GRADE 10 – 2022-23

MAIN COURSE BOOK – FIRST FLIGHT

Chapter 7: Glimpses of India - COORG
Content
Objectives of learning
Theme
Summary
Question/Answers to be attempted in N.B
Textual exercise
Video link
M.C.Q link

Instructions:
The notes given here are to be done in your notebook. It’ll be highly appreciated if you frame your
own answers rather than merely copying the given ones. You may use the given points as cues to
frame your own answers.
Follow the instructions, given in red, on what all needs to be copied in N.B & copy only those.
Do read and learn the other Q/A too for they are equally important.
Do not forget to date your notes and update the index.
You need to make a separate notebook for Supplementary Reader.
A 100pages N.B would be sufficient.

Learning Objectives:
• To familiarize the students with a tourist place of India.
• To make them feel the beauty of Coorg.
• To enable them about the geography of Coorg.
• To make them aware of the people of Coorg.
• To tell them about its location,historical background, climate etc.
• To tell them about its famous tourist spot and destinations.
• To enable the learners to read and identify the main points of the text.
• To enable them to use new words and their meanings.
• To test the students’ ability to comprehend.

About the Author:(To be done in N.B)

Lokesh Abrol is a renowned doctor by profession. He established the first multispeciality hospital
in the sector of gurgaon . He is also a social worker. He established the first stray cow shelter in
gurgaon. He is a popular internal medicine specialist in civil lines.

Theme:(To be done in N.B)

The writer has depicted the beauty of Coorg which is the smallest district of Karnataka. It attracts
many visitors as it is in the lap of nature. This place is more fascinating because of the sweet
aroma of a variety of spices. Today this culture is a mixture of Greek or Arab and the local people.
Coorgi people are known for their valour and boasts of the most decorated army personnel. It
abounds in flora and fauna. The Brahmagiri hills present a panoramic view. The fascinating
beauty of Coorg refreshes one’s heart and soul.

Summary:(Reading)
• Coorg, the smallest district is situated between Mysore and Mangalore.

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• It is situated in hills and inhabited by martial men and women.

• Coorg is also known as Kodagu.

• There are evergreen forests, spices and coffee plantations and colonial bungalows.

• The people are descendants of Greeks and Arabs.

• A story goes that a part of Alexander’s army stayed back and married local women. So, the
present race is a mixture of both cultures.

• They wear long black coats, embroidered waists belts. Their dress relates them to Arabs and
Kurds.

• The people are brave, hospitable and are proud to tell about the bravery of their forefathers.

• The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army.

• The first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa was a Coorgi.

• Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a licence.

• The river Kaveri gets water from the hills of Coorg. A fish Mahasheer abounds in this water.

• Animals like Langurs drop partially eaten fruit in water. Kingfishers dive in it, elephants are
bathed in it.
• River-rafting, travelling in a boat, rock-climbing make life adventurous.

• Wild elephants , butterflies and squirrels draw our attention.

• The entire Coorg can be seen by climbing Brahmgiri hills.

• The island of Nisargadham and Buddisht settlement at Bylakuppe are interesting places.

Question / Answers READING

Q1. Where is Coorg?Why is Coorg called the land of the rolling hills?
A. Coorg is the smallest district of Karnataka and is located midway between Mysore and the
coastal city of Mangalore.It is a land of rolling hills and picturesque landscape. Coorg is a coffee
country famous for its hills, rainforests and spices. It is surrounded by hills and covered with
rainforests. Because of numerous hills, the city is also called the land of rolling hills.
Q2. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?
A. It is said that the Kodavus are of either Greek or Arabic descent. According to one story, a part
of Alexander’s army could not return to its homeland and so, settled there. As the traditional

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 dress of the Kodavus, Kuppia is similar to the dress of the Arabs and Kurds, the Kuffia, it is said
that probably the Kodavus are descendants of the Arabs.
To be done in N/B:

Q3. What are some of the things you now know about…

i.The people of Coorg?

A. People of Coorg are known to be descendants of the Greeks or the Arabs. According to one
story, the people of Coorg are the descent of Greek. The army of Alexander settled here and
expanded their families by marrying the locals. According to another belief, the people of
Coorg are the descent of the Arabs as their dress resembles the Kuffia worn by the Arabs.
They are independent and ferocious. They are the bravest soldiers in the Indian Army. At
the same time, they are welcoming and are known for their hospitality. They have married
amongst their locals and their culture is very different from what is seen in mainstream
Hindus.

ii.The main crop of Coorg?

A. Coffee is the main crop of Coorg. During the monsoon season, when the weather is pleasant
and the wind is blowing, it carries with it the strong fragrance of coffee. Coffee estates with
colonial bungalows are abundant and even provide homestays for visitors to experience the
Coorgi way of life.

iii.The animals you are likely to see in Coorg?

A. Fishes like Mahaseer are found in the waters of the river Kaveri. Birds like Kingfisher and other
animals like squirrels, langurs, butterflies, bees accompany you in this area while wild elephants
can be seen enjoying bathing in the rivers. If you are on a trek, Macaques, Malabar squirrels,
langurs and slender loris can be spotted on the trees.

iv.Its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?

