Glimpses of India – A Baker from Goa

Summary

This is a pen-portrait of a traditional Goan village baker. The author shares his fond childhood memories of growing up eating bread bought from the baker every day. The lesson highlights the role the traditional Goan village baker has played in the lives of Goan families.

Comprehension Questions

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

1. ‘During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide.’ What does this statement imply in relation to the character of the baker? This statement tells us that the baker was a very respected person in the Goan society because he would guide the children about good behaviour (when he mildly rebuked them for peeping into his basket and giving respect to the elders (when he wished ‚Good morning‛ to the lady of the house) etc. He was very informal with the children and so the author considered him as a friend and companion. He was not simply a vendor interested in selling what he made. Thus, he was an important character in the Goan society of those days.

2. Explain with examples that baking used to be a profitable profession.

Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days. The baker and his family never starved. He, his family and his servants always looked happy and prosperous. Their plump physique was an open testimony to this.

3. What role did the baker play in the childhood of the narrator?

The children would know about his arrival from the ‘jhang, jhang’ sound of his bamboo stick. They would run to meet and greet him. They tried to surround the basket but were pushed aside until the bread was delivered to the maid. Then they were allowed to choose their bread-bangles.

4. How was the village baker very important for special occasions in the village?

The village baker was especially important for festive occasions. The villagers were much fond of the sweet bread known as ‘bol’. Marriage gifts were meaningless without these sweetbreads. Sandwiches, cakes and bolin has were a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. These were made with the bread.

5. When did the baker collect his bills? What showed that the bakers were prosperous?

The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. In the household, the baker’s monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil. Baking was a profitable business in those days. Their families never starved. Their plump bodies showed that they were prosperous.

6. 'Even today any person with a jackfruit-like physical appearance is easily compared to a baker.‛ Explain.

Bakers had a plump physique which meant they were happy and prosperous and hence, even today, any person with a jackfruit like physical appearance is compared to a baker.

Answer the following questions in 100-120 words:

1. Describe the childhood memories of the author’s life in Goa and his fondness for bread and cakes.

The author’s childhood memories are full of fun. He remembers them and gets nostalgic. The pader or baker was an important person in the Goan village as well as in the author’s life. He used to mix, mould and bake the loaves of bread in age-old, tested furnaces. He used to come twice a day, once in the morning to sell the bread and then while returning after emptying his basket. He made his musical entry with the `jhang, jhang’ sound of his bamboo staff. The author with other children used to run to meet him in order to take the bread-bangles or sometimes the sweet bread of special make. He chatted and gossiped with him.

2. What was the importance of the baker in the village? What kind of dress did be wear?

The village baker was especially important for all occasions. The villagers were much fond of the sweet bread known as ‘Bor. Marriage gifts were meaningless without these sweetbreads. Sandwiches, cakes and bolinhas were a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. These were made with the bread. Thus the presence of a baker’s furnace was very essential in each village. The baker or the bread-seller wore a special, peculiar dress. It was known as the ‘kabai‘. It was a single-piece long frock. It reached -down to his knees. During narrator’s childhood bakers wore trousers which were shorter than full-length and longer than half pants. Even today if someone wears a half pant, he is said to be dressed like a pader.

3. What do our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about in Goa? Did the old profession of making the famous loaves of bread end with the Portuguese?

Our elders in Goa are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about the good old Portuguese days. They are often heard saying nostalgically about their famous loaves of bread. Many eaters of loaves might have vanished but the makers are still alive. The profession of baking loaves of bread has not died with ending of the Portuguese rule. Goa still has the mixers, the moulders and the bakers of those loaves. The furnaces still bake those unique loaves of bread. Even today one can hear the thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo in the morning. Marriages, feasts, Christmas and other festivals are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol. The baker’s presence in even Goan village is absolutely essential. Baking was indeed a profitable profession in good old days. However, the tradition hasn’t died completely yet.

