10 Glimpses of India

PART-1:A BAKER FROM GOA

EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS

Read the
extracts and answer the questions that follow. (5 Marks each)
Marriage gifts are meaningless without sweet bread known as the bol, just as a party or a
1.
feast losesits charm without bread. Not enonch can be said to show howimportant a baker
can be for a village. 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.
fa) What are the essentials for Christmas?
(1) Decoration of Christmas tree
(2) Exchange of gifts
(3) Cakes and bolinhas
(4) All of the above
(b) What is essential in the village?
(1) Baker (2) Bakery
(3) Baker's furnace (4) Cakes and bolinhas
(c) What is the importance of the bol?
(0) How baker and bakery products are essential for culture of Goa? (2 Marks)
Ans. (a) (3) Cakes and
bolinhas
(b) (3) Baker's furnace
(c) Marriage gifts
are meaningless without the sweet bread or the bol.
(d) Baker and
bakery products are essential for culture of Goa as marriage gifts are
meaningless withoutsweet bread known as the bol,, the lady ofthe house must prepare
sandwiches on the occasion of her dauger Sengagement and cakes and bolinhas are
must for Christmas as wellas other festivals.
2.
Baker made his musical entry on the scene with the'jhang,jhang' sound of his specialy
bamboostaf. One hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the barrt,
house with'Good morning and then
on the ground. He would greet the lady of the place tin
basket on the vertical bamboo. We kids would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke: and
the
loaves would be delivered tothe servant But we would not give up. We would dímb a be ndh
or the parapet and peepinto the basket, somehow. I can still recall thetetypical fragrance of the
loaves. Loaves for the elders and the bangles for the children. Then we did not even care t,
brush our teeth or wash our mouths properly. And why should we? Who woud take t
trouble of plucking the mango leaf for the tooth-brush? And why was it necessary at all? T
tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so niceBy, after al!
(a) With what did the narrator and others clean up their teeth?
(1) Peepal branch (2) Tooth brush (3) Mango leaf (4) Neem branch
(b) The word 'fragrance' means,
(1)flavour (2) odour (3) smell (4) peculiar flavour
(c) What did the narrator and others used todo at the arrival of the Baker?
(d) Describe entry of the Bakers in the streets of Goa? (2 Marks)
Ans. (a) (3) mango leaf
(b) (3)smell
(c) The narrator and others would climb a bench or the parapet and peep into the baker's
basket, somehow.
(d) Baker made his musical entry on the scene with the 'jhang, jhang' sound of his specialy
made bamb00 staff. One hand supported the basket on his head and the other bangei
the bamboo on the ground. He would greet the lady of the house with 'Good morning
and then place his basket on the vertical bamboo.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in 40 to 50words. (4 Marks each)
3. Why was the baker, the friend companion and guide of the children?
Ans. For children, the very sight of the baker was quite exciting,He was their friend, compaiu
and guide The jingling thud of his bamboo put them in rapture. They ran to meet aand greet
him. It was not so much for thel love of theloaf. Whatthey longed for werethetbread bangles
Sometimes they liked the sweet bread of special make.
 4.
How would you prove that baking wasSa Profitable profession in the old
days in English
Ans. Baking was quite a profitable profession n Cos in the old days. The baker Goa?
never starved. Even his servants could heet both the ends easily. He and his family
and his
looked happy and prosperous. Their Pump pbysique was an
family
open testimony always
happiness and prosperity. of their
5. How did the baker make his musical entry?
Ans. The baker made his musical entry with the 'ihang,
jhang sound. It was made by abamboo
staff. One hand supported the basket on his head. The other banged the
ground. He would greet the lady of the house. He would place his basket
bamboo on the
on the vertical
bamboo, to sellthe bread.
6. What is the kabai? Who wore it?
Ans. The kabai is a traditional dress. It was Worn by the baker or bread-seller of
Goa. It was asingle-piece long frock. It reached down to the knees. Any
those days in
one who wears a
half pant which reaches just below the knees is called dressed as a
pader. The breadseller
used towear this dress in the past.
7. What importance does a baker enjoy in a Goa village?
Ans. The village baker was especially important for festive
occasions. The villagers were much
fond of the sweet bread known as 'bol'. Marriage gifts
were meaningless without these
Sweetbreads. Sandwiches, cake and bolinahas were a must for Christmas
as well as other
festivals. These were made by the baker.
8 When did the baker collect his bills? What showed that
the bakers were prosperous?
Ans. The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the
month. In the household, the baker's
monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil.
Baking was a profitable
business in those days. Their families never starved. Their plump
bodies showed that they
were prosperous.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Answer the following questions in 100 to 120 words.
(6 Marks each)
9, Howdid the baker, known as pader, announce his
arrival?
Ans. The baker in the author's childhood days used to come
twice a day. In the morning he Cane
to sell the loaves of bread. Again he returned after emptving
his huge basket. He wouid
cOme again with the 'jhang, jhang' sound of his special bamboo stick. 0ne hand supported
the basket on his head. The
other banged the bamb00 on theeground. The baker would greet
with 'Good morning'.
He would place the basket on the vertical bamboo. The author and
other children would
peep into the basket. They loved bread-bangles. Sometimes it was
Sweet bread of special
make.
10. What did the baker wear in those days? How did he look? What did the author estimze
from his appearance?
Ans. The baker or bread-seller in those days had a peculiar dress. It was known as the
kobois
was asingle piece long frock reaching down to the knees. In the childhood days, the authe
saw the baker wearing a shirt and trousers. These were shorter than full length ones ar
longer than half pants.
The author estimated from the baker's appearance that he earned sufficiently. Baking wa
a profitableprofession then. The baker and his family never starved. It testified that he wz
rich due tothat profession. The author compares the baker with a jackfruit humorously.
11. 'During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide.' Wha
does this statement imply in relation to the character of the baker?
Ans. 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
peepinz
into his basket) and giving respect to the elders (when he wished 'Good Morning to the
lady af
the house) etc. He was very informal with the children and so the author
considered him :
friend andcompanion. He was not simply a vendor interested in selling
what he made. Apart
or feast is said to lose its charm without bread. Cakes and
bolinhas were a must for ChristmS
andother festivals. Presence of the baker's furnace in the village was
absolutely essential Thus
he was an important character in the Goan society of those days.
 SHORT ANSWER TYPEQUESTIONS
words.
Answer the following questions in 40 to S0 (4 Marks each)

