A Baker from Goa - First Flight - Class 10 - CBSE English

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About the Author - A Baker from Goa | First Flight | Class 10 Literature | CBSE English

 Lucio Rodrigues (1916-1973) was known for his book "Glimpses of India - Part 1: A Baker from Goa," which provides insights into the traditional Goan bread-making profession. Rodrigues wrote in English and his work shed light on the cultural significance of bakers and the role they played in Goan society. His book offers a nostalgic glimpse into the past, capturing the traditions, memories, and experiences associated with Goan bakers. 

Summary - A Baker from Goa | First Flight | Class 10 Literature | CBSE English

The chapter provides a nostalgic view of the traditional practice of bread-making in Goa, highlighting the enduring role of local bakers, known as 'paders'. The author takes us on a journey through the cultural significance of these bakers in Goan society, particularly during the Portuguese era.

The chapter begins with the author's elders reminiscing about the good old Portuguese days when the famous loaves of bread were a significant part of everyday life. The author mentions how the bread-eaters might have vanished, but the tradition of bread-making still persists. The old furnaces are still in use, and the profession continues to be passed down from one generation to the next.

The author recounts the daily routine of the bakers who used to visit homes twice a day, carrying their bamboo baskets filled with bread. The author nostalgically recalls the unique sound of the baker's bamboo hitting the ground, signalling his arrival and the smell of fresh bread wafting through the air. The author humorously shares how as children, they would eagerly await the baker's arrival, not for the loaves of bread, which were typically bought by the housemaid, but for the bread-bangles which they cherished.

The baker played an essential role in the Goan community, marking his presence at all significant events. Bread was indispensable for marriage gifts, parties, feasts, and festivals such as Christmas. The baker was an iconic figure, remembered for his distinct attire—a single-piece long frock called 'kabai' during the Portuguese era, and shirt and trousers that were neither full-length nor half pants during the author's childhood.

The chapter concludes by reflecting on the prosperity of the bakers. They would collect their bills at the end of the month, maintaining their accounts on a wall in pencil. Baking was a profitable profession, and the bakers, their families, and their servants always appeared well-fed and prosperous, often associated with a 'jackfruit-like' physical appearance.

This chapter is a heart-warming tribute to the traditional bakers of Goa, underlining their lasting influence and contribution to Goan society.

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Themes - A Baker from Goa | First Flight | Class 10 Literature | CBSE English

  1. Nostalgia for the Past: The chapter evokes a strong sense of nostalgia for the good old Portuguese days and the traditions of bread-making associated with that era. The author and the elders reminisce about the significance of bread and the role of the baker in their childhood, highlighting the longing for the bygone times.
  2. Community and Tradition: The chapter emphasizes the close-knit community spirit and the importance of tradition in Goan society. The baker....

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Plot - A Baker from Goa | First Flight | Class 10 Literature | CBSE English

  1. Introduction: Nostalgia for the Portuguese Days
    • Introduction to the theme of nostalgia for the Portuguese era and its influence on Goan culture and traditions.
  2. The Importance of Bakers in Goa
    • Highlighting the significance.....

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Important Lines - A Baker from Goa | First Flight | Class 10 Literature | CBSE English

  1. "Our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread."
    • This line sets the tone for the chapter, introducing the theme of nostalgia and the significance of Portuguese influence on Goan bread-making traditions. It establishes a longing for the past and the cultural memories associated with bread.
  2. "We still have amongst us the mixers, the moulders and those who bake the loaves."
    • This line highlights ....

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Back Questions - A Baker from Goa | First Flight | Class 10 Literature | CBSE English

  • Which of these statements are correct?

    1. The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
    2. Paders still exist in Goan villages.
    3. The paders went away with the Portuguese.
    4. The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.
    5. Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.
    6. Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.
    7. Paders and their families starve in the present times.

    (i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times. - Correct
    The pader (or baker) was indeed an important figure in the village, providing daily bread and other baked goods for different occasions.

