Chapter 5 – Part III: Tea from Assam

by Arup Kumar Datta

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Textual Questions (Page No. 93)

Q1. What legends are associated with the discovery of tea?
Ans. Two main legends are associated with tea:

• 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.

• 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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. What legends about tea does Rajvir share?
   The Chinese legend of Emperor Shen Nung and the Indian legend of Bodhidharma’s eyelids.

4. 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.

5. When was tea first drunk in Europe?
   Tea reached Europe in the sixteenth century and was initially used as medicine.

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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:

• The cultural significance of tea in India and across the world.

• The blend of history, legend, and modern-day reality.

• 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.

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✒️ 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.

Chapter 5 – Part I: A Baker from Goa

by Lucio Rodrigues

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Textual Questions (Page No. 86)

Q1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
Ans. The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old days of the Portuguese rule, when there was great importance given to bakers and their bread. They fondly recall the traditional loaves, cakes, and the role bakers played in village life.

Q2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
Ans. Yes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. The narrator notes that the tradition continues even after the Portuguese have gone, and the bakers are still recognised and respected in Goan villages.

Q3. What is the baker called?
Ans. The baker is called a 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 in the morning with his jingling bamboo and again later. Children ran to meet him in the morning because they expected bread bangles, sweet bread, or special treats.

Q5. Match the following: (The first one is done for you.)

Answer:

• (i) Pader → (a) Baker

• (ii) Bolinhas → (e) Bol, sweet bread for special occasions

• (iii) Staff → (c) The baker’s bamboo

• (iv) Bread-bangles → (d) Children longed to eat those

• (v) Marriage gifts → (b) Sweet bread

Extra Questions & Answers

Short Answer Type

1. What is the role of the baker in Goan culture?
   The baker is central to daily life and celebrations. Bread, cakes, and bol are indispensable at marriages, festivals, and family gatherings.

2. What did children look forward to from the baker?
   They eagerly awaited bread-bangles and sweet treats.

3. What is the baker’s staff described as?
   A bamboo staff that jingled, announcing the baker’s arrival.

4. What is the baker’s traditional dress called?
   It was called the kabai, a single-piece frock reaching the knees.

5. How can one recognise a baker even today?
   By his plump physique and round belly, a sign of prosperity.

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Long Answer Type

Q1. Describe the significance of the baker in Goan life as presented in the essay.
Ans. The baker in Goan life is not just a tradesman but a cultural icon. He plays a vital role in everyday life as well as in special occasions. Bread is a staple at every household meal, but during weddings, the sweet bread bol is indispensable. Cakes, sandwiches, and biscuits prepared from his loaves mark festivals like Christmas. Children, on the other hand, eagerly await his morning visit to receive bread-bangles and sweets. His arrival is heralded by the jingling bamboo staff, a sound that brings excitement to households. The baker also has a distinct appearance, wearing the traditional kabai and maintaining a prosperous physique. The essay shows that bakers were financially well-off and socially respected. Thus, the baker symbolises both livelihood and festivity in Goa.

Q2. “A Baker from Goa is a nostalgic sketch.” Discuss.
Ans. Lucio Rodrigues writes the essay with fondness and nostalgia. He recalls the Portuguese days when bread was introduced to Goa, and how the baker became a beloved part of village life. The essay paints a vivid picture of mornings filled with excitement at the baker’s arrival, children running for bread-bangles, and families preparing for celebrations. Rodrigues notes that even after the Portuguese left, the tradition of bread-making and the presence of bakers continues. His humorous description of the bakers’ appearance and attire adds to the charm. The essay is not merely informative but a heartfelt remembrance of the joy, simplicity, and cultural richness of Goan society. It is this nostalgic tone that makes the essay delightful and memorable.

Summary of the Story

A Baker from Goa by Lucio Rodrigues is a nostalgic account of the tradition of bread-making in Goa, a practice introduced by the Portuguese and still cherished by Goans today. The story highlights the cultural significance of bakers, the joyous memories of childhood, and the continuing presence of this unique tradition in Goan society.

