea was taken as a medicine in Europe.

4.      Tea came in Europe in the sixteenth century.

5.      Pranjol belonged to Assam state.

6.      A Chinese emperor always boiled water before drinking it.

7.      Rajvir was going with Pranjol to visit his home.

8.      Tea was first drunk in China in 2700 B. C.

9.      May to July is the best season for tea.

10.  Assam state of India has the largest area for the production of tea.

11.  Over 80 crores cups of tea are drunk everyday throughout the world.

12.  Budhidhama, an ancient Buddhist ascetic cut off his eyelids to avoid sleep.

Lesson 7: Glimpses of India: (i) A Baker from Goa (ii) Coorg (iii) Tea from Assam

Short Answer-type Qs                            

                                                              (I)  A Baker from Goa

Q1.What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

 Ans. The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the old days and the loaves of bread prepared by the bakes. Those were the days when the Portugues ruled over Goa.

Q2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?

Ans. Yes, we can say that bread-making is still popular in Goa. The furnaces are still present. The thud and jingle sound of the bamboo can be heard in the morning. The new generations of the bakers continue their old business.

Q3. What is the baker called?

Ans. The baker is called a pader in Goa.

Q4. When would the baker come every day? Why did the children run to meet him?

Ans. He used to come at least twice a day. Once, in the morning on his selling round. Then again, while returning after emptying his huge basket.

Q5. How did the baker make his presence in the morning?

Ans. The baker would make his presence in the morning by hitting the bamboo staff on the earth. It would create a ‘jhang-jhang’ sound.

Q6. Who invites the comment-‘he is dresses like a pader? Why?

Ans. Anyone who wears the dress like that of a pader can invite that comment. In old days, a pader (a baker) used to wear a strange dress called kabai. So anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees is called a pader.

Q6. What marks of the Portuguese way of life can still be seen in Goa?

Ans. We can still see mixers and the moulders of the bakers. Even  age-old furnaces are still there. The thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places.

Q7. How is the village baker very important for special occasions?

Ans. No festival or marriage was complete without the baker’s role. Cakes and bolinhas were a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement.

Q8. How was the economic condition of the bakers?

Ans. The economic condition of the bakers was very good. It was a profitable business for them. Their family never starved. Thei healthy bodies were the proof of that.

Q9.What is the Kabai? Who wore it?

Ans. Kabai was a peculiar(strange) dress worn by a baker in olden days. It was a singlepiece long frock reaching down to the knees.

Q10. When did the baker collect his bills? How were the accounts recorded?

Ans. The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. Monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil.

Long answer-type Qs

Q1./5 Note on the life of Baker in Goa (any Question about Bakers)

Ans. In this lesson, the writer tells us about the bakers in Goa. The Portuguese ruled over Goa in those days. The elders talk about the popular ‘loaves of bread’ made by the bakers in those days. The eaters of them may have gone, but the furnaces and moulders are still present. The thud and jingle of their bamboo stick made their entry musical. They used to come twice a day to sell the loaves of bread. Children would run at once out of their houses for ‘bread bangles’. A baker is called a Pader in Goa. They also made sweet bread ‘bol’. The bakers wore the traditional dress, called Kabai. The job of making and selling bread was profitable for them. The bakers usually collected their bills at the end of the month.

                                                                      (B) Coorg

Q1. Where I s Coorg situated? What is it famous for?

Ans. Coorg, or Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka. It  is situated between Mysore and Mangalore

Q2. Which crops grow in Coorg in plenty?

Ans. The crops of coffee and spices grow in Coorg in plenty. The main crop of Coorg is coffee.

Q4. What is the Greek theory about the descent of the Kondavu people?

Ans. It is said that the people of Coorg are of Greek or Arabic origin. A part of Alexander’s army settled there. They married among the local people. Their martial traditions, marriage and religious customs are different from those of the Hindu people.

Q5. What is the Arab theory about the descent of the Kodavu people?

Ans. They wear a long black coat with an embroidered waist belt worn by the Kodavas. It resembles the Kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.

Q6. What is Coorg famous for? What is the best season to visit Coorg?

