Class 10 ENGLISH GLIMPSES OF INDIA - II. COORG

 II. COORG- by Lokesh Abrol

 TEXTUAL QUESTIONS: 

 Q1: Where is Coorg? 

 Answer: Coorg or Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka that is located midway between Mysore and Mangalore. 

 Q2: What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent? 

 Answer: The fiercely independent people of Coorg are believed to be the descendants of people of Greek or Arabic origin. As the story goes, a section of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there when they could not return to their country. These people married amongst the locals and their culture is apparent in the martial traditions, marriage and religious rites, which are distinct from the Hindu mainstream. This is the beautiful story about the Kodavu people’s descent.

Q3: What are some of the things you now know about

 (i) the people of Coorg? 

 (ii) the main crop of Coorg? 

 (iii) the sports it offers to tourists? 

 (iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg? 

 (v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there? 

 Answer: (i) The Coorgi or Kodagu people are fiercely independent people comprising martial men and beautiful women who are believed to have descended from the Greeks or the Arabs. They have a strong tradition of hospitality and they are more than willing to recount numerous tales of bravery that are related to the men of this region. As a matter of fact, the Kodavus are the only people in India who are permitted to carry firearms without a licence. 

 (ii) Coffee is the main crop of Coorg. The air smells of invigorating coffee. Coffee estates and colonial bungalows stand tucked under tree canopies in prime corners of the town. 

 (iii) Coorg offers a variety of high-energy adventure sports that include river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, mountain biking and trekking. 

 (iv) The animals that you are likely to see in Coorg include Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs, slender lorises, wild elephants, etc. You can also see birds, bees and butterflies giving you company around the corner. 

 (v) By road, Coorg is around 250 – 260 kilometres from Bangalore and there are two routes to reach there. One route is via Mysore, which is the most frequented one. The other route is via Neelamangal, Kunigal and Chanrayanapatna.

EXTRA

I. Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow:

1. Midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore sits a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the kingdom of God. This land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race of martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures. Coorg or Kodargu, the smallest district of Karnataka, is home to evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations. Evergreen rainforests cover 30% of this district. During the monsoons, it pours enough to keep many visitors away. The season of joy commences from September and continues till March. The weather is perfect with some showers thrown in for good measure. 

 (a) Where is Coorg situated?

 (b) What does the author say about the people of Coorg?

 (c) Which crops grow in Coorg in plenty?

 (d) What is the best time of the year to visit Coorg ?

 Answer: (a) Coorg is situated between coastal town of Mangalore and Mysore.

 (b) The author says that Coorg is inhabited by a proud race of martial men and beautiful women.

 (c) Spices and coffee grow in plenty in Coorg. 

 (d)The best period to visit Coorg is between September and March. 

II. SHORT QUESTION AND ANSWERS: 

Q1. Describe Coorg in brief, as presented in the opening paragraph.

Answer: Coorg is situated midway between Mysore and Mangalore and is described as a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the kingdom of god. It is also described as a land of rolling hills, martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures.

 Q2. Where is Coorg situated? What is so significant about it as a place deserving to be visited? 

 Answer: Coorg is situated midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore in the state of Karnataka. It is a land of rolling hills, martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures. There are evergreen rainforests and sprawling coffee estates. It is also an ideal place for adventure sports. So, it deserves to be visited. 

 Q3. Describe the Coorgi people and their descent. 

 Answer: The Coorgi people are fiercely independent, brave and decorative. According to one theory, they are of Greek descent. It is said that they are the successors of a part of Alexander’s army who came to Southern India and settled there when return became impractical. According to another theory, they are of Arab descent. There is resemblance between Kuppia that the Coorgi people wear and Kuffia that the Arabs and Kurds wear. 

 Q4. What is Kuppia and Kuffia? 

 Answer: Kuppia is the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus, i.e., Coorgi people. Kuffia is traditionally worn by the Arabs and the Kurds. 

 Q5. Explain in brief about the Coorgi people’s valour and bravery. 

 Answer: The Coorgi people are fiercely independent and brave. They are always willing to recount the tales of valour related to their sons and fathers. They are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license. 

 Q6. How is the wildlife of Coorg? 

 Answer: Coorg has a bountiful and varied wildlife. It has fish like the Mahaseer, birds like kingfisher and animals like Malabar squirrel, langur, macaque, slender loris and elephant. Besides, bees and butterflies are also to be seen there.   

Q7. What are the high energy adventures that are available in Coorg? 

 Answer: The high energy adventures that are available in Coorg are river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking. 

 Q8. Describe the animals that can be seen and are available in Coorg. 

 Answer: In Coorg, squirrels and langurs drop partially eaten fruit for the mischief of enjoying the splash and the ripple effect in the clear water. Elephants enjoy being bathed and scrubbed in the river by their mahouts. Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and slender loris keep a watchful eye from the tree canopy.

 Q9. Describe the Tibetan settlement in Coorg. 

 Answer: 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.  

III. LONG TYPE QUESTIONS:

Q1. Why does the author call Coorg a piece of heaven’ that must have drifted from the kingdom of God? 

 Answer: Coorg is among the most beautiful regions of India. The author rightly calls it „a piece of heaven‟ that must have drifted from the kingdom of God. This land of rolling hills it is also the home of beautiful rain-forests. The rainforests cover more than thirty per cent of Coorg. The evergreen rain forests have a rich flora and fauna. The very air of Coorg breathes of fresh coffee. The beautiful sprawling coffee estates are dotted with colonial bungalows. The river Kaveri obtains its water from the hills and rainforests of Coorg. Kingfishers dive for Mahaseer, a large freshwater fish in these waters. Squirrels and langurs drop partially eaten fruit into the clear water. Elephants enjoy being bathed and scrubbed in the Kaveri by their mahouts. The climb to the Brahmagiri hills gives you a panoramic view of the entire misty landscape of Coorg. The sixty-four-acre island of Nisargadhama is a little paradise for tourists. So are the temples and Buddhist monks wearing red, ochre and yellow robes? All of them represent the heart and soul of India. 

 Q2. ‘Coorg’ seems to share a lot of historical perspectives. Is knowing such kind of historical knowledge important for us ? 

 Answer: In the lesson ‘Coorg’, the author tells us that the Coorgi people are descendants of either the Greeks or the Arabs. He says that they could have Greek origin because there was a legend that a part of Alexander’s army had moved to south and settled here. According to another legend, they had Arab origin because of the dresses they wore. The author also tells us that the first General of the Indian Army, General Cariappa was a Coorg. It is important for us to know about the deep rooted cultural background of our country and heritage so that we become aware of the fact that our culture has always welcomed people from other cultures and absorbed them into its own. This spreads the message of being tolerant which is very important in today’s world when the world is torn with war because of these ethnic reasons.