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Glimpses of India Part 1 Summary Analysis and Explanation
A Baker From Goa Summary of the Lesson
Goa is very much influenced by the Portuguese. Their traditional work can be still seen there. The Portuguese are famous for preparing the loaves of bread. We can come across the makers of bread in Goa. The furnaces baking the bread still exist there.
It is a traditional family work and these bakers are known as pader in Goa. The writer tells about his childhood days in Goa when the baker used to be their friend.
He used to visit their house twice a day. In the morning his jingling sound of the bamboo woke them from sleep. They all ran to meet him. The loaves were purchased by the maidservant of the house. But they always ran to get bread bangles. Sometimes the baker had special sweet bread.
His entry created the ‘jhang-jhang’ sound from the bamboo. Through one hand the baker supported the basket on his head and the other hand banged the bamboo on the ground. After greeting the lady of the house by saying ‘Good morning’, the baker would place his basket. He had loaves for the elders’ and the bangles for the children. There used to come a typical fragrance from the loaves.
The villagers were much fond of the sweet bread known as ‘boll The marriage gifts were meaningless without it. So the bakers’ furnace in the village was the most essential thing.
The lady of the house prepared sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and lbolinhas’ formed important items on various occasions like Christmas and other festivals.
In those days the bread-seller wore a particular dress known as ‘Kabai’. It was a single piece long frock up to the knees. Even today they can be seen wearing a half pant that reaches just below the knees. People usually comment that he is dressed like ‘a Pader’.
The baker would collect his bill at the end of the month.
They recorded their accounts on the wall in pencil. Baking was a profitable profession in old days. The baker and his family never starved and they looked happy and prosperous.