4.
How did the tradition of courage and bravery been recognised in modern India Cive
examples from the text.
Ans The people of Coorg are known for being fiercely independent, brave and courageous.
There are numerous tales of valour connected with the people of Coorg. The Coorg
Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments in the Indian Army. The first Chief of the
Indian Ary General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. The Coorgis are the only people in India who
are permitted tocarry firearms without a licence.
5. What are popular theories regarding the descent of the people of Coorg?
Ans. The Coorgi people are distinct people. Their religious practices, marriages and traditions
are distinct from the Hindu mainstream. There are two theories regarding the descent of
the Coorgi people. It is believed that perhaps they are of Greek ofArabic descent. According
toone theory,a part of Alexander's army moved south along the coast. Their return becamne
impractical. These people settled down there. They married amongst the locals. Another
theory gives their descent to the Arabs. The theory of Arab origin draws support from their
dress which resembles the traditional Arabic dress. Their long black coat with an
embroidered waist belt worn by the Kodavus, known as Kuppia, resembles the kuffia worn
by the Arabs and the Kurds.
6. How does the author describe Coorg in the opening paragraph?
Ans. The author describes Coorg as 'a piece of heaven'. It means it has all the qualities of a
heaven. The author further says that it must have drifted from the kingdom of God. This is
the land of rolling hills. It is inhabited by a race of martial human beings. They include
beautiful women. There are also wild creatures there.
7.
What 'magnificent view' did Rajvir see outside while going in the train?
Ans. There were tea bushes here and there. Against the densely wooded hills, a sea of tea bushes
spreadover a vast area. Over the tiny tea plants were tall sturdy shade-trees. There were
orderly at bushes. In the distance was an ugly building. It looked odd among the tea bushes.
Smoke was coming out of tall chimneys.
8 What did Mr. Barua, Pranjol'sfather, tell about tea bushes?
Ms. Mr. Barua received both Rajvir and Pranjol at the cottage. He told Rajvir and Pranjol that
that was the second flush or sprouting period. It lasted from May to July. It gave out the best
tea, said Rajvir. Mr. Barua told Raivir that he had done his homework before coming. He
had a good knowledge about tea.
9. Describe the climate, birds and animals of Coorg.
Ans. Duringthe monsoons, Coorg has a lot of rains. It pours enough to keep many tourists
The best tourist season starts from September and continues till March. The very air away.
Coorg smells of Coffee. Kingfishers, squirrels, langurs, wild elephants, bee and
abound in the rainforests of Coorg. butterflies
10. How do the most laidback individuals become the life of high-energy adventures in
Ans. Coorg offers many outdoor high-energy adventures. Even the most laidback individuals Coorg
become converts to the life of high-energy adventures. The enjoy river rafting, canoein
rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking. Numerous walking trails in Coorg are a
favourite with trekkers.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in 100 to 120 words. (6 Marks each)
11. How isCoorg a place worth visiting?
Ans. Coorg is a piece of heaven. It must have fallen from the Kingdom of God. It has evergreen
rain forests, spices and coffee plantations. There is coffee smell in its air. The river Kaveri has
its water from the hills and forests of Coorg. From the Brahmagiri hillsone can see the entie
misty landscape of Coorg. One can see the Tibetan monks at Bylakuppe. Mahaseer, a large fresh
water fish, is found in plenty here. Wildlife is in plenty here. Kingfishers, squirrels, langurs and
elephants can be seen here. Elephants enjoy being bathed in the river by their mahouts.
12. How doCoorg's location, people and natural features add to the diversity of India?
Ans. 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
(be full of) 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 allIndians. The monks, in red, ochre and yellow robes, are amongst the
many surprises that wait to be discovered by visitors searching for the heart and soulof
India, right here in Coorg, All these features of Coorg add to the diversity of our country.
13. The Coorgis are the descendants of the Greeks or the Arabs and are still able to maintain
their traditionalpractices. Do you agree that following these practices today is important?
Why or why not?
Ans. After reading the text, Ifeel that it is important to follow the traditional practices, as lt nas
kept the tradition of Coorgisknown tothe people even today. If the people of Coorg had
followed it, their tradition would have perished and nobody would have remembered then
today because of their culture and traditional practices. According to the tex,
traditions can be seen in the martial forms, religious rites and marriages. The Kodavus even

wear the dress which resembles Arabs. Traditional practices also play a very important rolein
maintainíng values amongst people and have an impact on people.
shaping the behaviour of people
These practices also bind us together in a social life and we get the values from our ancestors.