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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
STD X
ENGLISH LESSON NOTES
MODULE 24: Glimpses of India A baker from Goa

Chapter 7 - Glimpses of India (Part 1) A Baker from Goa
By Lucio Rodrigues
This is a pen-portrait of a traditional Goan village baker who still has an important place in his
society

objective

To help the children know
 How culture and tradition influence society
 Time surpasses but culture and tradition exist with little variations
 India is country of various traditions and culture
 The glimpses of India

INTRODUCTION: ‘A Baker from Goa’ revolves around the relevance of a baker in the Goan
culture which dates back to the time when Portuguese ruled over the city of Goa. The
Portuguese may have left but the bread-makers continue to have an inevitable stature. In this
story, the author recalls his childhood days and their excitement on seeing the baker. They
were enthusiastic to the point that they would run to him as soon as they woke up without
even brushing their teeth.

Glimpses of India A Baker from Goa Summary

The lesson begins with how narrator’s elders often recall the time when Goa was under the rule
of the Portuguese. They talk how the importance of bakers is still maintained in their villages
even after the Portuguese have left. They are known as ‘Paders’ in Goa. The mixers, moulders
and their time-tested furnaces continue to serve the people of Goa with their famous bread
loaves. It is possible that the original ones may not exist, but their profession is being continued
by their sons. The thud of their bamboo stick can still be heard in some parts of the village. The
same jingling thud would wake the narrator and his friends during their childhood days who
would go running to him without brushing or washing their mouth properly. It was the maid-
servant of the house who collected the loaves while children sorted out the bread bangles for
themselves. Bakery products have importance in the culture and traditions of Goa. Bol or sweet
bread is a part of marriage gifts, cakes and Bolinhas or coconut cookies are eaten at every
festival and the lady of the house prepares sandwiches at her daughter’s engagement. Earlier
bakers wore a unique frock of knee-length known as ‘kabai’ but during the narrator’s childhood
days, they wore a shirt and trousers of length slightly shorter than the usual ones. They
generally collected their bills at the end of every month. Bakery has continued to be a profitable
profession, managing to keep their families joyous and prosperous.