A Baker from Goa Extra Questions and Answers
Very Short Answer Questions
Question 1. What makes elders in Goa feel nostalgic?
Answer: The elders in Goa feel nostalgic about the old Portuguese days and the bread they used to have.
Question 2. What are some old things still in Goa?
Answer: The ovens used by bakers in Goa are still there, standing the test of time.
Question 3. How often did the baker come each day?
Answer: The baker came twice daily, once in the morning to start selling and then again after selling his bread.
Question 4. What was the baker like in the author’s childhood in Goa?
Answer: In the author’s childhood, the baker was like a friend, companion, and guide.
Question 5. How is the baker’s entrance described?
Answer: The baker’s entrance is described as musical.
Question 6. How did the author and other children peek into the baker’s basket?
Answer: They would climb onto a bench or the parapet to peek into the baker’s basket.
Question 7. What is the name of the baker’s dress in olden days?
Answer: The baker’s dress was called a “kabai.”
Question 8. What is the baker called in Goa?
Answer: In Goa, a baker is called a “pader.”
Question 9. How is the financial situation of a Goa baker?
Answer: Generally, a Goa baker is in a good financial position.
Question 10. What is a kabai?
Answer: A kabai is a type of frock made from a single piece of cloth.
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. What significance did the baker hold in the narrator’s childhood, and how frequently did he visit?
Answer: The baker, known as the pader, held a significant place in the author’s childhood, akin to a friend. He visited twice daily – once in the morning to sell bread, and again while returning after emptying his basket. The author eagerly awaited his arrival, rushing to meet him to collect bread-bangles and engaging in friendly conversation.
Question 2. What were the bakers called, and what characterized their distinctive attire?
Answer: Bakers were referred to as padres. They adorned a unique garment called a ‘kabai,’ a long frock extending to the knees.
Question 3. Define Kabai and provide a brief description.
Answer: Kabai was a specific attire worn by bakers, characterized by a single-piece, long frock reaching the knees. Over time, it was replaced by longer trousers, a transition from traditional wear to more modern attire.
Question 4. What aspects of Goan life do elders nostalgically reflect upon?
Answer: Goan elders nostalgically reminisce about the bygone Portuguese era and its iconic loaves of bread, which held significant cultural importance in daily life.
Question 5. How does the enduring popularity of bread-making affirm its significance in Goan culture?
Answer: The enduring popularity of bread-making in Goa is evident through the continued presence of mixers, moulders, and bakers. The necessity of bread in festivals and daily life underscores its cultural significance.
Question 6. Explain the comparison of individuals with a “jackfruit-like physical appearance” to bakers.
Answer: The comparison stems from the traditional portrayal of bakers as plump and prosperous individuals. Thus, individuals with a similar physique are likened to bakers, symbolizing happiness and prosperity.
Question 7. Justify the statement, “Baking was, indeed, a profitable profession,” with reference to ‘A Baker from Goa.’
Answer: Baking proved profitable in the past as evidenced by the baker’s affluent lifestyle. Their plump physique and contented demeanor reflected financial prosperity, affirming the profitability of their profession.
Question 8. How did the baker attract children?
Answer: The sound of the baker’s bamboo stick, accompanied by his cheerful presence, drew children towards him. They eagerly awaited his arrival to collect bread-bangles and engage in playful interaction.
Question 9. Describe the baker’s manner of entry.
Answer: The baker made a melodious entrance with the rhythmic ‘jhang, jhang’ of his bamboo staff. With one hand supporting the basket on his head and the other tapping the bamboo, he greeted households before presenting his wares.
Question 10. How were the baker’s accounts maintained?
Answer: The baker’s monthly accounts were recorded in pencil on a designated wall, reflecting a simple yet effective method of record-keeping.
Question 11. Is bread an integral aspect of Goan life? Provide evidence.
Answer: Bread remains integral to Goan life, evident in its indispensability during festivals, celebrations, and everyday meals. Its cultural significance underscores its enduring relevance.
Question 12. What vestiges of Portuguese influence persist in Goa?
Answer: Despite the departure of the Portuguese, traces of their influence endure in Goan culture, notably in the tradition of bread-making and the continued existence of bakeries.
