NCERT Textbook: Glimpses of India | English Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


Let ’s Begin In the ‘Glimpses of India’ (First Flight, Class X textbook, NCERT) 
you have read about interesting people and places. India is a 
place of diversity in terms of culture, language, food, traditions, 
etc. There are many stories unknown to us about the way of life 
of people. Work in groups of four and ??nd out about the following 
in any ??ve Indian states.
• Their regional cuisine
• Dance form and music
• Art form 
• Any other information
Mark these ??ve places on a map and represent the information 
highlighting the interesting facts.
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i The following is an excerpt about the Parsi community in India 
and their food.
Read the passage and answer the questions.
“Aavoji, aavo, aavo! Welcome to Delhi! Let me show you my 
beautiful city.” The booming voice of Nowrosji Kapadia could 
be heard across the length and breadth of the platform. It was 
Nowrosji’s favourite pastime: a walk to the Old Delhi railway 
station to greet the Frontier Mail as it chugged into Delhi from 
Mumbai to Peshawar. With this refrain, an eager Nowrosji would 
cajole Parsi visitors off the train and take them home for a meal 
and often persuade some to stay overnight or for a few days. He 
?
;
Unit 
5
Glimpses of 
i ndia Unit-5.indd   57 20-02-2023   09:35:34
Reprint 2025-26
Page 2


Let ’s Begin In the ‘Glimpses of India’ (First Flight, Class X textbook, NCERT) 
you have read about interesting people and places. India is a 
place of diversity in terms of culture, language, food, traditions, 
etc. There are many stories unknown to us about the way of life 
of people. Work in groups of four and ??nd out about the following 
in any ??ve Indian states.
• Their regional cuisine
• Dance form and music
• Art form 
• Any other information
Mark these ??ve places on a map and represent the information 
highlighting the interesting facts.
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i The following is an excerpt about the Parsi community in India 
and their food.
Read the passage and answer the questions.
“Aavoji, aavo, aavo! Welcome to Delhi! Let me show you my 
beautiful city.” The booming voice of Nowrosji Kapadia could 
be heard across the length and breadth of the platform. It was 
Nowrosji’s favourite pastime: a walk to the Old Delhi railway 
station to greet the Frontier Mail as it chugged into Delhi from 
Mumbai to Peshawar. With this refrain, an eager Nowrosji would 
cajole Parsi visitors off the train and take them home for a meal 
and often persuade some to stay overnight or for a few days. He 
?
;
Unit 
5
Glimpses of 
i ndia Unit-5.indd   57 20-02-2023   09:35:34
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 58
would use this opportunity to tell them about the advantages 
of shifting to Delhi. Though his wife Jer Bai would occasionally 
object to unknown visitors, she was always overruled. This was 
the beginning of the community of Parsis in Delhi....
...Writing about Parsis in the Delhi of old is not easy. There are 
memories of my grandparents and parents — a collective memory 
of generations past and people long gone, yet here in spirit....
During festive gatherings, the women went to town with the 
food; outside catering was unheard of. The poorer members of 
the community never knew who had paid for what. This tradition 
continued in the northern cities of Lucknow, Kanpur, and 
Allahabad well into the ‘70s. Sadly, that kind of life has almost 
gone forever.
Food preparations began two days in advance. Dar ni pori (rich 
pastry stuffed with sweetened lentils) and malido (halwa) were 
carried in big vatus (pots) and served with puris. Anyone who has 
made malido can vouch for the fact that you need strong biceps; 
it is an exhausting exercise. The ??rst time I made it under my 
grandmother’s supervision was also the last. I could hardly move 
my arms for the next two days! Since then, I gained a healthy 
respect for my dainty grandmother.
The menu was extensive. Breakfast would start with either 
sev—brown vermicelli cooked in milk and served with fresh 
cream—or ravo, semolina pudding, Mithu dahi or sweetened 
curd made with full cream milk was an absolute must. This was 
followed by bafellaeeda, hard-boiled eggs, and kheemo kaleji, 
mutton mince with liver. For lunch, there was almost always 
smori dal  chawal and macchi no patio — white boiled rice with 
yellow dal offset by a tart and tangy ??sh curry.
