Glimpses of India: Part-1

What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

Answer explanation

The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days and their love of bread and loaves. The writer says that the eaters of loaves have left but the makers still exist.

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

Answer explanation

Yes, bread making is still popular in Goa. This is very clear from the narrator’s statement that the eaters have gone away leaving the makers behind. There are mixers, moulders and the ones who bake the loaves. The time tested furnaces still exist there.

What is the baker called?

Answer explanation

The baker is called a pader in Goa.

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

Answer explanation

The baker would come twice a day—once early in the morning and the second time when he returned after selling his stuff.
The children would run to meet him as they wanted to have bread-bangles.

What did the bakers wear in the Portuguese days?

Answer explanation

The bakers were usually dressed up in a peculiar dress called kabai. It was a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees.

What did the bakers wear when the author was young?

Answer explanation

During his childhood days, the author saw the bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full length ones and longer than half pants.

Who invites the comment – “he is dressed like a pader” Why?

Answer explanation

Any person who is wearing a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites this comment. This is because the baker, known as a pader, used to dress like that.

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

Answer explanation

Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life. It is needed for marriage gifts, parties and feasts. Bread is also needed by a mother for preparing sandwiches during her daughter’s engagement. Thus, it is necessary to have breads for every occasion, because of which the presence of a baker’s furnace in the vi .age is very important.

Which of these statements are correct?

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

• The paders went away with the Portuguese.

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

• Paders and their families starve in the present times.

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

Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

Answer explanation

Monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in the house with a pencil.