Glimpses of India

A Baker from Goa

Please Copy ONLY the Notes in BLUE Colour (ONLY 15 SHORT
ANSWERS TO BE WRITTEN FROM THE 3 PARTS). The
remaining notes can be prepared from the PDF itself.
Question and Answers
Q1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

A. The narrator often finds his elders thinking about ‘those good old days’ and telling them about the famous
breads that date back to the time when Portuguese ruled over Goa. They ponder over the past and tell them that
though the Portuguese have left Goa but the bakers still exist, if not the original ones, their legacy is being
continued by their sons.

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

A. Yes, bread-making is still popular in the city of Goa. It is evident from the existence of time-tested furnaces,
mixers and moulders. The legacy of bakers is being continued by their sons. You will find a bakery in every
Goan village as bread is an important part of the Goan culture.

Q3. What is the baker called?

A. The baker is referred to as ‘Pader’ in the city of Goa.

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

A. The baker would come twice every day during the narrator’s childhood days. Once in the morning to deliver
the loaves of bread and secondly, in the evening on his return after selling his stock. The children would go
running to him to take the special bread bangles he had made for them.

Q5. Match the following. What is a must

1. as marriage gifts? – cakes and bolinhas

2. for a party or a feast? – sweet bread called bol
3. for a daughter’s engagement? – bread
4. for Christmas? – sandwiches

Answer:-

Sweet bread called bol

As marriage gifts
For a party or a feast Bread
For daughter’s engagement Sandwiches
For Christmas Cakes and bolinhas
Q6. What did the bakers wear:

1. In the Portuguese days?

2. When the author was young?

A.
(i) In the Portuguese days, the bakers wore a unique knee-length frock dress typically known as ‘kabai’.
(ii) In the narrator’s childhood days, he had seen them wearing shirts and shorter than usual pants.

Q7. Who invites the comment — “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?

A. During the narrator’s childhood days, the bakers had a peculiar dress. They wore shirts and shorter than
usual pants. Even today, anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that he is
dressed like a pader!

Q8. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

A. The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall with a pencil.

Q9. What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?

A. ‘Jackfruit-like appearance’ means a well-built or plump physique, similar to a jackfruit. In those days, bakers
had plump physique because baking was a profitable profession. His family and servants never starved and
were prosperous.

Q. Which of these statements are correct?

1. The pader was an important person in the village in old times.

True

2. Paders still exist in Goan villages.

True

3. The paders went away with the Portuguese.

False, they still exist in Goan villages.

4. The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.

False, they wear shirts and trousers that are shorter than the usual ones and longer than the half-pants.

5. Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.

False, they are still an integral part of Goan culture.

6. Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.

True

7. Paders and their families starve in the present times.

False, it is still a very profitable business and their families are happy and prosperous.
 Q. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?

A. Bread is an important part of the Goan culture and it is evident from its presence at every important occasion.
From sweet breads at marriages to sandwiches at engagement parties and cakes and Bolinhas at Christmas as
well as other occasions, makes the presence of a baker in every village, very essential.

Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the following?

1. The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places. (nostalgic,
hopeful, sad)
2. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
3. I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)
4. The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all.
(naughty, angry, funny)
5. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)
6. The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. (matter-of-fact,
hopeful, sad)

Answers-

1. Nostalgic
2. Nostalgic
3. Nostalgic
4. Funny
5. Matter-of-fact
6. Matter-of-fact

Glimpses of India
Coorg
Question and Answers
Q1. Where is Coorg?
A. Coorg is the smallest district of Karnataka and is located somewhere between Mysore and the coastal city of
Mangalore.

Q2. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?

A. It is said that the Kodavus are of either Greek or Arabic descent. According to one story, a part of
Alexander’s army could not return to its homeland and so, settled there. As the traditional dress of the Kodavus,
Kuppia is similar to the dress of the Arabs and Kurds, the Kuffia, it is said that probably the Kodavus are
descendants of the Arabs.

