Class 10 English · First Flight · Chapter 5

5. Glimpses of India

A Baker from Goa, Coorg and Tea from Assam, with the poem The Trees — NCERT First Flight solutions.

I. A Baker from Goa

Lucio Rodrigues

Before You Read — Activity

1Discuss in class: images of India, places visited, French and Portuguese influences, and tea and coffee growing areas.

(1) and (2) are personal. Students should share their own ideas.

(3) French influence is seen in Puducherry (Pondicherry). Portuguese influence is seen in Goa, Daman and Diu.

(4) (i) Tea is grown in Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling), Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris). (ii) Coffee is grown in Karnataka (Coorg), Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Oral Comprehension Check 1

1What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread.

2Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?

Yes, it is still popular. The mixers, moulders and bakers are still there. The age-old furnaces still exist. The thud and jingle of the baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places.

3What is the baker called?

The baker is called a pader in Goa.

4When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?

The baker came at least twice a day. Once in the morning when he set out on his selling round, and again when he returned after emptying his basket.

The children ran to meet him for the bread-bangles and sometimes sweet bread of special make.

Oral Comprehension Check 2

1Match the following. What is a must

Occasion	What is a must
(i) as marriage gifts?	sweet bread called bol
(ii) for a party or a feast?	bread
(iii) for a daughter’s engagement?	sandwiches
(iv) for Christmas?	cakes and bolinhas

2What did the bakers wear: (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was young?

(i) In the Portuguese days, bakers wore a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees. It was called the kabai.

(ii) When the author was young, bakers wore a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.

3Who invites the comment — “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?

Anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites this comment. This is because bakers wore such trousers.

4Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

The monthly accounts were recorded in pencil on some wall.

5What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?

It means a plump and round body, like a jackfruit.

Thinking about the Text

1Which of these statements are correct?

Correct statements:

(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
(ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages.
(v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.

Statements (iii), (iv), (vi) and (vii) are not correct.

2Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?

Yes, bread is very important in Goan life. Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread called bol. A party or feast loses its charm without bread. Sandwiches are a must for a daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas and other festivals.

3Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author?

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

Thinking about Language

IComplete the table with the help of the clues on the left. Then write a paragraph about the author’s childhood days.

Clues	Author’s childhood days
the way bread was baked	in age-old, time-tested furnaces
the way the pader sold bread	from door to door, with a basket on his head and a bamboo staff that made a ‘jhang, jhang’ sound
what the pader wore	a shirt and trousers shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants
when the pader was paid	at the end of the month
how the pader looked	plump, happy and prosperous

Paragraph

In the author’s childhood, bread was baked in age-old, time-tested furnaces. The baker sold bread from door to door. He carried a big basket on his head and banged his bamboo staff on the ground with a ‘jhang, jhang’ sound. He wore a shirt and trousers that were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants. He collected his bills at the end of the month. The accounts were written in pencil on a wall. The baker and his family always looked plump, happy and prosperous.

II.1Compare the piece from the text with the other piece on Goan bakers. What makes the two texts so different? Are the facts the same? Do both writers give you a picture of the baker?

The facts in both pieces are almost the same. Both say that the paders still survive and carry on the family profession.

The first piece is personal and nostalgic. The author gives a lively picture of the baker with the ‘thud and jingle’ of his bamboo. The second piece is factual and impersonal. It gives information but no clear picture of the baker.

II.2Find a travel brochure about a place you have visited. Write your own account of the place.

This is a personal writing task. Students should describe a place they have visited, adding details from their own experience.

Speaking and Writing

1In groups, collect information on how bakeries bake bread now and how the process has changed over time.

This is a group activity. Students should collect and share information in class.

2Pick a dying craft and make a group presentation about the skills required, the reasons for its decline and ways to revive it.

This is a group presentation. Students should choose a craft such as pottery, handloom or bamboo weaving and present their findings.

II. Coorg

Lokesh Abrol

Thinking about the Text

1Where is Coorg?

Coorg (Kodagu) is in Karnataka. It lies midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. It is the smallest district of Karnataka.

2What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?

The Kodavus are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. One story says that a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast. They settled in Coorg when return became impractical. They married local people.

The theory of Arab origin is supported by the long black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus. It is called kuppia and looks like the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.

3What are some of the things you now know about:

(i) the people of Coorg?

They are proud, martial and fiercely independent. They are known for their hospitality and tales of valour. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army. General Cariappa, the first Chief of the Indian Army, was a Coorgi. Kodavus are the only people in India allowed to carry firearms without a licence.

(ii) the main crop of Coorg?

Coffee is the main crop of Coorg. It also grows spices.

(iii) the sports it offers to tourists?

It offers river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, mountain biking and trekking.

(iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?

Birds, bees, butterflies, macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs, slender loris, wild elephants, kingfishers and mahaseer fish.

(v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?

Coorg is about 250–260 km from Bangalore. One can go by road via Mysore, or via Neelamangal, Kunigal and Chanrayanapatna. The nearest airports are Mangalore and Bangalore. The nearest railheads are Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan.

4Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning as the words in italics.

