Glimpses of India - Tea from Assam

Glimpses of India - Tea from Assam

About the Author: Arup Kumar Dutta

Arup Kumar Dutta (born 1946) is an Indian writer and journalist based out of Guwahati in Assam. He has written 16 books for adults and 17 adventure novels for young people. He is a “Padma Shri” awardee.

About the Lesson

The lesson tells us about two friends- Pranjol and Rajvir. Pranjol is from Assam and Rajvir is from Delhi. They are going to Pranjol’s hometown in Assam for their summer vacation. Assam is known as the ‘tea country’. It has the largest concentration of tea plantations in the world. During their journey they discuss about the various ‘legends’ that are known to have discovered tea.  The story is about the worldwide popularity of tea as a beverage.

 Summary

The story tells us about the popular beverage ‘tea’. It informs us about the history and discovery of tea. It begins as two friends Pranjol and Rajvir begin their train journey set to go to Assam, to Pranjol’s home to spend their summer vacation. They find that several passengers are enjoying freshly made tea sold by a vendor. Pranjol reads a detective book and Rajvir enjoys the scenic beauty. Soft green paddy fields and tea bushes cover the ground. Rajvir is very excited on seeing such large plantations of tea. Pranjol is not so excited because he was born and brought up in Assam.

Assam is famously known as the ‘Tea country’. Before going there, Rajvir read about how tea was discovered and that it dates back to 2700 B.C. Tea was first consumed in China and reached Europe in the 16th century. Tea was drunk as medicine there. 

There are numerous stories as to how it was discovered. As per one legend, a Chinese Emperor discovered tea when some leaves had fallen in his boiling water. Another legend says that Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk, threw his eyelids to avoid sleep while meditating. Tea plant sprouted out of the eyelids. 

Pranjol’s parents come to receive them and take them to their tea garden. On their way, they pass a cattle bridge and give way to a tractor filled with tea leaves.  It was the second sprouting season that yields the best tea. Rajvir does a lot of study before coming which impressed Pranjol’s father and he intends to learn a lot more.

Theme

“Tea from Assam” is written by Arup Kumar Dutta. It is an informative story about tea from the gardens of Assam.

Pranjol and Rajvir are classmates in Delhi. Pranjol is from Assam and his father is the manager of a tea garden there. Pranjol has invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer vacation. Rajvir visits Assam in a train with Pranjol. Rajvir enjoys the journey as it is his first visit. They reach Mariani junction and then at the tea garden of Pranjol’s father. Around 8 crore cups of tea are drunk every day in the whole world.

There are some interesting legends about the origin of tea. One says that a king in China was in habit of drinking water after boiling it. Few twigs fell into his boiling water. The boiled water got a unique flavor. They called it tea. Tea was first drunk in China as far back as 2700 BC. Chai & chini words have their origin in China.

Another story says that a Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma felt sleepy while meditating. To avoid sleeping he cut his eyelids and threw them. Few saplings sprouted out of them. The leaves banished sleep after boiling them in water and drinking the boiled water.

Tea from Assam is regarded as the best kind of tea in the whole world. The best yield comes from the second sprouting season, May to July every year.

Questions & Answers

Q1. Describe the scenery outside the train. Where were Pranjol and Rajvir going by train?

A: There was green scenery everywhere. Rajvir had never seen such greenery before. He was going to Assam with his friend, Pranjol. Pranjol’s father was working as a manager in a Tea garden. The soft green paddy fields gave way to tea bushes as they went on.

Q2. What did they see on both sides of the gravel road?

A: They travelled on a gravel-road from the railway station to the tea garden. On both sides of the road, they saw acres after acre of tea bushes. They were all neatly pruned to the same height. Groups of tea-pluckers had bamboo-baskets on their back.

Q3. Why was Pranjol’s father surprised?

A: Pranjol’s father was surprised at the knowledge Rajvir had about tea. Rajvir impressed him as he said that it was the second flush or sprouting period from May to July and yielded the best tea. 

Q4.  At which station did the boys stop and who received them?

A: The boys got down at Mariani junction and Pranjol’s parents received them.

Q5. What are the two Legends about Tea?

A:   Chinese legend:

A Chinese emperor always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves of branches burning under the pot fell into the water. It gave the water a delicious flavor. These were tea leaves.

Indian legend:

Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of his eyelids. These leaves when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.

Grammar Exercises

1. Look at these words: upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in. They are built up from a verb (keep, pour, go, drop, walk) and an adverb or a particle (up, down, under, out, in). Use these words appropriately in the sentences below. You may consult a dictionary.

1. A heavy __________ has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
2. Rakesh will __________ major surgery tomorrow morning.
3. My brother is responsible for the __________ of our family property.
4. The __________ rate for this accountancy course is very high.
5. She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a __________ interview.

Answers

1. A heavy downpour has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
2. Rakesh will undergo major surgery tomorrow morning.
3. My brother is responsible for the upkeep of our family property.
4. The dropout rate for this accountancy course is very high.
5. She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a walk-in interview.

2. Now fill in the blanks in the sentences given below by combining the verb given in brackets with one of the words from the box as appropriate.

Over, by, through, out, up, down

1. The Army attempted unsuccessfully to __________ the Government. (throw)
2. Scientists are on the brink of a major __________ in cancer research. (break)
3. The State Government plans to build a __________ for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass)
4. Gautama’s__________ on life changed when he realized that the world is full of sorrow. (look)
5. Rakesh seemed unusually__________ after the game. (cast)

Answers

1. The Army attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow the Government. (throw)
2. Scientists are on the brink of a major breakthrough in cancer research. (break)
3. The State Government plans to build a by-pass for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass)
4. Gautama’s outlook on life changed when he realized that the world is full of sorrow. (look)
5. Rakesh seemed unusually downcast after the game. (cast)

3. Think of suitable -ing or -ed adjectives to answer the following questions. You may also use words from those given above. How would you describe

1. a good detective serial on television?
2. a debate on your favourite topic ‘Homework Should Be Banned’?
3. how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain?
4. how you feel when you open a present?
5. how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television?
6. the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue?
7. how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest?
8.  the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen?

Answers

1. a good detective serial on television? Interesting
2. a debate on your favourite topic ‘Homework Should Be Banned’? Exciting
3. how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain? Bored
4. how you feel when you open a present? Excited
5. how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television? Interested
6. the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue? Tired
7. how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest? Thrilled
8.  the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen? Boring