I. A Baker from Goa

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Oral Comprehension Check 

1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
Answer: The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the “good old Portuguese days,” specifically about the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread.

2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
Answer: Yes, bread-making is still very popular in Goa. We know this because the author mentions that the mixers, moulders, and bakers still exist, and the old, time-tested furnaces are still in use. The jingling thud of the baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places, and the baker’s profession is often carried on by the son.

3. What is the baker called?
Answer: The baker is called a ‘pader’ in Goa.

4. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?
Answer: The baker would come at least twice a day. Once in the morning on his selling round, and again in the evening after emptying his basket. The children ran to meet him not for the love of the bread loaves, but for the bread-bangles, which they chose carefully.

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Oral Comprehension Check 

1. Match the following. What is a must

(i) as marriage gifts?
(ii) for a party or a feast?
(iii) for a daughter’s engagement?
(iv) for Christmas?

Answer:

• (i) sweet bread called bol
• (ii) bread
• (iii) sandwiches
• (iv) cakes and bolinhas

2. What did the bakers wear:
(i) in the Portuguese days?
(ii) when the author was young?

Answer:

• (i) In the Portuguese days, bakers wore a peculiar dress called the ‘kabai,’ which was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees.
• (ii) When the author was young, he saw bakers wearing a shirt and trousers that were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.

3. Who invites the comment “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?
Answer: Anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that he is dressed like a pader. This is because the bakers, during the author’s youth, used to wear trousers of that specific length.

4. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
Answer: The monthly accounts of the baker used to be recorded on some wall in pencil.

5. What does a jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?
Answer: A ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ means having a plump physique or a pleasantly fat body. It’s a way of saying someone looks well-fed and prosperous, just like the bakers and their families who never starved.

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Thinking about the Text

1. Which of these statements are correct?
(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
(ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages.
(iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese.
(iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.
(v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.
(vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.
(vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times.

Answer: (i), (ii), (v), (vi)

2. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?
Answer: Yes, bread is a very important part of Goan life. The author says that marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread called ‘bol.’ A party or feast loses its charm without bread. Sandwiches are a must for a daughter’s engagement, and cakes and ‘bolinhas’ are essential for Christmas and other festivals. The presence of the baker’s furnace in the village is considered absolutely essential, which shows how deeply integrated bread is into Goan culture and celebrations.

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)
Answer: nostalgic

(ii) Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession.(nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
Answer: hopeful

(iii) I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves.(nostalgic, hopeful,
naughty)
Answer: nostalgic

(iv) The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all.(naughty, angry, funny)
Answer: funny

(v) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals.(sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)
Answer: matter-of-fact

(vi) The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)
Answer: matter-of-fact

Writing

I. 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.

Paragraph:
In his childhood in Goa, the author’s days were shaped by the arrival of the village baker, or ‘pader,’ who was not just a seller but a friend and guide. The baker’s ‘jhang, jhang’ musical entry with his bamboo staff would wake up the children, who would eagerly run to greet him. They were not interested in the bread loaves, but in the bread-bangles, which were a special treat. The baker wore a unique outfit of trousers that were longer than half pants but shorter than full pants. The profession was profitable, and the bakers were known for their plump, prosperous appearance. Their monthly accounts were simply kept on a wall with a pencil.

II.1. Compare the piece from the text (on the left below) 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?

Answer: The two texts are very different in their tone and style. The text on the left is a personal, nostalgic, and emotional account, written from the author’s own memories of his childhood. It uses descriptive language like “reminiscing nostalgically,” “famous loaves of bread,” and “thud and jingle.” The text on the right is a factual, impersonal, and more analytical piece, adapted from a travel article. It focuses on the historical and business aspects, using phrases like “Goa’s liberation,” “perfected the art of door-to-door delivery,” and “leavened, oven-baked bread.”
While the facts are similar (both mention the Portuguese influence and the survival of the paders), the way they are presented is different. The first text gives a vivid, personal picture of the baker’s daily life and his interaction with the villagers. The second text gives a more general, historical overview without a specific, personal picture of an individual baker.

II.2. 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.

An Impersonal Travel Brochure Description:
“The beautiful beaches of Kerala offer a serene and tranquil escape. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including houseboat cruises on the backwaters and Ayurvedic spa treatments. The region is known for its lush greenery and vibrant culture.”

My Personal Account:
“My trip to Kerala felt like stepping into a different world. The first thing I noticed was the air itself, thick and warm, smelling of salt and damp earth. I remember waking up on a houseboat, the gentle lapping of water against the wood a lullaby. The backwaters were like a slow-moving dream, with vibrant green paddy fields and palm trees swaying lazily. We passed a small village where children were playing cricket on the bank, their laughter echoing across the water. It wasn’t just a vacation; it was a feeling of peace and quiet I had never experienced before.”

Group Discussion

1. In groups, collect information on how bakeries bake bread now and how the process has changed over time.

• Traditional Baking: Used brick or stone furnaces fueled by wood. The process was manual, from mixing and kneading the dough to shaping and baking it. The baker’s schedule was fixed, and the bread was delivered to homes.

• Modern Baking: Uses industrial-scale ovens (gas or electric) with precise temperature controls. The process is automated with machines for kneading, shaping, and slicing. Bread is often made with faster-acting yeast. It’s sold in supermarkets and modern bakeries, not typically delivered door-to-door.

• The Changes: The biggest change is the shift from a manual, craft-based profession to an industrial, automated process. This has increased efficiency and production but has also changed the flavour and texture of the bread.

2. There are a number of craft-based professions which are dying out. Pick one of the crafts below. Make a group presentation to the class about the skills required, and the possible reasons for the decline of the craft. Can you think of ways to revive these crafts?

Answer (Pottery):

• Skills Required:
  ● Hand-building: The ability to shape clay by hand.
  ● Wheel-throwing: The skill of using a potter’s wheel to create symmetrical forms.
  ● Glazing and Firing: Knowledge of different glazes and the firing process to make the pottery durable.
  ● Creativity: Artistic ability to design unique pots, bowls, and other clay products.

• Reasons for Decline:
  ● Mass Production: Cheap, machine-made ceramics have flooded the market, making handmade products less competitive.
  ● Lack of Apprenticeship: Young people are not learning the craft from their elders because it is not seen as a profitable career.
  ● Changing Lifestyle: People are less likely to buy traditional, rustic pottery and prefer modern, mass-produced items.

• Ways to Revive:
  ● Modern Marketing: Promote pottery as an art form and a high-quality, unique product. Use social media and online stores to reach a wider audience.
  ● Government Support: Establish craft villages and provide financial aid or training programs for potters.
  ● Workshops and Tourism: Offer pottery workshops for tourists and locals to create a new revenue stream and attract new interest.