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I. A Baker from Goa
LUCIO RODRIGUES
1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
The elders reminisce nostalgically about the good old Portuguese days and the Portuguese loaves of bread. The loaves of bread were an integral part of Goan's life. Marriages were meaningless without sweet bread. The Portuguese who ate the bread might have vanished but the makers are still there.
2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
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?
Bakers are, even today, known as pader in Goa.
4. Who invites the comment — “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?
Even today, anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that he is dressed like a pader. As, in the olden days bakers wore a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length one and longer than half pants.
5. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?
The baker would come everyday morning to deliver the loaves of bread to the houses. He would carry the traditional bamboo staff and its 'jhang, jhang' sound would announce his arrival. 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.
6. What did the bakers wear: (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was young?
(i) The baker or bread-seller of those days 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 has seen bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.
7. What does a ‘jackfruit - like appearance’ mean?
Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days. The baker and his family never starved. He, his family and his servants always looked happy and prosperous. Their plump physique was an open testimony to this. Even today any person with a jackfruit-like physical appearance is easily compared to a baker. Jack fruit like appearance is compared to prosperity.
8. Is bread an important part of Goan life? Explain.
Marriage gifts were meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol. Party or a feast lost its charm without bread. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence of the baker’s furnace in the village is absolutely essential.
II. Coorg
LOKESH ABROL
1. Where is Coorg?
Coorg is located midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. This land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race of martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures. Coorg, or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka, is home to evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations.
2. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?
The fiercely independent people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. As one story goes, a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled here when return became impractical. These people married amongst the locals and their culture is apparent in the martial traditions, marriage and religious rites, which are distinct from the Hindu mainstream. The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus. Known as kuppia, it resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.
3. What are some of the things you now know about
(i) the people of Coorg?
Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality, and they are known for their bravery and valour. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army, and the first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. Even now, Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a licence.
(ii) the main crop of Coorg?
Coorg, or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka, is home to evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations. Evergreen rainforests cover thirty per cent of this district. Coffee and spices are the main crops of Coorg.
(iii) the sports it offers to tourists?
The tourists in Coorg enjoy the sport of river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking. Numerous walking trails in this region are a favourite with trekkers.
(iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?
Birds, bees and butterflies are numerous in Coorg. Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and slender loris keep a watchful eye from the tree canopy. There are even wild elephants seen here and there.
(v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?
There are two routes to Coorg from Bangalore via road. 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.
4. What is the best time of the year to visit Coorg?
The season of joy commences from September and continues till March, the best time to visit Coorg. The weather is perfect, with some showers thrown in for good measure. The air breathes of invigorating coffee. Coffee estates and colonial bungalows stand tucked under tree canopies in prime corners.
III. Tea from Assam
ARUP KUMAR DATTA
1. What legends are associated with the origin of tea?
According to Chinese legend, once a few leaves of the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water and gave a delicious flavour. Those leaves were tea leaves.
According to the Indian legend, Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditation and threw them on the earth. Ten tea plants grew out of those eyelids. When he boiled them in water and drunk that water, it banished his sleep.
2. How are the tea-pluckers different from the other farm labourers?
Tea pluckers are different from the other farm labourers as the tea pluckers are hired labourers whereas the farm labourers can be hired or can be the owners of the land. Tea pluckers just pluck leaves whereas farm labourers go through the whole process, i.e., from sowing to harvesting.
3. Describe the magnificent views of tea estate with reference to the lesson ‘‘Tea from Assam’’.
The view around the tree estate was magnificent. There was greenery all round. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills, a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see. Dwarfing the tiny tea plants were tall sturdy shade-trees and amidst the orderly rows of bushes busily moved doll-like figures of tea-pluckers.
4. Describe Rajvir’s experience at the tea garden at Dhekiabari?
Rajvir’s visit to Dhekiabari, where Pranjol’s father worked as a manager, was a novel experience and he found it extremely fascinating. As they proceeded along the gravel road, with neatly pruned sea of tea bushes spreading over acres of land, he saw groups of tea-workers, wearing plastic aprons and baskets of bamboo sticks on their back, picking newly sprouted tea leaves.
