Pranshu's English Classroom (CBSE)

Background of the Story -  Hot Tea Across India is a travel memoir by Rishad Saam Mehta .  “The Great Wall of Rishikesh” is an excerpt from this book that narrates a thrilling river-rafting experience in Rishikesh . The story highlights friendship, adventure, humour, fear, teamwork, and sportsmanship during a rafting expedition on the river Ganges. Summary in Points The narrator meets his friends Mouneet and Chetan at Rishikesh. They join a rafting camp on the banks of the Ganges. Mouneet pretends to be confident but is actually terrified because he cannot swim. Their guide, Kana Singh, prepares them for dangerous rapids. The most dangerous rapid is called “The Wall.” As they approach it, huge waves frighten everyone. The raft survives the first wave but flips during the second. Everyone falls into the river but survives because of life jackets. Mouneet panics and behaves dramatically in the water. Safety kayakers rescue them and help them back onto the ...

  The Great Wall of Rishikesh by Rishad Saam Mehta (Summary Only For Reading)  The Great Wall of Rishikesh is an excerpt from ‘Hot Tea Across India’ by Rishad Saam Mehta. It describes an incident where the speaker, along with two of his friends, go for river rafting and have the experience of a lifetime. The speaker has a work assignment in the Garhwal region while his friends Mouneet and Chetan are visiting Devprayag. They decide to meet up at Rishikesh and consequently join a rafting camp on a beach by the Ganges. Chetan and Rishad are quite excited about rafting. Mouneet, who can’t swim, seems terrified by the idea despite his earlier declaration that river rafting is too easy for him. They set out the next morning on a bright blue raft, accompanied by a river guide named Kana Singh. The stretch of Ganges between Devprayag and Rishikesh is laced with rapids. The trickiest among them is referred to as ‘The Wall’. The intensity and pattern of currents that make up the Wall ke...

 Background of the Story This text is based on the lives of traditional nadaswaram makers from Narasingapettai, a village in Tamil Nadu famous for crafting the nadaswaram, a classical South Indian wind instrument used in Carnatic music and temple ceremonies. The article focuses on the struggles, dedication, and craftsmanship of families who have preserved this centuries-old art form for generations. It highlights the challenges faced by artisans such as financial hardship, lack of recognition, shortage of proper wood, and uncertainty about the future of the craft. The text also mentions that the Narasingapettai Nadaswaram received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in March 2022. Summary in Points The text discusses the traditional craft of making the nadaswaram in Narasingapettai. The nadaswaram is an ancient double reed wind instrument important in Carnatic music. The craft has existed for several centuries and dates back to the 13th century. Only four families in Nar...