Chapter 5 – Part III: Tea from Assam
by Arup Kumar Datta
Textual Questions (Page No. 93)
Q1. What legends are associated with the discovery of tea?
Ans. Two main legends are associated with tea:
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One Chinese legend says that tea was discovered by Emperor Shen Nung when some tea leaves accidentally fell into the hot water he was boiling.
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An Indian legend says that Buddhist monk Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids to stay awake while meditating, and from those eyelids grew tea plants.
Q2. What are the various legends about the origin of tea?
Ans. Apart from the Chinese and Indian legends, tea is also associated with the Japanese practice of drinking it for meditation and health. These stories, though mythical, show tea’s ancient cultural importance.
Q3. What are the places mentioned in the lesson that are known for tea plantations?
Ans. Assam and Darjeeling in India are mentioned as famous tea-growing regions. Assam, especially, is known for its vast tea plantations.
Q4. Which story do you find more interesting—the Chinese emperor’s discovery or the Indian legend?
Ans. (Open-ended) Many may find the Indian legend of Bodhidharma cutting off his eyelids fascinating for its dramatic imagery. Others may prefer the Chinese emperor’s story for its simplicity.
Extra Questions & Answers
Short Answer Type
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Who were Rajvir and Pranjol?
Rajvir was a schoolboy visiting Assam for the first time, while Pranjol was his classmate, the son of a tea estate manager in Assam. -
How does Rajvir describe the popularity of tea?
He says more than eighty crore cups of tea are drunk daily across the world, making it the most popular drink. -
What legends about tea does Rajvir share?
The Chinese legend of Emperor Shen Nung and the Indian legend of Bodhidharma’s eyelids. -
What did Rajvir see on the way to Assam?
He saw vast stretches of tea plantations and women plucking tea leaves with bamboo baskets on their backs. -
When was tea first drunk in Europe?
Tea reached Europe in the sixteenth century and was initially used as medicine.
Long Answer Type
Q1. How does the story present the cultural and historical significance of tea?
Ans. Tea from Assam presents tea not just as a beverage but as a cultural and historical phenomenon. Rajvir explains that tea is the world’s most popular drink, consumed daily in huge numbers. The story recounts fascinating legends about its discovery, from China’s Emperor Shen Nung to India’s Bodhidharma. Historically, tea was used in China as early as 2700 B.C. and reached Europe in the sixteenth century. Through Rajvir’s excitement, the reader learns about tea’s global journey. At the same time, the description of Assam’s tea plantations and women plucking leaves shows its economic and cultural significance in India. Thus, the story connects myth, history, and present-day reality, highlighting tea’s central role in human society.
Q2. How does the train journey in the story become educational for the reader?
Ans. The train journey with Rajvir and Pranjol is not just a simple ride but an exploration of India’s tea culture. Rajvir, though visiting Assam for the first time, is knowledgeable about tea’s history, legends, and popularity. He shares these with Pranjol and, through him, with the reader. As the train passes through Assam, readers experience the beauty of endless tea plantations, with women plucking fresh leaves. This combination of travel, conversation, and observation makes the journey educational. It provides insights into the origin of tea, its spread across the world, and its economic importance in Assam. Thus, the story transforms a simple train journey into an informative lesson about one of the most important beverages in human history.
Summary of the Story
Tea from Assam by Arup Kumar Datta is both a travel account and an informative essay about the world of tea. It combines a simple journey of two boys with fascinating facts and legends about one of the world’s most popular beverages.
The story begins with two friends, Rajvir and Pranjol, travelling by train to Assam. Pranjol, who is from Assam, is already familiar with tea plantations, while Rajvir, though new to the region, is excited to learn about it. As they sip tea bought from a vendor, Rajvir shares interesting information about tea, showing his enthusiasm and knowledge.
Rajvir explains that tea is the most popular drink in the world, with over eighty crore cups consumed daily. He recounts the legends associated with its discovery. The Chinese legend credits Emperor Shen Nung with its discovery when leaves accidentally fell into boiling water. The Indian legend associates tea with Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk, who cut off his eyelids to fight sleep during meditation; tea plants are said to have sprung from them. Rajvir also mentions that tea was first used in China as early as 2700 B.C., and it reached Europe in the sixteenth century, initially as medicine.
As the train moves deeper into Assam, Rajvir marvels at the endless stretches of tea plantations, describing them as “a sea of tea bushes.” He notices women plucking fresh leaves and filling bamboo baskets, a scene that reflects the culture and economy of Assam.
Pranjol, being a native, takes all this as normal, while Rajvir’s excitement highlights the beauty and uniqueness of the landscape. The narrative blends the simple joy of a train journey with the educational aspect of tea’s history and production.
The story ends as the boys arrive at Pranjol’s home in Assam, near the tea estate where his father works as a manager. Rajvir looks forward eagerly to learning more about tea cultivation and industry.
Thematically, the story highlights:
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The cultural significance of tea in India and across the world.
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The blend of history, legend, and modern-day reality.
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Assam’s central role in India’s tea industry.
Stylistically, the story is light and conversational but informative. It entertains while teaching readers about tea’s discovery, legends, and production.
In conclusion, Tea from Assam is not just a travel sketch but also a celebration of India’s natural wealth and cultural traditions. It teaches readers to appreciate the everyday cup of tea as something with a rich history and global importance.
✒️ Biography of Arup Kumar Datta
Arup Kumar Datta (born 1946) is an acclaimed Indian author, journalist, and academic from Assam. He is best known for his fiction and non-fiction works that highlight the culture, history, and environment of North-East India.
Datta was born and raised in Guwahati, Assam. After completing his education at Cotton College, he studied English literature at Delhi University. He then worked as a teacher and journalist, while also writing extensively.
His first major success came with the adventure novel The Kaziranga Trail (1978), which won the Shankar’s Award and was later translated into many languages. The book drew attention to the Kaziranga National Park and its wildlife, especially the one-horned rhinoceros, raising awareness about conservation.
Over the years, Datta has written more than 20 books, including fiction for children, travelogues, and works on history and culture. His writings often combine storytelling with social and environmental themes. Some of his well-known works include The Blind Witness, The Adventure Stories of Northeast India, and The Brahmaputra: The Story of India’s Greatest River.
In Tea from Assam, included in NCERT textbooks, Datta combines fact and narrative to introduce readers to the tea culture of Assam. He skillfully weaves legends, history, and descriptions of plantations into the story of two boys travelling by train. This reflects his ability to inform while entertaining, a hallmark of his style.
Datta has received numerous awards for his contributions, including the Padma Shri in 2018 for literature and education. His works remain influential in highlighting the richness of North-East India, both its natural beauty and its cultural heritage.
Today, Arup Kumar Datta is regarded as one of the most important literary figures from Assam. His stories not only entertain but also educate readers about environmental conservation, history, and the unique traditions of India’s North-East.