Teatime was special at our home. My grandmother made it 
a point to dress for tea; I was made to do the same. Once we 
were ready, out came the treats: Parsi biscuits — batasa,  nan-
khatai and ??aky khari; patrel, rolled, steamed arbi leaves stuffed 
with besan masala; kumas, rich Parsi cake; and my favourite, 
bhakra, sweet deep fried doughnuts. That tradition has stayed 
with me. I certainly don’t dress up, but I still need a snack with 
at least three cups of tea!...
(Source: ‘Down Memory Lane with the Parsis of New Delhi’ 
by Shernaz Italia, The Wire)
cajole
dainty
extensive
overruled
vouch
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-5.indd   58 20-02-2023   09:35:35
Reprint 2025-26
Page 3


Let ’s Begin In the ‘Glimpses of India’ (First Flight, Class X textbook, NCERT) 
you have read about interesting people and places. India is a 
place of diversity in terms of culture, language, food, traditions, 
etc. There are many stories unknown to us about the way of life 
of people. Work in groups of four and ??nd out about the following 
in any ??ve Indian states.
• Their regional cuisine
• Dance form and music
• Art form 
• Any other information
Mark these ??ve places on a map and represent the information 
highlighting the interesting facts.
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i The following is an excerpt about the Parsi community in India 
and their food.
Read the passage and answer the questions.
“Aavoji, aavo, aavo! Welcome to Delhi! Let me show you my 
beautiful city.” The booming voice of Nowrosji Kapadia could 
be heard across the length and breadth of the platform. It was 
Nowrosji’s favourite pastime: a walk to the Old Delhi railway 
station to greet the Frontier Mail as it chugged into Delhi from 
Mumbai to Peshawar. With this refrain, an eager Nowrosji would 
cajole Parsi visitors off the train and take them home for a meal 
and often persuade some to stay overnight or for a few days. He 
?
;
Unit 
5
Glimpses of 
i ndia Unit-5.indd   57 20-02-2023   09:35:34
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 58
would use this opportunity to tell them about the advantages 
of shifting to Delhi. Though his wife Jer Bai would occasionally 
object to unknown visitors, she was always overruled. This was 
the beginning of the community of Parsis in Delhi....
...Writing about Parsis in the Delhi of old is not easy. There are 
memories of my grandparents and parents — a collective memory 
of generations past and people long gone, yet here in spirit....
During festive gatherings, the women went to town with the 
food; outside catering was unheard of. The poorer members of 
the community never knew who had paid for what. This tradition 
continued in the northern cities of Lucknow, Kanpur, and 
Allahabad well into the ‘70s. Sadly, that kind of life has almost 
gone forever.
Food preparations began two days in advance. Dar ni pori (rich 
pastry stuffed with sweetened lentils) and malido (halwa) were 
carried in big vatus (pots) and served with puris. Anyone who has 
made malido can vouch for the fact that you need strong biceps; 
it is an exhausting exercise. The ??rst time I made it under my 
grandmother’s supervision was also the last. I could hardly move 
my arms for the next two days! Since then, I gained a healthy 
respect for my dainty grandmother.
The menu was extensive. Breakfast would start with either 
sev—brown vermicelli cooked in milk and served with fresh 
cream—or ravo, semolina pudding, Mithu dahi or sweetened 
curd made with full cream milk was an absolute must. This was 
followed by bafellaeeda, hard-boiled eggs, and kheemo kaleji, 
mutton mince with liver. For lunch, there was almost always 
smori dal  chawal and macchi no patio — white boiled rice with 
yellow dal offset by a tart and tangy ??sh curry.
Teatime was special at our home. My grandmother made it 
a point to dress for tea; I was made to do the same. Once we 
were ready, out came the treats: Parsi biscuits — batasa,  nan-
khatai and ??aky khari; patrel, rolled, steamed arbi leaves stuffed 
with besan masala; kumas, rich Parsi cake; and my favourite, 
bhakra, sweet deep fried doughnuts. That tradition has stayed 
with me. I certainly don’t dress up, but I still need a snack with 
at least three cups of tea!...