    (ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages. - Correct
    The passage suggests that the tradition of bread-making continues, with the children of old paders carrying on the profession.

    (iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese. - Incorrect
    Although the Portuguese left, the tradition of the paders did not go away with them. The local people continued the tradition of baking.

    (iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock. - Incorrect
    The passage does not provide current information on what the paders wear today. It only describes what they wore during the Portuguese era and when the author was a child.

    (v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days. - Correct
    Bread and cakes played a significant role in daily meals and special occasions, showing their integral place in Goan life.

    (vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business. - Not Clearly Stated
    The passage describes bread-baking as a profitable business in the past but does not provide explicit information on whether it is still profitable today.

    (vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times. - Incorrect
    The passage does not suggest that paders and their families are starving in present times. In fact, it described the baking profession as traditionally profitable, and this, coupled with the continued demand for bread, suggests that they likely continue to be able to sustain themselves.

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

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  • 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) 

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  • In this extract, the author talks about traditional bread-baking during his childhood days. Complete the following table with the help of the clues on the left. Then write a paragraph about the author's childhood days.
    Clues                                                                       Author’s childhood days
    the way bread was baked
    the way the pader sold bread
    what the pader wore
    when the pader was paid
    how the pader looked

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  • Compare the piece from the text with the other piece on Goan bakers (on the right). What makes the two texts so different? Are the facts the same? Do both writers give you a picture of the baker?

    Text 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. Those age-old, time-tested furnaces still exist. The fire in the furnaces had not yet been

    extinguished. The thud and the 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.

     Text 2:--After Goa’s liberation, people used to say nostalgically that the Portuguese bread vanished with the paders. But the paders have managed to survive because they have perfected the art of door-to[1]door delivery service. The paders pick up the knowledge of bread[1]making from traditions in the family. The leavened, oven-baked bread is a gift of the Portuguese to India. [Adapted from Nandakumar Kamat’s ‘The Unsung Lives of Goan Paders’

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  • Now find a travel brochure about a place you have visited. Look at the description in the brochure. Then write your own account, adding details from your own experience to give the reader a picture of the place rather than an impersonal, factual description 

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Extra Questions - A Baker from Goa | First Flight | Class 10 Literature | CBSE English

  • 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?

    The baker comes across as an integral part of society. He was not only a provider of essential goods like bread but also an integral part of daily life, a familiar and comforting presence.

    The title of 'friend' implies that the baker was someone who was liked and trusted by the community. He was someone people could confide in, chat with, and rely on. His daily interactions, such as wishing a 'Good morning' or mildly rebuking the kids, add a human touch to his role and make him a beloved figure in the community.

    Being referred to as a 'companion' indicates that the baker was a constant presence, and his routine visits were something people looked forward to. He was a part of their daily routine, and his presence was comforting and familiar.

    The term 'guide' means that the baker, with his experiences and stories, provided wisdom and guidance to the children and others in the community. He played a pivotal role in all the occasions in their society, whether a marriage or Christmas time.

  • What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

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

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  • What is the baker called?

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

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  • 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

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  • What did the bakers wear: (i) In the Portuguese days (ii) When the author was young

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  • Who invites the comment - "he is dressed like a pader?" Why?

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  • What does a 'jackfruit-like appearance' mean?

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  • 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. 

    a. Who are 'we' in the extract? 
    b. Why were the children pushed aside? 
    c. How does the author feel about the old times?

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  • 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. 

    a. What are compulsorily prepared during Christmas in Goa? 
    b. Why is a baker necessary in a village? 
    c. Find the word in the extract which means 'celebration meal'.

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  • 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. a. Where did the baker record his accounts? 

    b. Why did the baker and his family never starve? 
    c. Which work in the extract is a synonym of 'build'?

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  • How did the baker make his entry?

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  • How do we get to know that the makers of bread still exist?

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A Baker from Goa - Line by line explanation in Hindi | First Flight | Class 10 Literature | CBSE English

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Quiz - A Baker from Goa | First Flight | Class 10 Literature | CBSE English

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