I. A Baker from Goa
-by Lucio Rodrigues
This part of the chapter is a pen-portrait of a traditional Goan village baker or “Pader” who still has an important place in the Goan culture.
Chapter Summary
The Old Portuguese Days in Goa
In the old days of Goa, the Portuguese were famous for their loaves of bread. The Portuguese left Goa a long time ago but the traditional bakers and their furnaces (a machine for baking) still exist there.
The mixers, moulders and the people who bake the loaves still exist carrying on their business of baking. The sound of the baker’s bamboo in the morning can still be heard in some places. These bakers are still known as pader in Goa.
The Traditional Baker during the Narrators Childhood
The narrator recalls his childhood in Goa, when the baker used to be their friend, companion and guide. He came to their house twice a day. He came once in the morning while selling his bread and again in the evening after selling all his bread.
The baker used to arrive with a jingling sound of the bamboo stick that woke everyone up. As soon as the children heard the sound, they ran to meet the baker and get the bread bangles which was sometimes made of sweet bread.
The Baker’s Arrival
The baker used to carry the bread basket on his head along
with a bamboo stick. His one hand supported the basket and other hand banged the bamboo stick on the ground. As the baker came, he would great the lady of the house and put his basket on the stick.
The children would be pushed aside and the loaves would be delivered to the maid servant. Howerver, the children still found a way to peep into the basket. The author remembers the sweet fragrance of the bread and how they did not even brush their teeth before eating anything.
Importance of Bread in Traditional Ceremonies
The presence of a baker was essential during those times in Goa. Marriages or any festival were incomplete without the sweet bread known as bol. Sandwiches were prepared by the lady of the house for her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas were essential for Christmas and other festivals.
The Baker’s Dress and Monthly Accounts
The baker in Goa wore a special dress known as Kabai. It was a single piece long frock that reached down to his knees. During the narrator’s childhood, bakers wore shirts trousers which were shorter than full-length and longer than half pants. Even today in Goa, if anyone in the streets is seen wearing half pants, he is referred to as a pader.
The baker used to maintain his monthly accounts on a wall in pencil and collected his bills at the end of the month.
Baking : A Profitable Profession
In old days, baking was a profitable profession. A baker’s family and servants were always happy and prosperous plump body structure proved the fact that a baker and its family were never hungry.
II. Coorg
– by Lokesh Abrol
This part of the chapter is a pen-portrait of Coorg. Coorg is a coffee growing area famous for its rain forests and spices.
Chapter Summary
A Heaven called Coorg
Coorg or Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka that lies between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. It is a land of rolling stones that is inhabited by martial men, beautiful women and innumerable wild creatures.
Weather and Environment of Coorg
Coorg consists of evergreen forests which covers 30% of the district along with coffee and spice plantations.
The best time to visit Coorg in September and continues till March. During tl e, the weather is pleasant with some amount of rainfall and the smell of coffee all around. With coffee estates and colonial bungalows hidden in corners the landscape seems like heaven on Earth.
The Origin of People of Coorg
The people of Coorg are possibly descendents of Greeks or Arabs. It is believed that Alexander’s army moved South along the coast and settled there, when they were unable to return to their country. These people married among the locals and their culture can be seen in their martial traditions, ‘marriages and religious rites.
The theory of the Arab descent can be proved by their traditional clothes. The Kodavus (residents of Coorg) wear a long black coat with an embroidered waist belt known as Kuppia. It resembles Kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.
Hospitality and Bravery Tales of Kodavus
Kodavus are known for their hospitality. Also, there are many tales of bravery related to the people of Coorg. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army.
The first Chief of the Indian-Army, General Cariappa was a Coorgi. Even today Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to Carry Firearms without a licence.
River Kaveri and Wildlife in Coorg
The river Kaveri originates in the hills of Coorg. In the waters of the river, a large freshwater fish, Mahaseer can be found in abundance.
The land of Coorg is a home to a number of birds and animals including kingfishers, squirrels, langurs, elephants, slender loris, macaques, bees, butterflies, etc.
Tourism in Coorg
Coorg offers many adventurous activities such as river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, mountain biking and trekking. One can have a panoramic view of the entire Coorg by climbing the Brahmagiri hills. Other interesting places are the Nisargadhama and the largest Tibetan settlement of Buddhist monks at Bylakuppe.
III. Tea from Assam
This part of the chapter is about tea plantations in Assam.
– by Arup Kumar Datta
Chapter Summary
Pranjol and Rajvir Visit to Assam
Pranjol and Rajvir were classmates studying in the same school in Delhi. Pranjol belonged to Assam where his father was the Manager of a tea garden.
He had invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer vacation. So, both of them were travelling to Assam by train. When the train had stopped on the way at a station, they bought tea from a vendor and started sipping it.
Popularity of Tea and Tea Gardens
While sipping tea, Rajvir told Pranjol that over 80 crore cups of tea drunk everyday around the world. It is, thus, a very popular drink.
As the train started moving, Rajvir looked out of the window. He was amazed to see the beautiful scenery of grenery outside. The soft rice fields gave way to tea bushes. Rajvir was fascinated by the vast stretch of the tea bushes.
On the other hand, Pranjol was reading his detective book. Pranjol was born and bought up in a tea plantation and thus was not as excited. However, he told Rajvir that Assam has the largest concentration of tea plantations in the world.
Rajvir’s Knowledge of Tea
Rajvir told Pranjol that there are many legends or stories about the discovery of tea. According to a legend, a Chinese emperor discovered tea when he was boiling water for
drinking.
When the water was put to boil, a few leaves of the twigs (stems) burning under the pot fell into the water. Thus, the boiled water got a delicious taste. It is believed that they were tea leaves.
Rajvir further told Pranjol that Tea was first drunk in China in 2700 BC and the words like ‘tea’, ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are also Chinese. He also mentioned that tea first came to Europe in the sixteenth century and it was drunk more as medicine than as a beverage.
Rajvir also told Pranjol about another legend from India which said that Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist monk, cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plantations grew out of his eyelids. It is believed that the leaves of these plants, when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.
At the Dhekiabari Tea Plantation
Rajvir and Pranjol reached the Mariani Junction where Pranjol’s parents received them. In car, they went to Dhekiabari, the tea estate managed by Pranjol’s father.
On both the sides of the road, there were huge acres of tea ‘bushes. Groups of tea-pluckers with bamboo baskets on their ‘backs and wearing plastic aprons were plucking the newly sprouted leaves. Looking at the tea-pluckers, Rajvir told Pranjol’s father that it was the second flush or sprouting season. He also told him that this season lasts from May to July and yields the best tea. Rajvir’s knowledge surprises Pranjol’s father to which Rajvir tells him that he expects to learn more there.
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