Glimpses of India

Question 1: What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
Answer: The elders in Goa were nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese, and their famous loaves of bread.

Question 2: Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
Answer: Yes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. The author says that the mixers, moulders, and those who bake the loaves were still present in Goa. The age-old, time-tested furnaces still existed. The ‘thud’ and ‘jingle’ of the traditional baker’s shampoo, marking his arrival in the morning, could still be heard in some places. It was a family profession, which was carried out generation after generation.

Question 3: What is the baker called?
Answer: The bakers are known as pader in Goa.

Question 4: When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?
Answer: The baker came twice every day, once when he set out in the morning on his selling ground, 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, which was bought by the maid-servant of the house. They actually longed for the bread-bangles, which they chose carefully. Sometimes, it was a sweet bread of special make.

Question 5: What did the bakers wear: (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was
young?
Answer: (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.

Question 6: Who invites the comment − “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?
Answer: 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.

Question 7: Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
Answer: The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in pencil.

Question 5: What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?
Answer: A ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ means a plump physique. Such a physique was linked to the bakers because they never starved. Baking was a profitable profession. The baker, his family, and his servants always looked happy and prosperous and had a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’.

Question 8:Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?
Answer: 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 bolinhas 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.

Thinking About the Text
Question 1: Where is Coorg?
Answer: Coorg is the smallest district of Karnataka, located midway between Mysore and Mangalore.

Question 2: What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?
Answer: According to the author, the fiercely independent people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. A part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast. They settled there when return became impractical. These people married amongst the locals and their culture is evident in the martial traditions, marriage and religious rites, which are distinct from the Hindu mainstream. The Kodavus wear a long, black coat, with an embroidered waist-belt, known as kuppia. It resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds, hence supporting the theory of their Arab origin.

Question 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?
Answer: (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. There are two routes to Coorg from Bangalore and both are of the same distance. The most frequented route is the one via Mysore. The other route is via Neelamangal, Kunigal, and Chanrayanapatna.

Part I Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each]

Question 1.
What did the baker do first once he reached a house?
Answer:
The baker would first greet the lady of the house by saying “Good Morning”. He would then place the basket on the vertical bamboo and deliver the loaves to the servant.

Question 2.
How did the baker make his entry?
Answer:
The baker used to enter with the Jingling sound of his specially made bamboo staff. His one hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the bamboo on the ground.

Question 3.
How do we get to know that the makers of bread still exist?
Answer:
The narrator states that the eaters of loaves might have vanished but the makers are still there. He further says that those age old, time tested furnaces still exist and the fire in the furnaces had not yet been extinguished.

Question 4.
What is the importance of breads for the Goans?
or
Why was the Baker’s furnace essential in a traditional Goan village? CBSE 2010
Answer:
Different kinds of breads are important during the different occasions. Bolinhas had to be prepared during Christmas and other festivals. The mothers used to prepare sandwiches on the occasion of their daughter’s engagement. So, the baker’s furnace was essential.

Question 5.
Describe the dress of the bakers.
Answer:
The bakers had a peculiar dress earlier known as the kabai. It was a one piece long frock reaching down to the knees.

Long answer

Question 1.
‘During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide.’ What does this statement imply in relation to the character of the baker?
Answer:
This statement tells us that the baker was a very respected person in the Goan society because he would guide the children about good behaviour (when he mildly rebuked them for peeping into his basket and giving respect to the elders (when he wished “Good morning” to the lady of the house) etc. He was very informal with the children and so the authorconsidered him as a friend and companion. He was not simply a vendor interested in selling what he made. Thus, he was an important character in the Goan society of those days.

Part II Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each]

Question 1.
From whom have the inhabitants of Coorg descended, as per the legend?
Answer:
As per the legend, a part of Alexander’s army,
when retreating from India, went South and settled in Coorg when they found that they could not return home. Then they married among the locals and their descendants are the Kodavus. (the people of Coorg).

Question 2.
How has the Coorgi tradition of courage and bravery recognised in modern India?
Answer:
The Coorgi tradition of courage and bravery has been recognised by awarding the Coorg Regiment with the most number of gallantry awards. Besides, the Coorgis are the only Indians allowed to carry firearms without a licence.

Question 3.
Describe the wildlife of Coorg.
Answer:
The wildlife of Coorg consists of animals like macaques, langurs, squirrels, loris and elephants. The birds spotted in Coorg are kingfishers.

Question 4.
Describe any two tourist places of Coorg.
Answer:
The climb of Brahmagiri hills brings into a panoramic view of the entire misty landscape of Coorg. A walk across the rope bridge leads to the 64 acre island of Nisargadhama.

Question 5.
Describe Coorg’s weather. When is it most pleasant for the tourists to visit Coorg? CBSE2012
Answer:
The weather of Coorg is pleasant during the months from September to March. During that time, the weather is perfect with some showers thrown in for good measure. During the monsoon, it receives heavy rainfall.

Long Answer

Question 1.
The Coorgis are the descendants of the Greeks or the Arabs and are still are able to maintain their traditional practices. Do you agree that following these practices today is important? Why or why not?
Answer:
After reading the text, I feel that it is important to follow the traditional practices, as it has kept the tradition of Coorgis known to the people even today. If the people of Coorg had not followed it their tradition would have perished and nobody would have remembered themloday because of their culture and traditional practices. According to the text, their traditions can be seen in the martial traditions, religious rites and marriages. The Kodavus even wear the dress which resembles Arabs. Traditional practices also play a very important role in maintaining values amongst people and have an impact on shaping the behaviour of people.

Question 2.
How do Coorg’s location, people and natural features add to the diversity of India? CBSE 2016
Answer:
Coorg is beautifully located and described as a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the kingdom of God. It has rolling hillsides with a pollution free river and forests teeming with wildlife. Here nature exists in its pristine glory, which adds to the diversity of India. Further, it has coffee and spice plantations, quite different from the rest of India. The local people, the Kodavus, are a martial race. Of course, they are well known for their hospitality, just like all Indians. All these features of Coorg add to the diversity of our country.

Part III Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each]

Question 1.
Where were Rajvir and Pranjol going and why?
Answer:
Rajvir and Pranjol were going to Assam as Pranjol had invited Rajvir to spend summer vacation there.

Question 2.
What did Rajvir see while looking outside from the train?
Answer:
Rajvir saw much greenery while looking outside from the train. He was amazed to see the soft: green paddy fields first and then the green tea bushes.

Question 3.
‘This is a tea country now’. Explain this with reference to Assam.    [CBSE 2013]
Answer:
Assam has the world’s largest concentration of tea plantations in the world. A large number of tea gardens can be found there. Most of the tea grown in Assam is supplied all over the world.

Question 4.
In what ways is China related to tea?
Answer:
Tea was first drunk in China. The words ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are from Chinese.

Question 5.
Why did Pranjol’s father say that Rajvir had done his homework before visiting Assam?
Answer:
Rajvir was very excited about visiting the tea garden and thus, he studied a lot about it before visiting the tea garden. Thus, Pranjol’s father said that Rajvir had already done his homework before visiting Assam.

Long Answer 

Question 1.
According to the text, Assam is said to be ‘tea country’. Do you believe that Assam has some of the best plantations in the world that makes it a unique country?
Answer:
In India, some of the best plantations like tea and coffee are grown in huge quantities. India is also a home to many spices like haldi and while Assam is home to tea, Coorg is home to coffee. Others which are grown exclusively in India and exported to various countries. These plantations make India a unique country which has not just traditional spices and beverage plants growing within it but also follows traditional agricultural practices.