A Baker From Goa, Class 10th English

 

A Baker From Goa, Class 10th English 

1- Introduction 

2- The Theme

3- Chapter Explanation 

4- Word-Meaning 

5- Textbook Exercises 

6- Value Based Question/Answers 

7- To Conclude

1- Introduction 

This Chapter is a real life extract from Authors life. The name of the author is Lucio Rodrigues. He was a great konkani essayist. He wrote several articles in English and konkani for several magazines and periodicals. 

He served as the visiting professor of Folklore at many universities and also as a professor of English in Mumbai and Goa.

This story is traditional Goan village baker who still holds important place in the society. With the passage of time trends changed and we will see glimpse in the life of the baker in this chapter. 

2- The Theme

The Author presents the pen-portrait of a traditional Goan village baker who holds important place in society. The old Portuguese traditions still exist in Goa. Important occasions and festivals are meaningless without traditional cakes and breads and this is the important aspect of the Goan culture. 

3- Chapter Explanation 

• Author recalls old Portuguese days in Goa

In the old Portuguese days, the Portuguese were famous for their loaves of bread. (a quantity of bread that is baked in one piece and then sliced before being eaten). The Portuguese left Goa long time ago but baking tradition and their furnaces still exists in Goa.

The sound of the traditional baker's bamboo can still be heard from which they used to make a sound. These bakers are known as 'Pader' in Goa even today. 

• The traditional baker and his arrival

The narrator recalls his childhood days in Goa. The baker used to be their friend and companion. He used to visit there house twice a day. Once in the morning time and again in the evening time. 

The jingling sound of the bamboo stick woke up everyone. With one hand he support the basket and with other hand banged the bamboo stick on the ground and make jingling sound. The baker greet the lady of the house first by saying "Good morning". The children became so excited that they ate bread bangles without brushing their teeth. 

• Importance of Baker's in festivals and traditional ceremonies 

Marriages or any festival were incomplete without the sweet bread known as "bol". Cakes and Bols are must for Christmas and other festivals. 

• The Baker's Attire

The bakers used to wear a special dress known as 'kabai'. It was a single piece long frock that reached down to the knees. During the narrator's childhood, bakers wore shirt and trousers shorter than full-length. 

Even today, if anyone wears a shirt and trousers shorter than full-length then he is referred to as a Pader(baker). They usually collect their bills  at the end of the month. Their monthly accounts used to be recorded on small wall with pencil.

• A profitable profession - Baking

In old days, baking was profitable profession. They all were happy and prosperous which can be easily proved by seeing their plumpy bodies. 

4- Word-Meaning 

• loaves -a quantity of bread that is baked in one piece and then sliced before being eaten. 

• vanished -gone, disappear 

• furnace - a machine for baking 

• thud - a dull and heavy sound

• jingle - a light ringing sound 

• rebuke - disapproval 

• fragrance - scent, smell

• plump physique - fat body

5- Textbook Exercises 

i- What are the elders in Goa are nostalgic about?

Ans- The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the loaves of bread made by Portuguese bakers.

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

Ans Yes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. The Author said "The Portuguese have gone away but the traditional baker's and their furnaces still exists in Goa".

iii- What is the baker called? 

Ans- The baker is called Pader in Goa.

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

Ans- The baker used to come twice i.e. once early morning and second time in the evening. 

The children run to meet him in order to get bread-bangles which they enjoy eating. 

Oral Comprehension Check 

i- Match The Following. What Is A Must

Ans-

• as marriage gifts- sweet bread called bol

• for a party or a feast- bread

• for a daughter's engagement- sandwiches 

• for Christmas- cakes and bolinhas.

ii- What did the bakers wear:

• in the portuguese days?

• when the author was young?

Ans- The bakers usually wore a peculiar dress called Kabai. It's a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees. 

• When the author was young the bakers used to wear shirt and trouser shorter than full-length and longer than half-pants.

iii- Who invited the comment "he is dressed like a Pader"? Why?

Ans- Any person who wears half pant which reaches just below the knees receives this comment. Because the baker used to dress like that.

iv- Where were the monthly accounts of the baker's recorded?

Ans- The monthly accounts of the baker's were recorded on the wallin the house with pencil. 

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

Ans- It means have a fat body, like a jackfruit. The baker and his family always looked happy and prosperous and had a jackfruit like appearance. 

Thinking About The Text

Which of these statements are correct?

• The pader was an important person in the village in old times - Correct

• Paders still exist in Goan villages - Correct 

• The Paders went away with the Portuguese - Incorrect

• The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock - Incorrect

• Bread and cakes were an integral part of green life in the old days - Correct

• Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business - Correct

• Paders and their families starve in the present times - Incorrect. 

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

Ans- Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life.

Cakes and bolinhas are essential for Christmas and other occasions. Bread is needed by a mother for preparing sandwiches during her daughter's engagement. It is also needed for marriage gifts and parties.

iii- Write the tone of the author when he says the following statements:

• The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker's bamboo can still be heard in some places.

Ans- Nostalgic 

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

Ans- Hopeful

• I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves.

Ans- Nostalgic 

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

Ans- Funny

• Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. 

Ans- Matter-of-fact

• The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. 

Ans- Matter-of-fact.

6- Value Based Question/Answers 

i- Why was the baker's furnace essential in a traditional Goan village?  (C.B.S.E. 2010)

Ans- The baker's furnace was essential in a traditional Goan village because different kinds of breads were required for different occasions. Marriages, festivals and other occasions are meaningless without sweet bread known as Bol and cakes.

ii- How do we know that Goa's bakers are very prosperous? (C.B.S.E. 2019)

Ans- From their plump physique its clear. Baking in Goa is an important profession and an essential part of all festivities in Goa. As a result, the baker and his family never starved. 

iii- 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? (C.B.S.E. 2015)

Ans- Yes, our traditions, heritage, values and practices are the roots that nourish us. They always provide us emotional support. With their help we can face a difficult situation. The story highlights the importance of traditional practice of bread making at every occasion whether its marriage, Christmas and any other occasion. 

Marriage is incomplete without a sweet bread known as "bol". All festivities and feasts are incomplete without cakes and bolinhas. This shows that bread is an important part of the Goan life that continues even today. 

iv- Why were the children fascinated by the baker? How did they show their eagerness to see him? (C.B.S.E. 2020)

Ans- The children always eager to see him. They wake up as soon as they heard the jingling sound of bamboo stick. They surround the baker. They didn't even brush their teeth before taking the bread-bangles. So we can say that they were always eager to see the baker.

7- To Conclude 

I hope the above notes would be a great help in your upcoming Exams. If any doubts you can reach me through the comment section box and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank You. 

ALL THE VERY BEST FOR YOUR EXAMS