(Source: ‘Down Memory Lane with the Parsis of New Delhi’ 
by Shernaz Italia, The Wire)
cajole
dainty
extensive
overruled
vouch
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-5.indd   58 20-02-2023   09:35:35
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 5 – GlimpsEs of i ndia 59
Sentences
Q.1. Infer the meaning of the following expressions
 (a) Nowrosji would cajole Parsi visitors off the train.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (b) Jer Bai would occasionally object to unknown 
visitors, she was always overruled.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (c) ...outside catering was unheard of.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (d)  I gained a healthy respect for my dainty 
grandmother.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
Q.2. Answer the following questions.
 (a) “Aavoji, aavo, aavo! Welcome to Delhi! Let me show 
you my beautiful city.” Who said this and why?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (b) Why were Jer Bai’s arguments always overruled?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (c) Why do you think outside catering was unheard of?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (d) According to the writer what “kind of life has almost 
gone forever”?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
Unit-5.indd   59 20-02-2023   09:35:35
Reprint 2025-26
Page 4


Let ’s Begin In the ‘Glimpses of India’ (First Flight, Class X textbook, NCERT) 
you have read about interesting people and places. India is a 
place of diversity in terms of culture, language, food, traditions, 
etc. There are many stories unknown to us about the way of life 
of people. Work in groups of four and ??nd out about the following 
in any ??ve Indian states.
• Their regional cuisine
• Dance form and music
• Art form 
• Any other information
Mark these ??ve places on a map and represent the information 
highlighting the interesting facts.
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i The following is an excerpt about the Parsi community in India 
and their food.
Read the passage and answer the questions.
“Aavoji, aavo, aavo! Welcome to Delhi! Let me show you my 
beautiful city.” The booming voice of Nowrosji Kapadia could 
be heard across the length and breadth of the platform. It was 
Nowrosji’s favourite pastime: a walk to the Old Delhi railway 
station to greet the Frontier Mail as it chugged into Delhi from 
Mumbai to Peshawar. With this refrain, an eager Nowrosji would 
cajole Parsi visitors off the train and take them home for a meal 
and often persuade some to stay overnight or for a few days. He 
?
;
Unit 
5
Glimpses of 
i ndia Unit-5.indd   57 20-02-2023   09:35:34
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 58
would use this opportunity to tell them about the advantages 
of shifting to Delhi. Though his wife Jer Bai would occasionally 
object to unknown visitors, she was always overruled. This was 
the beginning of the community of Parsis in Delhi....
...Writing about Parsis in the Delhi of old is not easy. There are 
memories of my grandparents and parents — a collective memory 
of generations past and people long gone, yet here in spirit....
During festive gatherings, the women went to town with the 
food; outside catering was unheard of. The poorer members of 
the community never knew who had paid for what. This tradition 
continued in the northern cities of Lucknow, Kanpur, and 
Allahabad well into the ‘70s. Sadly, that kind of life has almost 
gone forever.
Food preparations began two days in advance. Dar ni pori (rich 
pastry stuffed with sweetened lentils) and malido (halwa) were 
carried in big vatus (pots) and served with puris. Anyone who has 
made malido can vouch for the fact that you need strong biceps; 
it is an exhausting exercise. The ??rst time I made it under my 
grandmother’s supervision was also the last. I could hardly move 
my arms for the next two days! Since then, I gained a healthy 
respect for my dainty grandmother.
The menu was extensive. Breakfast would start with either 
sev—brown vermicelli cooked in milk and served with fresh 
cream—or ravo, semolina pudding, Mithu dahi or sweetened 
curd made with full cream milk was an absolute must. This was 
followed by bafellaeeda, hard-boiled eggs, and kheemo kaleji, 
mutton mince with liver. For lunch, there was almost always 
smori dal  chawal and macchi no patio — white boiled rice with 
yellow dal offset by a tart and tangy ??sh curry.
Teatime was special at our home. My grandmother made it 
a point to dress for tea; I was made to do the same. Once we 
were ready, out came the treats: Parsi biscuits — batasa,  nan-
khatai and ??aky khari; patrel, rolled, steamed arbi leaves stuffed 
with besan masala; kumas, rich Parsi cake; and my favourite, 
bhakra, sweet deep fried doughnuts. That tradition has stayed 
with me. I certainly don’t dress up, but I still need a snack with 
at least three cups of tea!...