4. Describe the author’s experience during his childhood in Goa? Why was the baker or the pader the guide of children in Goa? 

The author remembers fondly his childhood days in Goa. He recalls how the baker used to be the friend, companion and guide of the children. The thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo woke them from their sleep. It heralded the arrival of the baker or the pader in the morning. He used to come at least twice a day. Once, he used to set out in the morning on his selling round. Then he returned after emptying his huge basket. The children ran to meet and greet him. It was not for the love of the loaf. They longed for the bread-bangles. Sometimes it was sweet bread of special make. The children especially liked the musical entry on the scene with the `jhang, jhang’ sound of

his specially made bamboo staff. He would greet the lady of the house with good morning but put the children with a mild rebuke. The children would not give up. They would climb a bench and peep into the basket. The author still recalls the fragrance of those loaves. The children would become crazy at the sight of the pader. They would forget even to brush their teeth.

5. Baking was a profitable profession in the old days in Goa. Prove it by giving examples from the text.

Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days in Goa. The people of Goa were used to the refreshing fragrance of the loaves of bread. On all occasions and ceremonies, they needed them. Marriage gifts were meaningless without the sweet bread or the bol. No party was complete if bread was not served in it. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the engagement ceremony of her daughter. Christmas and other festivals must have bolinhas during their celebrations. The presence of the baker’s furnace Was absolutely necessary for every, GNP village. The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. Their plump physique was an open testimony to their happiness and prosperity.

6. Give a pen-portrait of the baker or the pader highlighting the changes that came in his fortune and dress with the passage of the time.

The baker or the pader used to be an essential part of the Goans’ life. The baker or bread seller had a peculiar dress during the Portuguese days. It wa known as the kabai. It was a single piece long frock reaching down the knees. With the passage of time, he started wearing a shirt and trousers which were just longer than the short pants. The baker and his family always looked happy and prosperous in the good old days. Their plumpy physique was an open testimony of their happiness and prosperity. However, as the time changed, the bakers continued their profession but with their reduced fortune and importance. The thud and jingle of the traditional bamboo of the baker are still heard in the streets of Goa even now. Sweet bread or the boys are still the part of feasts, marriages and Christmas in Goa. However, the old charm and craze have become rather dim in recent days.

7. After reading the story ‘A Baker from Goa‛, do you think our traditions, heritage, values and practices are the roots that nourish us? Why/why not? 

‘A Baker from Goa’ highlights the importance of the traditional practice of making breads for every occasion and festival of the Goan people. This tradition continues even today. This shows how our traditional practices can keep us to our past and heritage. Traditional values shape our personality and

also provide us emotional support. They enable us to face difficult situations and makes us mentally strong. Traditional practices also have an impact on our behavioural pattern towards the other people in society. 

Questions from the text book.

Thinking about the Text
Page 88

1. Which of these statements are correct?

(i)Paders still exist in Goan

Answer: Correct

(ii)The paders went away with the

Answer: Incorrect. The paders still exist in Goan villages.

(iii)The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.

Answer: Incorrect. The paders wear shirts, and trousers that are shorter than

full- length ones and longer than half pants.

(iv)Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.

Answer: Incorrect. Bread and cakes are still an integral part of Goan life.

(v)Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.

Answer: Correct

(vi)Paders and their families starve in the present times.

Answer: Incorrect. Baking is still a very profitable business in Goa.

2. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?

Bread is an important part of Goan life. Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol. For a party, bread is a must, while for Christmas, cakes and bolinhas are a must. Sandwiches must be prepared by the lady of the house on her daughter’s engagement. The author says that everybody loves the fragrance of loaves. The elders were given loaves and the children were given bread- bangles, which they longed for. Also, the fact that the bakery is a profitable profession shows that the love for bread is enormous in Goa.

3. Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the following?

i. The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places. Nostalgic

ii. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. Nostalgic

iii. I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. Nostalgic

iv. The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. Funny

v. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other. Matter-of-fact 

vi. The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. Matter-of-fact

Practice Question

Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

(a) We kids would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and the loaves would be delivered to the servant. But we would not give up. We would climb a bench or the parapet and peep into the basket, somehow. I can still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. Loaves for the elders and the bangles for the children.

i. Why is a baker necessary in a village?
a. different kinds of cakes are required every day and for special occasions
b. he plays the role of a friend, companion and guide for the villagers
c. different kinds of breads are required every day and for special occasions
d. he runs a profitable business 

ii. Why were the children pushed aside?
a. so that breads can be delivered to the servants 

b. because the baker did not like children 

c. because the baker did not want children to touch his breads 

d. because children drop the breads 

iii. What was there in the basket?
a. donuts and bangles 

b. loaves and bangles
c. bolinahs and bangles 

d. cakes and bangles 

iv. Find a word in the extract means the same as ‘an expression of disapproval/a scolding’?
a. aside
b. rebuke
c. parapet
d. recall

(b) The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. Monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil. Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days. The baker and his family never starved. He, his family and his servants always looked happy and prosperous. Their plump physique was an open testimony to this. Even today any person with a jackfruit-like physical appearance is easily compared to a baker.

i. Where did the baker record his accounts?
a. notepad
b. wall
c. diary
d. stone 

ii. Why did the baker and his family never starve?
a. Because baking was a profitable business.
b. The family would eat the bread that was left over after the sale.

c. The baker’s customers would barter other food items for bread.
d. The baker would get food items at a discounted price.

iii. Why is a person with a jackfruit-like physical appearance compared to a baker?
a. Because the baker would also climb jackfruit trees.
b. Because the baker sold jackfruits along with bread. c. Because the baker like jackfruits very much.
d. Because the baker was prosperous and had a plump physique. 

iv. Find a word in the extract means the same as ‘build’?
a. starved
b. plump
c. physique
d. testimony

Q2. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each.

(a) How did the baker make his entry? 

The baker used to enter with the jingling sound of his specially made bamboo staff. His one hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the bamboo on the ground. 

(b) How do we get to know that the makers of bread still exist?

 The narrator states that the eaters of loaves might have vanished but the makers are still there. He further says that those age old, time tested furnaces still exist and the fire in the furnaces had not yet been extinguished. 

(c) What is the importance of breads for the Goans? 

Different kinds of breads are important during the different occasions. Bolinhas had to be prepared during Christmas and other festivals. The mothers used to prepare sandwiches on the occasion of their daughter’s engagement. So, the baker’s furnace was essential. 

(d) Describe the bread-seller’s dress. 

The baker or the bread-seller wore a special, peculiar dress. It was known as the ‘kabai. It was a single-piece long frock. It reached down to his knees. During narrator’s childhood, Bakers wore trousers which were shorter than full-length and longer than half pants.

Q3. Answer the following questions in in 100 -120 words. 

(a) Why was it absolutely essential to have a ‘baker’s furnace’ in a Goan village?
The Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread had made a permanent impact on Goan soil. The eaters of those loaves might have vanished but the makers of the loaves — the bakers still have an important place in the society.The Goan village still has the mixers, moulders and those who bake the loaves. There are also the age-old time-tested furnaces which exist till date. The bakers are still important in the village. The lady of the house must Prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence of the baker’s furnace in the village is still essential.

(b) How can the effect of the traditional bread bakers still be seen in Goa of today?
The author remembers his old days in Goa when the village baker occupied an important place in life. Bread eating was very common in those days. Apart from eating bread daily, bread held an important place at the time of Christmas, marriages and other functions. Although, with the passage of time, people do not eat so much bread today, yet the village bakers are still there. The Portuguese were famous for earns the loaves of bread. They left Goa long ago. But the traditional work of the bakers can still be seen in Goa. The furnaces in which the bread was baked still exist there. The sound of the traditional bakers’ bamboo can still be heard. These bakers are known as Pader in Goa even today.