Glimpses of India

 A Baker from Goa

1.       What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

Ans: The elders in Goa are nostalgic about good old Portuguese days and famous loaves of bread.

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

Ans. Yes, bread making is still popular in Goa. Bread eaters have gone away leaving the makers behind. There are mixers, moulders, furnaces and the ones who bake the loaves.

3.      What is the baker called?
Ans: The baker is called a ‘Pader’ in Goa.

4.      When would the baker come every day? Why did the children run to meet him?
Ans: The baker used to come twice a day. First in the morning to sell the bread. Later he returns after selling his stuff. The children used to run to baker to have bread-bangles.

1. Match the following.

1. as marriage gifts – sweet bread called bol
2. for a party or a feast – bread
3. for a daughter’s engagement – sandwiches
4. for Christmas – cakes and bolinhas

2. What did the bakers wear:
1. In the Portuguese days
2. When the author was young
Ans: 1. The bakers were usually dressed up in a peculiar dress called kabai. It was a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees.
2. During his childhood days, the author saw the bakers wearing a shirt and trousers that would reach below the knees.

3. Who invites the comment – “he is dressed like a pader” Why?
Ans: Any person who is wearing a half pants which reaches just below the knees invites this comment. This is because the baker, known as a pader, used to dress like that.

4. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
Ans: Monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in the house with a pencil.

5. What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?
Ans: It means having a plump physique, like a jackfruit.

 1. Which of these statements are correct?
1. The pader was an important person in the village in old times.      True
2. Paders still exist in Goan villages.                                                  True
3. The paders went away with the Portuguese.                                  False
4. The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.                  False
5. Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days. True

2. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?
Ans: Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life. It is necessary to have breads for every occasion like marriage gifts, parties and feasts. Bread is also needed by a mother for preparing sandwiches during her daughter’s engagement.

3. Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the following?
1. The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker ‘s bamboo can still be heard in some places, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)

2. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
3. I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves, (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)
4. The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)
5. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals, (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)

6. The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous, (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)
Answer:
1. Nostalgic     2. Hopeful       3. Nostalgic     4. Funny          5. Matter-of-fact         6. Matter-of-fact

Part II Coorg

1.      Where is Coorg?
Ans: Coorg or Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is situated midway between Mysore and Mangalore.

2.      What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?
Ans: The Coorg are descendents of Alexander’s army. They moved south along the coast and settled there only when they were unable to return to their country. These people married among the locals. This is the story about the descent of Kodavu people. Another theory tells people of Coorge are originally from Arab because they wear a black coat with an embroidered waist-belt.

3.      What are some of the things you now know about?
1. the people of Coorg?
2. the main crop of Coorg?
3. the sports it offers to a tourists?
4. the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?
5. its distance from Bangalore and how to get there?
Ans:
1. They are fiercely independent people and have descended from the Greeks or the Arabs.
2. Coffee is the main crop of Coorg.
3. It mostly offers adventure sports which include river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking.
4. The animals likely to be seen in Coorg are macaques, Malabar squirrel, langurs, slender loris, elephants etc.
5. By road, it is around 250 – 260 kilometres from Bangalore.

4.      Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated)
1. During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (Para 2)
2. Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there. (Para 3)
3. The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their son’s and father’s valour. (Para 4)
4. Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high energy adventure sports of Coorg. (Para 6)
5. The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (Para 3)
6. Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (Para 7)
Ans: 1. to keep visitors away  2. As one story goes    3. are more than willing to recount
4. The most laidback individuals become converts to            5. draws support from 6. keep a watchful eye