LUCIO RODRIGUES
1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
The elders reminisce nostalgically about the good old Portuguese days and the Portuguese loaves of bread. The loaves of bread were an integral part of Goan's life. Marriages were meaningless without sweet bread. The Portuguese who ate the bread might have vanished but the makers are still there.
2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
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?
Bakers are, even today, known as pader in Goa.
4. Who invites the comment — “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?
Even today, anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that he is dressed like a pader. As, in the olden days bakers wore a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length one and longer than half pants.
5. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?
The baker would come everyday morning to deliver the loaves of bread to the houses. He would carry the traditional bamboo staff and its 'jhang, jhang' sound would announce his arrival. 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.
6. What did the bakers wear: (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was young?
(i) The baker or bread-seller of those days 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 has seen bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.
7. What does a ‘jackfruit - like appearance’ mean?
Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days. The baker and his family never starved. He, his family and his servants always looked happy and prosperous. Their plump physique was an open testimony to this. Even today any person with a jackfruit-like physical appearance is easily compared to a baker. Jack fruit like appearance is compared to prosperity.
8. Is bread an important part of Goan life? Explain.
Marriage gifts were meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol. Party or a feast lost its charm without bread. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence of the baker’s furnace in the village is absolutely essential.
II. Coorg
LOKESH ABROL
1. Where is Coorg?
Coorg is located midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. This land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race of martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures. Coorg, or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka, is home to evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations.
2. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?
The fiercely independent people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. As one story goes, a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled here when return became impractical. These people married amongst the locals and their culture is apparent in the martial traditions, marriage and religious rites, which are distinct from the Hindu mainstream. The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus. Known as kuppia, it resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.
3. What are some of the things you now know about
(i) the people of Coorg?
Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality, and they are known for their bravery and valour. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army, and the first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. Even now, Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a licence.
(ii) the main crop of Coorg?
Coorg, or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka, is home to evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations. Evergreen rainforests cover thirty per cent of this district. Coffee and spices are the main crops of Coorg.
(iii) the sports it offers to tourists?
The tourists in Coorg enjoy the sport of river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking. Numerous walking trails in this region are a favourite with trekkers.
(iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?
Birds, bees and butterflies are numerous in Coorg. Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and slender loris keep a watchful eye from the tree canopy. There are even wild elephants seen here and there.
(v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?
There are two routes to Coorg from Bangalore via road. 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.
4. What is the best time of the year to visit Coorg?
The season of joy commences from September and continues till March, the best time to visit Coorg. The weather is perfect, with some showers thrown in for good measure. The air breathes of invigorating coffee. Coffee estates and colonial bungalows stand tucked under tree canopies in prime corners.
III. Tea from Assam
ARUP KUMAR DATTA
1. What legends are associated with the origin of tea?
According to Chinese legend, once a few leaves of the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water and gave a delicious flavour. Those leaves were tea leaves.
According to the Indian legend, Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditation and threw them on the earth. Ten tea plants grew out of those eyelids. When he boiled them in water and drunk that water, it banished his sleep.
2. How are the tea-pluckers different from the other farm labourers?
Tea pluckers are different from the other farm labourers as the tea pluckers are hired labourers whereas the farm labourers can be hired or can be the owners of the land. Tea pluckers just pluck leaves whereas farm labourers go through the whole process, i.e., from sowing to harvesting.
3. Describe the magnificent views of tea estate with reference to the lesson ‘‘Tea from Assam’’.
The view around the tree estate was magnificent. There was greenery all round. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills, a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see. Dwarfing the tiny tea plants were tall sturdy shade-trees and amidst the orderly rows of bushes busily moved doll-like figures of tea-pluckers.
4. Describe Rajvir’s experience at the tea garden at Dhekiabari?
Rajvir’s visit to Dhekiabari, where Pranjol’s father worked as a manager, was a novel experience and he found it extremely fascinating. As they proceeded along the gravel road, with neatly pruned sea of tea bushes spreading over acres of land, he saw groups of tea-workers, wearing plastic aprons and baskets of bamboo sticks on their back, picking newly sprouted tea leaves.
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