I. A.Coorg is at a distance of 260 kms from Bangalore. The nearest airports are Mangalore
(135 km) and Bangalore (260 km). There are flights to Mangalore from Mumbai, and to
Bangalore from Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai
and Pune. The nearest railheads are at Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan. There are two
routes to Coorg from Bangalore. Both are almost the same distance (around 250-260 km).
The route via Mysore is the most frequented one. The other route is via Neelamangal,
Kunigal, Chanrayanapatna.
v.Describe the Tibetan settlement in Coorg.
Ans: In the sixty-four-acre island of Nisargadhama in Coorg, there is a Tibetan settlement near
Bylakuppe. The monks can be seen in red, ochre and yellow robes.

Q4.What is the most suitable weather for the visitors to visit Coorg? Why? What’s the sports it
offers to tourists?
Answer:
The most suitable weather for the visitors begins in the month of September and continues till
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March. Coorg is covered with rainforests which keep the visitors away during the monsoon. The
weather is – perfect during the months of September to May.A. A variety of high-energy
adventure activities are offered to tourists like river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing
and mountain biking. Trekking is also one of the famous activities.
Q6.What are the two contradictory traits of the character of the Kodavus?
Answer:
The people of Coorg are peace-loving people. They are known for their hospitality and tradition.
On the other hand, they are also known for their bravery. They are the only people in India who
are permitted to carry firearms without a license.

Q7.Why are the Kodavus permitted to carry firearms without a licence?

Answer:
Kodavus, the people of Coorg, are known for their loyalty and bravery. The Coorg regiment is one
of the most celebrated regiments in the Indian Army. The people of Coorg are the only one in
India who are allowed to carry firearms without licence.

Q8.The Coorgis are known for their hospitality. They are friendly and caring. Which of their
qualities one must inculcate in one’s life? What makes them so loveable?
Answer:
Coorgis are well known for their courage, bravery and hospitality. They are very warm people
who entertain and look after their guests as family members. They are always willing to recount
numerous tales of valour when in the company of their guests. It shows that they want their
guests to feel at home by sharing the tales from their lives. We learn to be friendly, caring and
sensitive to the need of others. They follow the age-old Indian tradition of ‘Athithi Devo Bhav’.
Guests are not considered as burden. They provide them with all the comforts, and make them
feel at home. The warmth in their behaviour makes them loveable.

Textual Exercise:
Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the ext that have the same
meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated)
(i) During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (para 2)
Answer: During the monsoons, it pours enough to keep many visitors away.
(ii) Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there. (para 3)
Answer: As one story goes, a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled
here when return became impractical.
(iii) The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their sons’ and fathers’ valour. (para 4)
Answer: Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality, and they are more than willing to recount
numerous tales of valour related to their sons and fathers.
(iv) Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high-energy adventure
sports of Coorg. (para 6)
Answer: The most laidback individuals become converts to the life of high-energy adventure with
river rafting.

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(v) The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they
wear. (para 3)
Answer: The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with an embroidered
waist-belt worn by the Kodavus.
(vi) Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy.
Answer: Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and slender loris keep a watchful eye from the tree
canopy.
Thinking About Language (Page 93)

Certain words ‘go together’. Such ‘word friends’ are called collocations. The collocation of a word
is ‘the company it keeps’. For example, look at the paired sentences and phrases below. Which is a
common collocation, and which one is odd? Strike out the odd sentence or phrase.
Questions.
1. ‘How old are you?’
‘How young are you?’
2. a pleasant person a pleasant pillow
Answers:
1. The odd sentence is ‘How young are you?’
2. The odd phrase is ‘a pleasant pillow’.

Question 1.
Here are some nouns from the text,
‘culture’ ‘monks’ ‘surprise’ ‘experience’ ‘weather’ ‘tradition’
Work with a partner and discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of the adjectives
given below. The first one has been done for you.
‘unique’ ‘terrible’ ‘unforgettable’ ‘serious’ ‘ancient’ ‘wide’ ‘sudden’
Questions.
1. culture : unique culture, ancient culture
2. monks : _____________
3. surprise: ___________
4. experience: __________
5. weather: ___________
6. tradition: ___________
Answer:
2. serious monks, unique monks
3. unique surprise, sudden surprise, unforgettable surprise, terrible surprise
4. unique experience, terrible experience, unforgettable experience, sudden experience
5. terrible weather, unforgettable weather
6. unique tradition, ancient tradition

Question 2.
2. Complete the following phrases from the text. For each phrase, can you find at least one other
word that would fit into the blank?
Missing Alternate word
1. tales of __________ ___________
2. coastal __________ ___________

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3. a piece of __________ ___________
4. evergreen __________ ___________
5. plantations __________ ___________
6. bridge __________ ___________
7. wild ___________ ___________

Missing Alternate word

1. valour bravery
2. town belt, village
3. heaven cake
4. rainforests jungle
5. coffee tea, banana
6. rope steel, concrete
7. creatures animals

M.C.Q Link-

https://www.successcds.net/learn-english/class-10-mcq/chapter-7-glimpses-of-india-
questions.html

Video link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TjLW6JLQ1Q&feature=emb_logo

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