Q3. What are some of the things you now know about:

1. The people of Coorg.

A. People of Coorg are known to be descendants of the Greeks or the Arabs. This is because of their dressing
style. They are independent and ferocious. They are the most decorated soldiers in the Indian Army. At the
 same time, they are welcoming and are known for their hospitality. They are more than willing to recount
numerous tales of valour related to their sons and fathers. They have married amongst their locals and their
culture is very different from what is seen in mainstream Hindus. Kodavus are the only people in India
permitted to carry firearms without a licence.

2. The main crop of Coorg.

A. Coffee is the main crop of Coorg. During the monsoon season, when the weather is pleasant and the wind is
blowing, it carries with it the strong fragrance of coffee. Coffee estates with colonial bungalows are abundant
and even provide homestays for visitors to experience the Coorgi way of life.

3. The sports it offers to tourists.

A. A variety of high-energy adventure activities are offered to tourists like river rafting, canoeing, rappelling,
rock climbing and mountain biking. Trekking is also one of the famous activities. Even the most laidback
individuals become converts to the life of high-energy adventure.

4. The animals you are likely to see in Coorg?

A. Fishes like Mahaseer are found in the waters of the river Kaveri. Birds like Kingfisher and other animals like
squirrels, langurs, butterflies, bees accompany you in this area while wild elephants can be seen enjoying
bathing in the rivers. If you are on a trek, Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and slender loris can be spotted
on the trees.

5. Its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?

A. Coorg is at a distance of 260 kms from Bangalore. The nearest airports are Mangalore (135 km) and
Bangalore (260 km). There are flights to Mangalore from Mumbai, and to Bangalore from Ahmedabad,
Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. The nearest railheads are at Mysore,
Mangalore and Hassan. There are two routes to Coorg from Bangalore. Both are almost the same distance
(around 250-260 km). The route via Mysore is the most frequented one. The other route is via Neelamangal,
Kunigal, Chanrayanapatna.

Q4. Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning.
(Look in the paragraphs indicated)

1. During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (para 2)
2. Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there. (para 3)
3. The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their sons’ and fathers’ valour. (para 4)
4. Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high-energy adventure sports of Coorg.
(para 6)
5. The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (para 3)
6. Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (para 7)

A.

(i) Keep many visitors away

(ii)As one story goes
(iii) Are more than willing to recount
(iv) The most laidback individuals become converts to
(v) Draws support from
(vi) Keep a watchful eye.
 Tea from Assam
Questions and Answers
1. Who were Pranjol and Rajvir? Where were they going?
Answer: Pranjol and Rajvir were friends. Pranjol belonged to Assam. He was studying in a school in
Delhi. Rajvir was his classmate. Pranjol had invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer
vacation. So, both of them were travelling to Assam by train.
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.

3. ‘This is a tea country now’. Explain this with reference to Assam.

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.
4. How does Rajvir describe the tea-garden at Dhekiabari?
Answer: On the two sides of the gravel road were acres and acres of land of neatly pruned tea bushes. It
was the second sprouting period. Women wearing plastic aprons were plucking new tea leaves and
placing them in the bamboo baskets.
5. Draw a pen picture of tea gardens in Assam.
Answer: The tea bushes were spread like an ocean against the background of thickly wooded hills. In
the midst of the orderly rows of tea, women were seen as doll-like figures plucking tea leaves.
6. Describe the scenery that Rajvir saw as soon as the train pulled out of the station.
Answer: At the point when the train moved forward, there were huge fields loaded with green
plantations. Rajvir had never seen so much greenery. He considered it a 'magnificent view'. The bushes
were spread like an ocean against the scenery of thickly wooded hills.
7. What was the Indian legend about the discovery of tea?
Answer: As the Indian legend about the discovery of tea goes, once there was a Buddhist ascetic,
Bodhidharma, who used to feel drowsy during meditation. So he removed his eyelids. Ten tea plants
grew out of his eyelids. When the leaves of these plants were put in boiled water and drunk, it banished
sleep.
8. What is the Chinese story about the discovery of tea?
Answer: A Chinese emperor had the habit for drinking boiled water. One day, a twig fell into the pot in
which water was being bubbled. It gave a scrumptious/delicious flavour to the water. It is said that those
were tea leaves.

9. In what ways is China related to tea?

Answer: Tea was first drunk in China. The words ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are from Chinese.
10. 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.

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