Class-X-Chapter-7 (First Flight)- "Glimpses of India " - Part I- "A baker from Goa "- By Lucio Rodrigues

Glimpses of India (Part 1) A Baker from Goa

By Lucio Rodrigues

This is a pen-portrait of a traditional Goan village baker who still has an important place in his society

 

" A Baker from Goa"- Introduction

‘A Baker from Goa’ revolves around the relevance of a baker in the Goan culture which dates back to the time when Portuguese ruled over the city of Goa. The Portuguese may have left but the bread-makers continue to have an inevitable stature. In this story, the author recalls his childhood days and their excitement on seeing the baker. They were enthusiastic to the point that they would run to him as soon as they woke up without even brushing their teeth.

" A Baker from Goa"- Summary

The lesson begins with how narrator’s elders often recall the time when Goa was under the rule of the Portuguese. They talk how the importance of bakers is still maintained in their villages even after the Portuguese have left. They are known as ‘Paders’ in Goa. The mixers, moulders and their time-tested furnaces continue to serve the people of Goa with their famous bread loaves. It is possible that the original ones may not exist, but their profession is being continued by their sons. The thud of their bamboo stick can still be heard in some parts of the village. The same jingling thud would wake the narrator and his friends during their childhood days who would go running to him without brushing or washing their mouth properly.  It was the maid-servant of the house who collected the loaves while children sorted out the bread bangles for themselves. Bakery products have importance in the culture and traditions of Goa. Bol or sweet bread is a part of marriage gifts, cakes and Bolinhas or coconut cookies are eaten at every festival and the lady of the house prepares sandwiches at her daughter’s engagement. Earlier bakers wore a unique frock of knee-length known as ‘kabai’ but during the narrator’s childhood days, they wore a shirt and trousers of length slightly shorter than the usual ones. They generally collected their bills at the end of every month. Bakery has continued to be a profitable profession, managing to keep their families joyous and prosperous.

  TEXT & Explanation

OUR elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. Those eaters of loaves might have vanished but the makers are still there. We still have amongst us the mixers, the moulders and those who bake the loaves. Those age-old, timetested furnaces still exist. The fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished. The thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo, heralding his arrival in the morning, can still be heard in some places. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. These bakers are, even today, known as pader in Goa.

 Reminiscing nostalgically- thinking fondly of the past

Loaves- (plural form of loaf) bread that is shaped and baked in a single piece and can be sliced for eating

Vanished- disappear suddenly and completely

Moulders- a person who moulds dough into a shape

Furnaces- an enclosed structure in which materials can be heated to very high temperatures

Extinguished- cause a fire to cease to burn                                  

Heralding- announcing

Pader- word for baker in Portuguese language

The story takes us back to the time when Portuguese ruled Goa. They were immensely famous for their breads. The narrator often finds his elders thinking about ‘those good old days’ and telling them that the famous breads date back to the time when Portuguese ruled over Goa. They ponder over the past and tell them that though the Portuguese have left Goa but the bakers of bread still exist, if not the original ones, their legacy is being continued by their sons. The bakers are still being referred to as ‘Paders’. Everything about baking is still the same; ranging from those who mould the bread loaves, to the furnaces which have survived the ravages of time. The sound of their arrival and the thud of their bamboo stick can still be heard just like the olden times.

 

During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide. He used to come at least twice a day. Once, when he set out in the morning on his selling round, and then again, when he returned after emptying his huge basket. The jingling thud of his bamboo woke us up from sleep and we ran to meet and greet him. Why was it so? Was it for the love of the loaf? Not at all. The loaves were bought by some Paskine or Bastine, the maid-servant of the house! What we longed for were those bread-bangles which we chose carefully. Sometimes it was sweet bread of special make.

Companion- a person with whom one spends a lot of time

Jingling- make or cause to make a light metallic ringing sound

 he narrator recalls that the baker acted as their friend and companion during their childhood days in Goa. The baker used to visit twice a day; once, while he was on the round to sell his loaves and the other time, while returning back with his empty basket, having sold all the loaves. It was the sound of his bamboo stick that woke the children up. The children were so excited to meet him and choose from the bread bangles or Kankon he made especially for them. While the bangles were for children, loaves were for the adults that were generally collected by the maid-servant of the household.