(Source: ‘Down Memory Lane with the Parsis of New Delhi’ 
by Shernaz Italia, The Wire)
cajole
dainty
extensive
overruled
vouch
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-5.indd   58 20-02-2023   09:35:35
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 5 – GlimpsEs of i ndia 59
Sentences
Q.1. Infer the meaning of the following expressions
 (a) Nowrosji would cajole Parsi visitors off the train.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (b) Jer Bai would occasionally object to unknown 
visitors, she was always overruled.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (c) ...outside catering was unheard of.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (d)  I gained a healthy respect for my dainty 
grandmother.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
Q.2. Answer the following questions.
 (a) “Aavoji, aavo, aavo! Welcome to Delhi! Let me show 
you my beautiful city.” Who said this and why?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (b) Why were Jer Bai’s arguments always overruled?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (c) Why do you think outside catering was unheard of?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (d) According to the writer what “kind of life has almost 
gone forever”?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
Unit-5.indd   59 20-02-2023   09:35:35
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 60
  _________________________________________________
 (e) What has made the writer more respectful to her 
grandmother?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (f) What was special about the tea time in the writer’s 
home?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
Q.3. Tick the correct answer.
           What is “an exhausting exercise”?
 (a) Preparing for the festival.    (     )
 (b) Travelling from Mumbai to Peshawar.  (     )
 (c) Writing about Parsis in old Delhi.  (     )
 (d) Cooking malido, the Parsi style halwa.  (     )
Patara ni Machhi
Ravo
Dhansak
Lagan Nu Custard
Dar ni pori Parsi Malido
Unit-5.indd   60 20-02-2023   09:35:35
Reprint 2025-26
Page 5


Let ’s Begin In the ‘Glimpses of India’ (First Flight, Class X textbook, NCERT) 
you have read about interesting people and places. India is a 
place of diversity in terms of culture, language, food, traditions, 
etc. There are many stories unknown to us about the way of life 
of people. Work in groups of four and ??nd out about the following 
in any ??ve Indian states.
• Their regional cuisine
• Dance form and music
• Art form 
• Any other information
Mark these ??ve places on a map and represent the information 
highlighting the interesting facts.
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i The following is an excerpt about the Parsi community in India 
and their food.
Read the passage and answer the questions.
“Aavoji, aavo, aavo! Welcome to Delhi! Let me show you my 
beautiful city.” The booming voice of Nowrosji Kapadia could 
be heard across the length and breadth of the platform. It was 
Nowrosji’s favourite pastime: a walk to the Old Delhi railway 
station to greet the Frontier Mail as it chugged into Delhi from 
Mumbai to Peshawar. With this refrain, an eager Nowrosji would 
cajole Parsi visitors off the train and take them home for a meal 
and often persuade some to stay overnight or for a few days. He 
?
;
Unit 
5
Glimpses of 
i ndia Unit-5.indd   57 20-02-2023   09:35:34
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 58
would use this opportunity to tell them about the advantages 
of shifting to Delhi. Though his wife Jer Bai would occasionally 
object to unknown visitors, she was always overruled. This was 
the beginning of the community of Parsis in Delhi....
...Writing about Parsis in the Delhi of old is not easy. There are 
memories of my grandparents and parents — a collective memory 
of generations past and people long gone, yet here in spirit....
During festive gatherings, the women went to town with the 
food; outside catering was unheard of. The poorer members of 
the community never knew who had paid for what. This tradition 
continued in the northern cities of Lucknow, Kanpur, and 
Allahabad well into the ‘70s. Sadly, that kind of life has almost 
gone forever.
Food preparations began two days in advance. Dar ni pori (rich 
pastry stuffed with sweetened lentils) and malido (halwa) were 
carried in big vatus (pots) and served with puris. Anyone who has 
made malido can vouch for the fact that you need strong biceps; 
it is an exhausting exercise. The ??rst time I made it under my 
grandmother’s supervision was also the last. I could hardly move 
my arms for the next two days! Since then, I gained a healthy 
respect for my dainty grandmother.
The menu was extensive. Breakfast would start with either 
sev—brown vermicelli cooked in milk and served with fresh 
cream—or ravo, semolina pudding, Mithu dahi or sweetened 
curd made with full cream milk was an absolute must. This was 
followed by bafellaeeda, hard-boiled eggs, and kheemo kaleji, 
mutton mince with liver. For lunch, there was almost always 
smori dal  chawal and macchi no patio — white boiled rice with 
yellow dal offset by a tart and tangy ??sh curry.