Ans. Coorg is famous for evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations. The best season to visit Coorg begins from September and continues up to March.

Q7. Write a note on the people of Coorg. Or What does the writer say about the people of Coorg?

Ans It is said that the people of Coorg are the descendents of the Arabs or the Greek. They are brave and warrior-type people. They are famous for their hospitality also. They still follow their old traditions.

Q8. What does the writer say about the bravery of the people of Coorg?

Ans The people of Coorg are very brave. They follow the same old traditions. The Coorg regiment is one of the most decorated regiment of the Indian Army. General Cariappa, the Chief of the Indian army, was also a Coorg.

Q2./6 Describe Coorg.

Ans. Coorg is situated between Mysore and Magalore. Coffee and spices grow in plenty there. Evergreen forests are also found there. In fact, Coorg is a heaven on earth. Martial men, women, and wild creature live there. It is said that a part of Alexander’s army settled there. They married the local women and made their families. It is also said that they have their Arab ancestors. They are well known for their hospitality and bravery. General Carriappa, the first Chief of Indian army was also a Coorg. Tourists Visit this place for its beauty. They do river rafting, rock climbing and mountain biking. Wild life is in plenty there. One can see kingfishers, squirrels, langures, etc. Mahaseer, a large fresh water fish is also found here. One can see the Tibetian monks at Bylakuppe.

                                                                             (c)  Tea from Assam

Q1.Who were Pranjol and Rajvir? Where were they going?

Ans. Pranjol is a young boy from Assam. He is Rajvir’s classmate at Delhi. Both of them were going to Assam. Pranjol’s father had invited Rajvir to visit Assam during his summer holidays.

Q2. Which state did Pranjol belong to? What was Pranjol’s father?

Ans. Pranjol belonged to Assam. His father was a manager of a tea garden in Upper assam.

Q3. Where was tea first drunk? When did it first come to Europe?

Ans. Tea was first drunk in China around the year 2700 B. C. The words ‘Chai’ and ‘Chini’ are from China. Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century. It was used more as medicine than as beverage (drink).

Q4. Which story of a Chinese emperor is associated with the discovery of tea?

Ans. A chinese emperor used to boil water before drinking it. Once a few leaves of a twig (small branch of a plant or a tree) fell into the boiling water. It tasted delicious. It is said those were tea leaves.

Q5. What is the Indian legend about the discovery of tea?

Ans. It is said that a Buddhist ascetic (someone who has left living in comforts and physical pleasures) felt sleepy during his meditation. In anger, he cut off his eyelids. Tea plant grew out of the eyelids. Those were tea plants.

Q6. What is the best season for the production of tea?

Ans. The season from May to July is the best season for tea production. This is the season when tea leaves sprout and grow in plenty.

Long Answer-type Qs

Q.3./7 Where were Pranjol and Rajvir going? What did Rajvir see when he looked out of the train on the way?

Ans. Rajvir was going to Assam by train at his friend Pranjol’s invitation. Pranjol lived there and Rajvir was his classmate. Pranjol’s father was a manager of a tea garden in Assam. They were sitting near a window in the compartment. Pranjol was busy reading a detective book. Rajvir was watching outside. He had never seen such greenery before. First he watched paddy crops and then tea bushes came. He was surprised to watch them trimmed in a beautiful order. After that, he saw an ugly building. Smoke was coming out of its tall chimney. After some time their destination came. They came out of the train and reached Dekhiaberi Tea Estate. Pranjol’s father was a manager there.

Q4./8 What stories are spread about the origin of tea? Write your answer on the basis of your study of the lesson ‘Tea From Assam’.

Ans. Pranjol narrates two legends to Rajvir about tea. First is about a Chinese emperor. He used to boil water for drinking. Once a few leaves of tea fell into the pot in which water was boiling. When the emperor drank water from the pot, he felt a delicious flavour. After that, tea leaves were used for making tea. Another legend comes from India. It has something unreasonable about it. A Buddhist monk was troubled by sleep during his meditation time. He cut off the eyelids from his eyes in anger and irritation. But tea plants grew at the place of the eyelids. The leaves were used to make tea. In a way, tea removes sleep from human eyes.