 

 

The baker made his musical entry on the scene with the ‘jhang, jhang’ sound of his specially made bamboo staff. One hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the bamboo on the ground. He would greet the lady of the house with “Good morning” and then place his basket on the vertical bamboo. 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. Then we did not even care to brush our teeth or wash our mouths properly. And why should we? Who would take the trouble of plucking the mango-leaf for the toothbrush? And why was it necessary at all? The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all!

staff - stick

Rebuke- an expression of disapproval; a scolding

Fragrance- a pleasant, sweet smell

Parapet- railing, a low protective wall

bangles- here, refers to the bread in the shape of a bangle called ‘Kankon’

The baker often made a musical entry with his bamboo stick. His one hand supported the basket on his head while the other banged the bamboo on the ground. He would go house to house and greet the ladies before handing them over the loaves. The parents would scold the children and make them stand aside. But as eager as they were, they would climb a bench or the wall to peep into the basket. They did not even bother to brush their teeth before having those bread bangles because it seemed unnecessary effort for them to pluck mango leaves from the branches to use them for brushing the teeth. They considered brushing unnecessary because the hot tea could effortlessly wash their mouth and they thought that animals like the tiger never brushed their teeth.

 

Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol, just as a party or a feast loses its charm without bread. Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be for a 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 absolutely essential.

Feast- a large meal, typically a celebratory one

bolinhas - another name for coconut cookies

Bread is an important part of the Goan culture and it is evident from its presence at every important occasion. From sweet breads at marriages to sandwiches at engagement parties and cakes and coconut cookies at Christmas as well as other occasions, makes the presence of a baker in every village, very essential.

The baker or bread-seller of those days had a peculiar dress known as the kabai. It was a singlepiece long frock reaching down to the knees. In our childhood we saw bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants. Even today, anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that he is dressed like a pader!

Bakers were known to have worn unique knee-length frock dresses typically known as ‘kabai’. In the narrator’s childhood days, he had seen them wearing shirts and pants whose length was shorter than the usual ones. It was a part of their identity so much so that even if someone wears that trouser length now, he is said to have dressed like a baker, or ‘pader’ as was said in olden times.

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.

Plump physique- pleasantly fat body

Open testimony- public statement about a character or quality

 

 

The baker had a way of making monthly record of bills on a wall using a pencil and then, collecting the money at the end of the month. Baking has always been a profitable profession. The baker’s family and workers have always been happy and joyous. The baker was usually fat which was proof that he had a lot to eat and hence, was a proof of his richness. Even to this day, someone with a well-built body is compared to a baker.

TEXT BOOK -  Question and Answers

Q1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

Ans. The narrator often finds his elders thinking about ‘those good old days’ and telling them about the famous breads that date back to the time when Portuguese ruled over Goa. They ponder over the past and tell them that though the Portuguese have left Goa but the bakers still exist, if not the original ones, their legacy is being continued by their sons.

 

Q2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?

Ans. Yes, bread-making is still popular in the city of Goa. It is evident from the existence of time-tested furnaces, mixers and moulders. The legacy of bakers is being continued by their sons. You will find a bakery in every Goan village as bread is an important part of the Goan culture.

 

Q3. What is the baker called?

Ans. The baker is referred to as ‘Pader’ in the city of Goa.

 

Q4. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?

Ans. The baker would come twice every day during the narrator’s childhood days. Once in the morning to deliver the loaves of bread and secondly, in the evening on his return after selling his stock. The children would go running to him to take the special bread bangles he had made for them.

 

Q5. Match the following. What is a must

1. as marriage gifts?                             – cakes and bolinhas
2. for a party or a feast?                      – sweet bread called bol
3. for a daughter’s engagement?       – bread
4. for Christmas?                                   – sandwiches

Answer:-

As marriage gifts	Sweet bread called bol
For a party or a feast	Bread
For daughter’s engagement	Sandwiches
For Christmas	Cakes and bolinhas

 

Q6. What did the bakers wear:

1. In the Portuguese days?
2. When the author was young?

Ans.

