Lesson 7 - Glimpses of India
I. A Baker from Goa
- Lucio Rodrigues
I. Synonyms:
1. Portrait - a written description of someone’s appearance or character
2. Reminiscing nostalgically - thinking fondly of the past
3. Loaves - bread that is shaped and baked in a single piece and can be sliced for eating
4. Vanished - disappear suddenly and completely
5. Moulders - a person who moulds dough into a shape
6. Furnaces- an enclosed structure in which materials can be heated to very high temperatures
7. Extinguished - cause a fire to cease to burn
8. Heralding - announcing
9. Pader - word for baker in Portuguese language
10. Companion - a person with whom one spends a lot of time
11. Jingling - make or cause to make a light metallic ringing sound
12. staff – stick
13. Rebuke - a scolding
14. Fragrance - a pleasant, sweet smell
15. Parapet - railing, a low protective wall
16. bangles - here, refers to the bread in the shape of a bangle called ‘Kankon’
17. Feast- a large meal, typically a celebratory one
18. bolinhas - another name for coconut cookies
19. Starve – to suffer from hunger
20. Prosperous – successful
21. Plump physique- pleasantly fat body
22. Open testimony- public statement about a character or quality
Pg. 86
II. Answer the following:
1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
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.
2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
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.
3. What is the baker called?
The baker is referred to as ‘Pader’ in the city of Goa.
4. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?
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.
Pg. 87
III. Answer the following:
1. Match the following. What is a must
(i) as marriage gifts? – cakes and bolinhas
(ii) for a party or a feast? – sweet bread called bol
(iii) for a daughter’s engagement? – bread
(iv) 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
2. What did the bakers wear:
(i) in the Portuguese days?
In the Portuguese days, the bakers wore a unique knee-length frock dress typically
known as ‘kabai’.
(ii) When the author was young?
In the narrator’s childhood days, he had seen them wearing shirts and shorter than
usual pants.
3. Who invites the comment — “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?
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”.
4. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall with a pencil.
5. What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?
‘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.
IV. Answer the following:
1. Which of these statements are correct?
(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
True
(ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages.
True
(iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese.
False, they still exist in Goan villages.
(iv) 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.
(v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.
False, they are still an integral part of Goan culture.
(vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.
True
(vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times.
False, it is still a very profitable business and their families are happy and prosperous.
2. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?
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.
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, hopeful, sad) – Nostalgic
(ii) Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession.
(nostalgic, hopeful, sad) – Nostalgic
(iii) I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. (nostalgic, hopeful,
naughty) – Nostalgic
(iv) The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up
everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny) – Funny
(v) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. (sad,
hopeful, matter-of-fact) - Matter-of-fact
(vi) The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and
prosperous. (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad) - Matter-of-fact