Question 13. What memories does the author recall regarding the baker’s visits to his village?
Answer: The author fondly reminisces about the baker’s twice-daily visits, highlighting the significance of the baker in village life as a friend and guide.
Question 14. Why was the village baker essential for special occasions?
Answer: The village baker played a crucial role in special occasions, supplying sweet bread and other baked goods essential for celebrations, emphasizing the centrality of bread in communal gatherings.
Question 15. Describe the attire of the bread-seller.
Answer: The bread-seller’s attire included a distinct ‘kabai,’ a long frock reaching the knees. Over time, this attire evolved into shirts and trousers, reflecting modernization.
Question 16. When and how did the baker collect his bills, and what indicated their prosperity?
Answer: The baker collected bills monthly and recorded transactions on a wall using pencil marks. Their plump physique and contented demeanor were evident signs of prosperity.
Question 17. When did the baker visit daily, and why did children eagerly anticipate his arrival?
Answer: The baker visited twice daily, in the morning and upon returning. Children eagerly awaited his arrival for the opportunity to collect bread-bangles and enjoy his cheerful presence.
Question 18. Describe the baker’s morning entrance.
Answer: The baker made a musical entrance in the morning with the rhythmic sound of his bamboo stick, greeting households before presenting his bread.
Question 19. What childhood memories does the author evoke?
Answer: The author recalls the joyous anticipation of the baker’s visits, illustrating the integral role the baker played in childhood memories and village life.
Question 20. What do elders nostalgically recall, and why?
Answer: Elders nostalgically recall the Portuguese era and its iconic bread, reflecting its cultural significance and enduring impact on Goan life.
Question 21. How do we know that makers of Goan loaves still exist?
Answer: The presence of bread-makers and the continuity of bread-making traditions in Goa affirm the enduring legacy of Goan loaves and their cultural significance.
Question 22. How did the baker make his morning entrance?
Answer: The baker made a musical entrance in the morning with the rhythmic sound of his bamboo stick, heralding his arrival and delighting children with his cheerful demeanor.
Question 23. Why was the baker regarded as a friend, companion, and guide by children?
Answer: The baker’s jovial presence and daily interactions endeared him to children, who viewed him as a friend, companion, and guide in their village life.
Question 24. What significance did the baker’s furnace hold in the village?
Answer: The baker’s furnace was essential for baking bread, a staple of Goan life. Its presence symbolized community and tradition, highlighting the importance of bread-making in village culture.
Question 25. Describe the evolution of the baker’s attire over time.
Answer: Originally characterized by the ‘kabai,’ a long frock, the baker’s attire transitioned to shirts and trousers, reflecting changing fashion trends and modernization.
Question 26. Describe the baker’s attitude towards (i) the lady of the house (ii) the children (iii) the maidservant.
Answer: (i) The baker greeted the lady of the house respectfully before presenting his wares.
(ii) He engaged with children cheerfully, despite occasionally needing to gently push them aside.
(iii) He delivered loaves to the maidservant, completing his duties with courtesy.
Question 27. How did children respond to the baker’s mild rebuke?
Answer: Despite mild rebukes, children persisted in their eagerness, often climbing to get a closer look at the bread basket, fascinated by the baker’s presence.
Question 28. Why did children neglect oral hygiene in anticipation of the baker’s arrival?
Answer: The excitement of the baker’s arrival often superseded mundane tasks like brushing teeth, as children eagerly awaited the opportunity to greet him and indulge in bread-bangles.
Question 29. When and how did the baker manage his accounts?
Answer: The baker collected bills monthly and recorded transactions on a wall using pencil marks, reflecting a simple yet effective method of accounting.
Question 30. How does the profitability of baking in Goa’s past manifest?
Answer: The baker’s prosperous lifestyle, evidenced by his plump physique and contented demeanor, attests to the profitability of baking in Goa’s past, highlighting its economic viability and cultural significance.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Why was it absolutely essential to have a “baker’s furnace” in a Goan village?
