This chapter from your Class 10 English book First Flight is not one single story. It is like a window showing three beautiful parts of India. Each part comes from a different writer and takes you to a special place: Goa, Coorg, and Assam. It helps you see how different our country is, with its food, people, and nature. Let's break it down step by step in easy words.
About the Author
This chapter has three writers, one for each part. Here is a short note on each:
Lucio Rodrigues (Part 1: A Baker from Goa)
Lucio Rodrigues lived from 1916 to 1973. He was from Goa and loved writing about old stories and traditions there. He wrote many essays in Konkani (Goa's main language) and English. People remember him as an expert on Goan folklore, which means old tales and customs of the place. His writing makes you feel like you are back in old Goa.
Lokesh Abrol (Part 2: Coorg)
Lokesh Abrol is a doctor from Gurgaon. He started the first big private hospital there to help many people. Besides his job, he loves traveling across India, taking photos, and writing about beautiful spots. He also does social work to make lives better. His words paint pictures of places like Coorg, making you want to visit them.
Arup Kumar Dutta (Part 3: Tea from Assam)
Arup Kumar Dutta was born in 1946 in Assam. He is a writer and reporter from Guwahati. He has written 18 books for grown-ups and 17 fun adventure stories for kids. He studied in Delhi and loves sharing stories about Assam's nature and life. His books make you excited about exploring new places.
What’s the Story About?
The chapter is divided into three small stories. Each one gives a quick look (or "glimpse") into a different part of India. I will explain each in simple words, like telling a friend, with extra details so you can picture it easily.
Part 1: A Baker from Goa
This part is like a warm memory of childhood in a Goan village. Long ago, when Portuguese people ruled Goa, every home had a baker called a "pader." He was like a family friend who came every day with fresh bread. The baker baked big loaves in a hot clay oven. In the morning, you could hear his special bamboo stick making a "jingle" sound as he walked the streets, calling out for customers. Kids waited for him with money tied in their shirt corners!
The baker carried bread in big baskets on his head. He sold simple loaves for elders and fun "bread-bangles" (like sweet rings) for children. Bakers wore a knee-length shirt called a "kabai." Their job was good for money, so many became round and healthy, like ripe jackfruits. Even today, though Portuguese rule is gone, some bakers still visit homes. But now, they sell other things like cakes too. The writer remembers how the baker's visit started the day with the smell of fresh bread. It shows how food brings people together in Goa.
Part 2: Coorg
Imagine a cool hill place full of green forests and coffee smells – that's Coorg in Karnataka! It is the smallest area in the state, tucked between two big towns: Mysore and Mangalore. The best time to go is from September to March, when the weather is nice and not too rainy.
Coorg has thick evergreen trees, spicy plants like cardamom, and huge coffee farms. The air always smells like fresh coffee. The people here, called Coorgis, are strong and free-spirited. Some say their ancestors came from far away – maybe Greek or Arab soldiers from Alexander the Great's army who stayed back, married locals, and made a home. They wear a long black coat called a "kuppia," which looks like Arab dress.
Coorgis love fun and stories. They are brave too – many join the Indian Army, and their special group is called the Coorg Regiment. The first Indian Army chief, General Cariappa, was from here. The hills and woods feed the big Cauvery River with water. You can do exciting things like river rafting or see rare animals like kingfishers and butterflies. It's a place where nature and people live happily together.
Part 3: Tea from Assam
This part is like a fun trip with friends to Assam's tea gardens. Two boys, Rajvir and Pranjol, are traveling by train. Pranjol's family owns a tea farm. On the way, they stop at a shop and buy hot, fresh tea in clay cups. Rajvir says people drink over 80 crore cups of tea every day in the world – that's a lot!
When they reach Assam, Rajvir is amazed by the wide, wavy tea bushes looking like a green carpet. Pranjol reads a mystery book and doesn't look up. Assam makes the most tea in India, but no one knows exactly how it started. There are old tales: One from China about leaves falling into hot water by chance, making a tasty drink. Another from India about a monk who cut off his eyelids (yes, really!) to stay awake while praying. The eyelids turned into tea plants, and boiling the leaves kept sleep away.