Teatime was special at our home. My grandmother made it 
a point to dress for tea; I was made to do the same. Once we 
were ready, out came the treats: Parsi biscuits — batasa,  nan-
khatai and ??aky khari; patrel, rolled, steamed arbi leaves stuffed 
with besan masala; kumas, rich Parsi cake; and my favourite, 
bhakra, sweet deep fried doughnuts. That tradition has stayed 
with me. I certainly don’t dress up, but I still need a snack with 
at least three cups of tea!...
(Source: ‘Down Memory Lane with the Parsis of New Delhi’ 
by Shernaz Italia, The Wire)
cajole
dainty
extensive
overruled
vouch
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-5.indd   58 20-02-2023   09:35:35
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 5 – GlimpsEs of i ndia 59
Sentences
Q.1. Infer the meaning of the following expressions
 (a) Nowrosji would cajole Parsi visitors off the train.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (b) Jer Bai would occasionally object to unknown 
visitors, she was always overruled.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (c) ...outside catering was unheard of.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (d)  I gained a healthy respect for my dainty 
grandmother.
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
Q.2. Answer the following questions.
 (a) “Aavoji, aavo, aavo! Welcome to Delhi! Let me show 
you my beautiful city.” Who said this and why?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (b) Why were Jer Bai’s arguments always overruled?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (c) Why do you think outside catering was unheard of?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (d) According to the writer what “kind of life has almost 
gone forever”?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
Unit-5.indd   59 20-02-2023   09:35:35
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 60
  _________________________________________________
 (e) What has made the writer more respectful to her 
grandmother?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
 (f) What was special about the tea time in the writer’s 
home?
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
Q.3. Tick the correct answer.
           What is “an exhausting exercise”?
 (a) Preparing for the festival.    (     )
 (b) Travelling from Mumbai to Peshawar.  (     )
 (c) Writing about Parsis in old Delhi.  (     )
 (d) Cooking malido, the Parsi style halwa.  (     )
Patara ni Machhi
Ravo
Dhansak
Lagan Nu Custard
Dar ni pori Parsi Malido
Unit-5.indd   60 20-02-2023   09:35:35
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 5 – GlimpsEs of i ndia 61
Sentences
Q.4. Make a list of Parsi delicacies as mentioned in the passage. A few 
are given above. You can add more to the list. Find the words for 
Mithu dahi in your language.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
bio-dynamic
entrepreneurs
intrinsically
mandals
terroirs (ter’wa:)
trajectory
traverses
tucked 
Look Up 
and Understand t ext ii You have read about Coorg, its rainforests, and coffee and tea 
from Assam in ‘Glimpses of India’ (First Flight, Class X textbook, 
NCERT). The following extract is about the cultivation of coffee 
in Araku valley in Andhra Pradesh. The story of Araku Valley 
traverses an unusual trajectory through Adivasi empowerment, 
hot-air balloons and some of the best coffee in the world. 
Read the passage given below and answer the questions.
Located at about 1,200m above sea level, the valley, tucked away 
in the north-eastern corner of Andhra Pradesh, shares a border 
with Odisha. For guests and participants at the Araku Balloon 
Festival (ABF), held between 18-20 January every year, this is 
sightseeing like nothing else.
The drive to far-??ung coffee estates takes us through the ??ve 
northern mandals of Anantha giri, Dumbriguda, Hukumpeta, 
Munchingi Puttu and Araku valley. The name Araku for the 
coffee was chosen simply because it sounded poetic. The view 
from the ground level is as impressive as the one from above —
the landscape changes from densely forested hills to sweeping 
valleys and terrace farms surrounding occasional village clusters.
The journey of Araku Coffee from a livelihood initiative by the 
Naandi Foundation to a globally appreciated product has been 
in the making for over a decade. It is also intrinsically tied to the 
history of how coffee arrived in this valley. It was a British civil 
servant, N.S. Brodie, who introduced coffee to these hill tracts 
in 1898.
Unit-5.indd   61 20-02-2023   09:35:36
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