Answer: The presence of a “baker’s furnace” in a Goan village was deemed essential due to the lasting influence of Portuguese bread culture. Though the consumers of these bread loaves might have diminished, the bakers who craft them retained a significant societal role. With mixers, moulders, and traditional furnaces still in operation, the bakers continue to hold sway in the village. Their services remain vital for preparing sandwiches during engagements, and cakes and bolinhas for Christmas and other festivals, thus cementing the necessity of the baker’s furnace in the village.
Question 2. Give a pen-portrait of a baker in Goa.
Answer: In Goa, a baker held a prominent position within village life. Their contributions were indispensable, especially during celebrations, where sweet bread, cakes, and bolinhas were essential. Originally clad in the distinctive “kabai” frock during the Portuguese era, they later adopted shirts and trousers of intermediate length. Despite changes, their prosperity was evident from their plump physique, and they were esteemed figures, often befriending and guiding the author and other children.
Question 3. Describe the childhood memories of the author’s life in Goa and his fondness for bread and cakes.
Answer: The author’s reminiscences of childhood in Goa are imbued with joy and nostalgia, particularly regarding the presence of the village baker. This pivotal figure, responsible for crafting and distributing loaves of bread, made a memorable entrance twice daily, met with eager anticipation by the author and fellow children. Fondness for the baker’s offerings, including bread-bangles and special sweet bread, was shared among them.
Question 4. How is the effect of the traditional bread bakers still seen in Goa today?
Answer: The legacy of traditional bread baking endures in contemporary Goa, reminiscent of a time when the village baker held indispensable significance. Though bread consumption has waned, the presence of village bakers persists, with their age-old furnaces and distinct bamboo sounds evoking nostalgia. Festivities like Christmas and weddings remain incomplete without the iconic bol sweet bread, underscoring the enduring importance of the baker in Goan culture.
Question 5. What was the importance of the baker in the village? What kind of dress did they wear?
Answer: The village baker held pivotal importance, as their creations were integral to various occasions such as weddings and festivals. Their attire evolved from the traditional “kabai” frock to shirts and trousers of intermediate length. Their presence, marked by the distinct attire, symbolized tradition and community cohesion.
Question 6. Give a pen-portrait of a Goan village baker.
Answer: A Goan village baker, synonymous with warmth and tradition, was known for distributing an array of bread loaves. Clad in a distinct “kabai” frock or later, shirts and trousers, they exuded prosperity and happiness. Their musical arrival, accompanied by the rhythmic jangling of bamboo, was a cherished sight, embodying the essence of Goan village life.
Question 7. What do our elders often reminisce about nostalgically in Goa? Did the old profession of making the famous loaves of bread end with the Portuguese?
Answer: In Goa, elders fondly recall the illustrious Portuguese era and its renowned bread culture. While the consumers of these loaves have dwindled, the craft endures through the efforts of bakers and the remnants of traditional furnaces. The iconic sound of the bamboo still resonates in Goan streets, underscoring the lasting legacy of bread-making.
Question 8. Describe the author’s experience during his childhood in Goa? Why was the baker or the pader the guide of children in Goa?
Answer: The author’s childhood in Goa was punctuated by the presence of the village baker, affectionately known as the “pader.” Their rhythmic arrival, marked by the bamboo’s resonant jangle, was a cherished sight for children. The baker’s role extended beyond bread-making, serving as a friend and guide, encapsulating the communal spirit of Goan villages.
Question 9. Baking was a profitable profession in the old days in Goa. Prove it by giving examples from the text.
Answer: Baking was indeed lucrative in olden Goa, evident from the indispensable role bakers played in ceremonies and daily life. Sweet bread and cakes were integral to weddings and festivals, underscoring the financial viability of baking as a profession. The baker’s prosperity, reflected in their plump physique and timely bill collection, attested to the profession’s profitability.
Question 10. Give a pen-portrait of the baker or the pader highlighting the changes that came in his fortune and dress with the passage of time?
Answer: The baker, or “pader,” was an emblematic figure of Goan life, clad in the traditional “kabai” frock during the Portuguese era. Over time, their attire evolved to shirts and trousers, reflecting shifting cultural norms. While the bamboo’s resonant sound persists, the profession’s significance has diminished, with nostalgia overshadowing its contemporary relevance.