(i) it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg — it pours enough to keep many visitors away
(ii) Some people say — As one story goes
(iii) always ready to tell stories — more than willing to recount
(iv) Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by — The most laidback individuals become converts to
(v) is supported by — draws support from
(vi) observe you carefully — keep a watchful eye

Thinking about Language

1Discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of the adjectives.

(i) culture: unique culture, ancient culture
(ii) monks: serious monks, ancient monks
(iii) surprise: sudden surprise, unforgettable surprise, terrible surprise
(iv) experience: unique experience, unforgettable experience, terrible experience, wide experience
(v) weather: terrible weather
(vi) tradition: ancient tradition, unique tradition

2Complete the following phrases from the text. For each phrase, find at least one other word that would fit into the blank.

Phrase from the text	Another word
(i) tales of valour	bravery
(ii) coastal town	city / area
(iii) a piece of heaven	land / cake
(iv) evergreen rainforests	trees / forests
(v) coffee plantations	tea / rubber
(vi) rope bridge	wooden / iron
(vii) wild creatures	animals / elephants

III. Tea from Assam

Arup Kumar Datta

Thinking about Language

I.1Use these words appropriately in the sentences: upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in.

A heavy downpour has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
Rakesh will undergo major surgery tomorrow morning.
My brother is responsible for the upkeep of our family property.
The dropout rate for this accountancy course is very high.
She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a walk-in interview.

I.2Fill in the blanks by combining the verb in brackets with one of the words from the box.

The Army attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow the Government.
Scientists are on the brink of a major breakthrough in cancer research.
The State Government plans to build a bypass for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway.
Gautama’s outlook on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow.
Rakesh seemed unusually downcast after the game.

II.1Think of suitable -ing or -ed adjectives to answer the following questions.

a good detective serial on television — thrilling / exciting
a debate on ‘Homework Should Be Banned’ — interesting
how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain — bored
how you feel when you open a present — excited / delighted
how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television — entertained / relaxed
the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue — tired / irritated
how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest — thrilled / frightened
the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen — fascinating / interesting

II.2Use the adjectives in the exercise above to write a paragraph about Coorg.

Sample paragraph

Coorg is a fascinating place. Its green hills, coffee estates and misty weather are delightful. The adventure sports are thrilling. Even a tired traveller feels excited when rafting on the river. Watching wild elephants is exciting, though a little frightening too. The stories of the brave Coorgi soldiers are very interesting. No one ever feels bored in Coorg.

Speaking and Writing

1Collect information about tea and hold a role play of a tea planter, a sales agent, a tea lover, a physician and a tea-shop owner.

This is a group role play. Students should collect facts about tea and present their views using the phrases given in the textbook.

2Draft an advertisement for a famous tea company.

Sample advertisement

ASSAM GOLD TEA — Wake Up to Freshness!

Fresh leaves, hand-picked from the gardens of Upper Assam. Rich colour, strong flavour and a refreshing aroma in every cup. Full of natural goodness. Perfect for every season and every mood.

Available at all leading stores. Packs of 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg. Buy one, get a free tea mug!

The Trees

Adrienne Rich

Thinking about the Poem

1(i) Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest. (ii) What picture do these words create in your mind: “… sun bury its feet in shadow…”? What could the poet mean by the sun’s ‘feet’?

(i) In a treeless forest, no bird can sit, no insect can hide, and the sun cannot bury its feet in shadow.

(ii) The words create a picture of sunlight falling through the trees and making shadows on the ground. The sun’s ‘feet’ are its rays that reach the forest floor.

2(i) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and their twigs do? (ii) What does the poet compare their branches to?

(i) The trees are inside the poet’s house. All night the roots work hard to free themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor. The leaves strain towards the glass. The small twigs become stiff with effort.

(ii) The poet compares the branches to newly discharged patients. They move half-dazed towards the clinic doors.

3(i) How does the poet describe the moon: (a) at the beginning of the third stanza, and (b) at its end? What causes this change?

(a) At the beginning, the whole moon shines in a sky still open.

(b) At the end, the moon is broken like a mirror. Its pieces flash in the crown of the tallest oak.

This change happens because the trees move out into the forest. The moon is now seen through their branches, so it looks broken into pieces.

(ii) What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?

The glass breaks and the house becomes empty. The smell of leaves and lichen stays in the rooms for a while.

(iii) Why do you think the poet does not mention “the departure of the forest from the house” in her letters?

The event is so strange and unexpected that people may not believe it. Perhaps the poet is also a little embarrassed or uncertain about it. So she keeps silent about it.

4What might the poem mean?

(i) Does the poem present a conflict between man and nature? Compare it with A Tiger in the Zoo.

Yes. Man cuts down forests and keeps plants inside houses for decoration. Like the tiger in the zoo, these trees are prisoners. They want to break free and go back to nature, where they belong.

(ii) What new meanings emerge if you take the trees to be symbolic of human beings?

The trees may stand for women who are kept indoors and not allowed to grow freely. The poem then shows their struggle to break free from the limits of the house and society.

5Read the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’ by Gieve Patel and compare and contrast it with ‘The Trees’.

Both poems are about trees and their strength. In ‘On Killing a Tree’, man struggles hard to kill a tree, which shows how strong a tree is. In ‘The Trees’, the trees themselves struggle to escape from the house to the forest. One shows man’s cruelty to nature; the other shows nature’s urge for freedom.

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