The narrator begins by recalling the days of Portuguese rule in Goa when the baker, or pader, was an essential figure in every village. Even though the Portuguese have left, their legacy continues in the form of bread-making, which remains an integral part of Goan culture.

The baker was not just a tradesman but a vital part of social and family life. His arrival every morning was a much-anticipated event. The jingling bamboo staff he carried announced his presence, and children rushed eagerly to meet him. For them, the most delightful treats were bread-bangles, sweet loaves, and special goodies. These were far more exciting than any fancy food because they represented joy and indulgence in their simple lives.

Bread was also central to important occasions. During marriages, the sweet bread called bol was indispensable. Cakes and sandwiches made from bread were prepared during Christmas and other festive occasions. In fact, no celebration was considered complete without the baker’s products.

The baker’s visits were not only memorable for the children but also for the entire household. The maidservants purchased loaves, while the children cherished the small pieces given to them. This created a sense of community, where the baker’s arrival was more than a commercial exchange—it was a cultural event.

The narrator fondly remembers the bakers’ distinctive attire: a special frock-like garment called the kabai. It was a single-piece, knee-length dress, giving the bakers a unique identity. In modern times, the bakers wear simple trousers and shirts, but the tradition of their service continues.

Bakers were not just respected but also financially stable. Their families were often well-fed and content. The narrator humorously remarks that one could always recognise a baker by his physical appearance—he had a plump physique with a prominent “jackfruit-like belly,” a sign of prosperity.

Through these recollections, the author brings out the cultural bond between the people of Goa and the bakers. The baker was not merely a provider of food but a symbol of festivity, comfort, and community. His presence was woven into the daily routines and special occasions of Goan life.

Thematically, the story highlights nostalgia, tradition, and cultural continuity. It shows how colonial influences left lasting impressions on local traditions. The baker symbolises both heritage and joy, reminding us of the importance of simple pleasures and community ties.

In conclusion, A Baker from Goa is more than a story about bread. It is about memories, traditions, and the cultural identity of Goa. It teaches us that some traditions, though simple, hold deep significance and remain timeless.

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✒️ Biography of Lucio Rodrigues

Lucio Rodrigues (1916–1973) was a noted Goan essayist, teacher, and folklorist who made significant contributions to Indian English literature. Born in South Goa, Rodrigues grew up in a culturally rich environment influenced by both Portuguese colonial heritage and traditional Goan life. This duality shaped much of his writing, which often focused on Goan culture, folklore, and traditions.

Rodrigues worked as a teacher of English Literature in colleges across Goa and later in Mumbai. He was admired not only for his teaching but also for his engaging essays that captured the essence of Goan life. He wrote extensively about the customs, traditions, and everyday experiences of the Goan people, giving readers insights into a unique cultural landscape.

His essays were published in reputed journals and periodicals such as The Illustrated Weekly of India, The Times of India, and The Hindu. Through these writings, Rodrigues became an important voice in portraying the socio-cultural life of Goa during and after Portuguese rule.

A Baker from Goa, included in NCERT’s First Flight, is one of his most popular essays. It highlights the lasting legacy of the Portuguese—the tradition of bread-making—and reflects on its role in Goan society. With a mix of humour, nostalgia, and vivid description, Rodrigues brings alive the image of the baker, the village community, and the joy associated with bread.

As a folklorist, Rodrigues was dedicated to preserving Goan cultural traditions, which were at risk of fading under modernisation. His writings serve as valuable records of Goan social life, celebrations, and practices.

Although he did not produce a large volume of work, the quality and authenticity of his essays earned him recognition in the field of Indian English literature. He is often remembered for his ability to turn everyday details into memorable cultural narratives.

Lucio Rodrigues passed away in 1973, but his legacy endures through his essays, which continue to be studied in schools and colleges. His works not only preserve Goan heritage but also remind readers of the importance of valuing local culture and traditions.