X-Eng.Glimpse Of India Baker of Goa $ Coorg

   GLIMPSES Of INDIA

A Baker From Goa

 A baker from Goa is a story that relates to the time when there was Portuguese rule in Goa.  A Bakers From Goa is a traditional Gaon.They were known as 'Paders' in Goa. They had a peculiar dress earlier known as the Kabai. Breads and cakes were an integral part of everyday life in Goa.The people in Goan are nostalgic about the old Portuguese days, their famous loaves of bread.The thud and jingle of the baker's bamboo announcing his arrival can still be heard in some places.Crafts and arts of Goa also reflect Hindu, Muslim and Christian origins.Bakers wrote their accounts on the wall and collected after a month.

Coorg .

 Coorg is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is situated midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. It is a land of rolling hills and picturesque landscape. Coorg is a coffee country famous for its hills, rainforests and spices and many animals found here likesquirrel,langur,elephants,bees,butterflies.Coorgis are well known for their courage, bravery and hospitality. They are very warm people who entertain and look after their guests as family members. The city is also called the land of rolling hills.

 Kodagu is another name of Coorg. It is famous for its coffee gardens, spices and rainforests.  The weather is perfect since September  till March visit .

According to one story, the people of Coorg are the descent of Greek. The army of Alexander settled here and expanded their families by marrying the locals. According to other belief, the people of Coorg are the descent of the Arabs as their dress resembles the Kuffia worn by the Arabs.. 'Kuppia' is a long, black coat with embroidered waist belt worn by the people of Coorg. It is very similar to Kuffia worn by the Arabs.The are the only people in India who are permitted to carry firearms without licence.

Q1: What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

Ans. The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days and their love of bread and loaves. The writer says that the eaters of loaves have left but the makers still exist 

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

Ans. Yes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. This is very clear from the narrator's statement that the eaters have gone away leaving the makers behind. There are mixers, moulders and the ones who bake the loaves. The time tested furnaces still exist there.

Q3:What is the baker called? 

Ans. The baker is called pader in Goa.

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

Ans. The baker would come twice a day-once early in the morning and the second time when he returned after selling his stuff.

The children would run to meet him as they wanted to have bread-bangles.

Q5: Match the following. What is a must

(i) as marriage gifts? - cakes and bolinhas

(ii) for a party or a feast? - sweet bread called bol

(iii) for a daughter's engagement? - bread

(iv) for Christmas? - sandwiches

Ans. (1) 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

Q6. What did the bakers wear:

(i) in the Portuguese days

 (ii) when the author was young

Ans. (1) The bakers were usually dressed up in a peculiar dress called kabai. It was a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees. 

(ii) During his childhood days, the author saw the bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full length ones and longer than half pants.

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

Ans. Any person who is wearing a half pant which reaches just

below the knees invites this comment. This is because the baker, known as pader, used to dress like that.

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

Ans. Monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on a wall in the house with a pencil.

Q9. What does a jackfruit-like appearance' mean? 

Ans. It means having a plump physique, like a jackfruit. 

Q10. Which of these statements are correct? 

(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times.

(ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages.

(iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese.

(iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.

(v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.

 (vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.

(vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times.

Ans. (i) Correct (ii) Correct            (iii) Incorrect (iv) Incorrect

(v) Correct (vi) Correct

(vii)Incorrect

Q11. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?

Ans. Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life. It is needed for marriage gifts, parties and feasts. Bread is also needed by a mother for preparing sandwiches during her daughter's engagement. Thus, it is necessary to have breads for every occasion, because of which the presence of a baker's furnace in the village is very important.

II Coorg

Q1:Where is Coorg?

Ans. Coorg of Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is situated midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore.

Q2:What is the story about the Kodavu people's descent? 

Ans. The fiercely independent people of Coorg are descendants  of Greeks or Arabs. A section of Alexander's army moved South  along the coast and settled here only when they were unable to return to their country. These people married among the  locals. This is the story about the descent of Kodavu people.

Q3: 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?

Ans. (1) They are fiercely independent people and have

descended from the Greeks or the Arabs.

(ii) Coffee is the main crop of Coorg.

(iii) It mostly offers adventure sports which include river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking.

(iv) The animals likely to be seen in Coorg are macaques, 

 Malabar squirrel, langurs, slender loris, elephants, etc.

 (v) By road, it is around 250-260 kilometres from Bangalore.

Q4: What is one of the most Common traditions among coorgies?

Ans. Traditionally, Coorgis are very hospitable and they take pleasure in entertaining their guests by telling them stories of bravery of their sons and fathers.

Q5. What does writer say about wildlife of Coorg?

Ans. A large freshwater fish Mahaseer, abound in the waters of River Kaveri and Kingfishers dive for their catch. Squirrels and langurs drop partially eaten fruit just to enjoy the splash and ripple, elephants enjoy bathing etc.

Q6: Describe Natural beauty of Coorg.

Ans. Coorg is located between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. This beautiful city is surrounded by hills and forests, the combined scenic beauty of which make Coorg appear as a piece of heaven on Earth.

Coorg is a place of evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantation which can be seen hidden under tree canopies.   variety of wild animals and birds, such as kingfisher, Mahaseer, slender loris, Macaques, elephants, etc. Brahmagiri hills provide a panoramic view of Coorg. Those who are in search of the heart and soul of India visit Coorg,

Q5What is the Kuppia?

Answer:

Kuppia is the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.

Q6-Who was General Cariappa?

Answer:

General Cariappa, the first Chief of

Indian Army was a Coorgi.

III  Tea From Assam 

Q4.What was reason behind Rajvir's excitement?

Ans.Rajvir had never seen so much greenery before. The beautiful scenery had completely caught him by surprise. As the train rolled by, vast stretches of tea gardens replaced the soft green paddy fields. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills, a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eyes could see. Tall sturdy shade-trees towered over the orderly rows of bushes. 

Q5. Where and when did the drinking of tea start and how did it come to Europe?

Ans. The drinking of tea first started in China. Tea was drunk in China as long as 2700 B.C. back. Words like tea, 'chai' and 'chini' have been derived from Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the 16th century. In Europe, tea was treated/used as medicine than a beverage in the early period.

Q6. How and when are tea leaves collected in Assam?

Ans.Assam has the largest number of tea plantations in the world. Acre upon acre of tea bushes stretch as far as one can see. All the bushes are pruned to the same height. Groups of tea pluckers wearing plastic aprons, carry bamboo basket on their back to collect the newly sprouted tea-leaves from the bushes. The best time to obtain quality tea leaves is during the second-flush or sprouting period.

 

         Thanks for reading 

       ( English Confluence) 

          by CL Gautam)