(i) In the Portuguese days, the bakers wore a unique knee-length frock dress typically known as ‘kabai’.

(ii) In the narrator’s childhood days, he had seen them wearing shirts and shorter than usual pants.

 

Q7. Who invites the comment — “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?

Ans. During the narrator’s childhood days, the bakers had a peculiar dress. They wore shirts and shorter than usual pants. Thus, if someone is seen wearing pants of this much length, they invite the comment – “he is dressed like a pader”.

 

Q8. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

Ans. The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall with a pencil.

 

Q9. What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?

Ans. ‘Jackfruit-like appearance’ means a well-built or plump physique, similar to a jackfruit. In those days, bakers had plump physique because baking was a profitable profession. His family and servants never starved and were prosperous.

 

Q. Which of these statements are correct?

1. The pader was an important person in the village in old times.

True

2. Paders still exist in Goan villages.

True

3. The paders went away with the Portuguese.

False, they still exist in Goan villages.

4. The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.

False, they wear shirts and trousers that are shorter than the usual ones and longer than the half-pants.

5. Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.

False, they are still an integral part of Goan culture.

6. Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.

True

7. Paders and their families starve in the present times.

False, it is still a very profitable business and their families are happy and prosperous.

 

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

Ans

. Bread is an important part of the Goan culture and it is evident from its presence at every important occasion. From sweet breads at marriages to sandwiches at engagement parties and cakes and Bolinhas at Christmas as well as other occasions, makes the presence of a baker in every village, very essential.

 

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

1. The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
2. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
3. I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)
4. The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)
5. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)
6. The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)

Answers-

1. Nostalgic
2. Nostalgic
3. Nostalgic
4. Funny
5. Matter-of-fact
6. Matter-of-fact

EXTRA -Question and Answers

                                            Extract Based Questions 

Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1. Our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. Those eaters of loaves might have vanished but the makers are still there. We still have amongst us the mixers, the moulders and those who bake the loaves. 

(a) What are the elders nostalgic about ?

(b) How can you say that bread-making is still popular in Goa ?

(c) What are ‘the mixers, the moulders’ used for ?

(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘cook’ ?

Answer: (a) The elders are nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days and their famous loaves of bread.

(b) Bread-making is still popular in Goa because the bread makers are still there and so are their mixers, moulders and furnaces.

(c) The mixers are used to prepare the dough for the bread and moulders are used to give different shapes to the bread.

(d) Bake.

Question 2. Our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. Those eaters of loaves might have vanished but the makers are still there. We still have amongst us the mixers, the moulders and those who bake the loaves. Those age-old, time- tested furnaces still exist. The fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished. The thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo, heralding his arrival in the morning, can still be heard in some places. May be the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. 

(a) Why do the elders think about their past ?

(b) Mention two different tasks done by the bakers.

(c) Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘remembering’.

(d) How is the family profession still carried ?

Answer: (a) They miss the good old days.

(b) The baker mix the dough, mould it and bake the loaves.

(c) ‘reminiscing’.

(d) The son carries the family profession.

Question 3. He would greet the lady of the house with ‘Good Morning’ and then place his basket on the vertical bamboo. 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 bangles for the children. 

(a) Why does the baker rebuke the kids ?

(b) What does the narrator still remember ?

(c) The word ‘rebuke’ means

(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘sweet smell.’

Answer: (a) He rebukes the kids to push them aside to make space and deliver the bread to the servants.

(b) He still remembers the typical fragrance of the loaves.

(c) ‘to scold gently’.

(d) Fragrance

Question 4. Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the ‘bol’, just as a party or a feast loses its charm without bread. Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be for a village. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bols are a must for Christmas as well as for other festivals. Thus, the presence of the baker’s furnace in the village is absolutely essential. 

(a) What makes marriage gifts meaningless ?

(b) What does the lady of the house prepare on the occasion of hef daughter’s engagement ?

(c) Which word from the extract means the same as ‘necessary’ ?

(d) What is must for Christmas ?