They go to Pranjol's home at Dhekiabari tea farm. Women workers, called pluckers, wear aprons and carry bamboo baskets. They pick the top two leaves and a bud – the best part. Pranjol's dad explains that the "second flush" (a time in May-June) gives the tastiest tea. Rajvir asks many questions and wants to learn more. It's a story about friendship, nature's beauty, and how tea connects us all.
Who’s Who in the Story
Since there are three parts, here are the main people in each. They are not like heroes in a movie, but real-life figures that make the stories come alive.
Part 1: A Baker from Goa
- The Pader (Baker): The main person – a friendly village baker who visits homes daily with fresh bread. He is round and cheerful, with a bamboo stick for his tune.
- The Writer's Elders and Children: Not named, but they remember the baker fondly. Kids wait for treats, and elders buy loaves for breakfast.
- The Baker's Family: Mentioned as prosperous (rich and happy) from the bread business.
Part 2: Coorg
- Coorgis (The People of Coorg): Brave locals who love nature, coffee, and stories. They might have old soldier roots.
- General Cariappa: A real hero – the first Indian head of the Army, from Coorg. He shows the area's pride.
- No Main Character: This part is more about the place, but tourists and wildlife (like birds and monkeys) feel like part of the story.
Part 3: Tea from Assam
- Rajvir: A curious boy visiting Assam for the first time. He knows lots about tea history and gets excited by the gardens.
- Pranjol: Rajvir's friend from Assam. He owns a tea farm and reads detective books while traveling.
- Pranjol's Father: A kind tea estate owner who explains how tea is made. He likes Rajvir's smart questions.
- Tea Pluckers: Hard-working women who pick leaves in the fields.
Themes and Moral
This chapter shows India's magic through small slices of life. Here are the big ideas (themes) in easy words:
- India's Rich Variety: Each part highlights different cultures – Goa's old bread tradition, Coorg's hills and brave people, Assam's green tea world. It teaches that India is like a big family with many colors, foods, and stories.
- Love for Nature and Traditions: From coffee smells to tea bushes, nature is everywhere. Old customs like baking or plucking leaves keep our roots strong.
- Friendship and Learning: In the tea part, friends share knowledge and fun. It shows how travel opens your eyes.
Moral: Cherish your country's small wonders. They make India special. Go explore, learn, and respect different places – it will make you proud and kind.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the chapter. I picked common ones and explained them like chatting with a friend. No hard meanings – just simple ones you can use every day.
- Pader: A baker in Goa who sells bread door-to-door. (Like your friendly neighborhood uncle with snacks.)
- Kabai: A short, one-piece shirt worn by Goan bakers, up to the knees. (Think of a comfy knee-length t-shirt for work.)
- Jingling Sound: A tinkling noise, like bells or coins clinking. (The fun "ting-ting" from the baker's bamboo stick.)
- Evergreen Forests: Trees that stay green all year, never lose leaves. (Like always-fresh Christmas trees covering hills.)
- Kuppia: A long black coat worn by Coorg men, like Arab style. (A cool, flowing jacket for special days.)
- Second Flush: The best tea-picking time in May-June, when leaves are super tasty. (Like the ripest mango season – full of flavor.)
- Tea Pluckers: Women workers who hand-pick fresh tea leaves from bushes. (Garden helpers who choose only the young, soft ones.)
- Bread-Bangles: Sweet, ring-shaped breads for kids in Goa. (Yummy loops you can wear like bangles before eating!)
- Cauvery River: A big river starting from Coorg's hills, important for water. (India's "Ganga of the South" – life-giver.)
Use these words in your sentences to sound smart in class. For example: "The pader's jingling sound woke up the village!" Practice them, and you'll remember the chapter forever. Happy reading!