CBSE Class 10 English First Flight - Glimpses of India Summary & Notes

According to the CBSE Syllabus 2023-24, this chapter has been renumbered as Chapter 5.

Summary of Glimpses of India

Chapter 7 of Class 10 English textbook, ‘First Flight’, consists of prose – Glimpses of India, which is about three stories of different tourist places in India that attract visitors from across the country for their authentic culture and specialised items. Here, we present you a summary of the prose in the form of CBSE English Notes Class 10. CBSE Class 10 students can refer to the prose summary of Glimpses of India here. They can also access the CBSE Class 10 English Prose Notes – Glimpses of India while gearing up for their Board exams.

Students can also go through CBSE Essays to improve their writing section of the English paper.

CBSE Class 10 English Glimpses of India Summary

Glimpses of India is a prose of Class 10 English that has three parts: “I. A Baker from Goa”, “II. Coorg” and “III. Tea from Assam”.

Glimpses of India Part 1: A Baker from Goa Summary

This story is written by Lucio Rodrigues, who talked about Goa, which was once ruled by the Portuguese. Due to this reason, the people of the region are swayed by the Portuguese culture. Baking was the conventional profession of the Goan people, and the bakers were known as ‘paders’ there. This story particularly revolves around the bakers living in a Goan village. The author mentioned how people in old times ate loaves of bread which were baked in large furnaces. The paders would come to sell those loaves in the street and would make a jingling sound with the bamboo whenever they arrived. He further added how the villagers enjoyed eating the loaves and bread-bangles brought in baskets for children by these bakers during his childhood.

The author also described the special attire of the bakers called Kabai, which was a single-piece frock that would reach up to their knees. Besides, he also mentioned how baking became the most profitable profession among people in Goa, and many bakers led a prosperous life, and their jackfruit-like physical appearance was a valid testimony of their well-being.

Glimpses of India Part 2: Coorg Summary

Coorg is a story written by Lokesh Abrol. He described Coorg as the smallest district of Karnataka. The author said Coorg, or Kodagu is a beautiful place that is located midway between Mangalore and Mysore. The heavenly city has evergreen forests, spices and coffee plantations and many tourists throng to this destination from September to March every year. The air of this region is filled with coffee scents. The people of this region are very independent and have some Greek or Arabic connection since the time a part of Alexander’s army had settled here permanently. They settled here and married the local people and the tradition continues to exist. The people of Coorg wear Kuppia, which is a long black coat that is quite similar to the ones worn by Arabs.

Besides, the Coorgi people are very brave. One of the most significant regiments in the Indian Army is the Coorg Regiment. Notably, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army was General Cariappa, who hailed from this beautiful place. The hilly regions and forests of Coorg are a major source of water for the Cauvery River. Visitors who are interested in high-adventure sports can have fun and frolic in this place and also explore the different types of animals particularly found in this region.

Glimpses of India Part 3: Tea from Assam Summary

Tea from Assam is a story written by Arup Kumar Datta. This is the last story of the prose, Glimpses of India. The story began with two friends, Rajvir and Pranjol, who were travelling to Assam. On their way, they bought fresh tea from a roadside vendor and discussed the special tea of this region. As they sipped the hot steaming tea, Rajvir told Pranjol that over eighty crore cups of tea are being consumed every day throughout the world. Rajvir thoroughly enjoyed the scenic beauty of Assam, consisting of tea plantations and bushes, while Pranjol was engrossed in a detective book.

Rajvir further explained to Pranjol about Assam as a place that is famous for having the largest tea plantations. However, no one knows the origin of tea in the region. According to a Chinese legend, a few leaves of tea accidentally fell into a pot of boiling hot water. The Emperor enjoyed the delicious flavour of the liquid, and that’s how tea came into being. Further, Rajvir mentioned how an Indian legend, Bodhidharma, who was a Buddhist monk, cut off his eyelids because he fell asleep during meditation. In no time, ten tea plants grew out of his eyelids and when these leaves were put in hot water, it helped in banishing sleep.

Soon, both of them arrived at Mariani Junction, picked up their luggage and made their way towards Dhekiabari Tea Estate. On their way, they saw batches of tea-pluckers who draped plastic aprons with bamboo baskets hung on their backs as they plucked the newly sprouted leaves. Pranjol’s father had come to receive both of them. Pranjol’s father was amazed at Rajvir’s knowledge about tea plantations when he heard the young boy mention the second flush or sprouting period of tea that yields the best tea. Rajvir further said that he was keen to learn more about the place from Pranjol’s father.

Conclusion of Glimpses of India

In the chapter – Glimpses of India, we learnt about the beautiful landscapes and specialities of different parts of India. There are a lot of beautiful places to explore in India itself before we make our way to explore foreign locations. We hope this CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Prose Summary of Glimpses of India helped students to have a comprehensive understanding of the chapter. Moreover, you can check BYJU’S website for CBSE Notes and CBSE study material and access sample papers, question papers, etc., for your Board exams preparation. You can also download BYJU’S: The Learning App for more interactive content.