Answer: (a) Breads are a very important part of the culture of the people in Goa. A marriage gift would have no meaning if a sweet bread known as the ‘bol’ is not given.

(b) The lady of the house, prepares sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement.

(c) ‘Essential’.

(d) Cakes and bols.

Short Answer Type Questions 

Question 1. How did the baker make his entry?

Answer: 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.

Question 2. How do we get to know that the makers of bread still exist?

Answer: 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.

Question 3. What is the importance of breads for the Goans? or

Why was the Baker’s furnace essential in a traditional Goan village? 

Answer: Different kinds of breads are important during the different occasions. Bolin has 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.

Question 4. Describe the dress of the bakers.

Answer: The bakers had a peculiar dress earlier known as the kabai. It was a one piece long frock reaching down to the knees.

 

Long Answer Type Questions (100-120 words)

Question 1. What was the peculiar dress of the bakers during the Portuguese days ?

Answer: During the Portuguese days, the bakers wore a peculiar dress called the ‘kabai’, that was a frock in a single piece, reaching upto the knees. But during his childhood, the author had seen the bakers wearing shirts with trousers that were longer than half pants, but shorter than a full length one.

Question 2. Describe the childhood memories of the author’s time in Goa and his fondness for breads and cakes ?

OR   The author shares a lot of information about the bakers in his home town when he was young. He appears to be a very observant child. Should children have such keen observation powers? 

 Answer: The author tells us that bread is an indispensable part of the life of the Goan people since the time of the Portuguese. Bread is a part of not only everyday life but also of festive occasions and events. For each occasion there was a special kind of bread. He also tells us that the baker had leading role in the society was so important in the life of the Goans that they got up with the jingling sound of his bamboo. He also tells us that the baker wore either a Kabai, i.e., a long frock or a shirt and a half pant like trousers.

The author seems to be very observant because not only does he know all this but also knows the profit-making in it as he says that in those days, the baker was very prosperous and never starved. He also knew that they maintained monthly bills on the walls. Such strong observation powers would definitely be beneficial for children as they would become aware of citizens of their neighbourhood.

Question 3. In the light of the lesson ‘A Baker From Goa’, discuss the culture of Goa. Discuss the impact of culture on the life of individuals.

Answer: The lesson reflects the strong Portuguese effect on the Goan culture, testifying the fact that the ideologies of the political powers have a strong influence on the lives of common people and also their lifestyles. For instance bread as a steady food item is a tradition borrowed from the Portuguese, in contrast to chapati or rice as an essential part of a balanced diet in India.

‘Culture’ of a place is developed as an outcome of the traditions followed by the people, the conventions they adhere to, the religion they follow, their ethic and morals and the philosophy of life that guides them. The author is nostalgic about his childhood days and has strong cultural ties with Goa.

Question 4. Should we learn from the history that has passed on to us from generations ?

Answer: History is the mirror through which we can relive our past. It actually provides a path that our ancestors have laid for us. The various battles and wars, that were fought and won, shows us the strength and valour our people had. The traditions and customs make us a better human being.

‘A Baker from Goa’ is a pen portrait of a traditional Goan village baker who still has an important place in the society. The paders pick up the knowledge of bread baking from traditions in the family. The leavened, oven- baked bread is a gift of the Portuguese to India. These traditions have strengthened our present.

Question 5. Instead of enjoying their childhood, the children today are keen to enter adulthood. After reading about all the joys that the author Lucio Rodrigues had in his childhood do you think such a keenness on the part of children is desirable?

Answer: I don’t think that the keenness of the children these days to enter adulthood is desirable. Children these days are in a hurry to enter adulthood and have access to technology. Due to this they are learning things earlier than usual and getting matured beyond their age.

Hence, they are losing out their childhood and missing the joys that it brings with it. As per my thinking, they should grow at a slow pace and enjoy their childhood to the fullest. Children who miss out on their childhood cannot be a complete adult. So, they should not hurry up to be an adult and grow at nature’s pace.

Question 6. 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?     

 Answer: ‘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.

Question 7. ‘During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide.’ What does this statement imply in relation tofhe character of the baker?

Answer: 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