A Baker from Goa

Ans. The baker attracted the children not by his jingle or by the loaves of bread he sold but attracted the children by the bread bangles or the special sweet bread he sold, especially made for children.

Ans. The bakers in the Portuguese days wore a peculiar dress called the ‘Kabai’. It was a long single piece of frock reaching down to the knees During the years when the author was young, they wore a shirt and a trouser that used to be longer than a half pant and shorter than a full pant.

Ans. Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life even today. This we can definitely say because bread is not only a part of their daily life but also of important occasions like Christmas, festivals, weddings and engagements. These occasions are incomplete without a special preparation for each event, made from bread.

Ans. Bread-making is a prosperous business in Goa. The physique of the baker, i.e., his plump and round body are testimony to that. Therefore, anyone who is fat and plump just like a jackfruit is compared to a baker.

Ans. During the Portuguese days, the bakers wore a peculiar dress called the ‘kabai’, that was a frock in a single piece, reaching upto the knees. But during his childhood, the author had seen the bakers wearing shirts with trousers that were longer than half pants, but shorter than a full length one. Even today, anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that he is dressed as a pader.

Ans. The author tells us that the bread is an indispensable part of the life of the Goan people since the time of the Portuguese. Bread is a part of not only everyday life but also of festive occasions and events. For each occasion there was a special kind of bread. He also tells us that the baker had leading role in the society was so important in the life of the Goans that they got up with the jingling sound of his bamboo. He also tells us that the baker wore wither a Kabai, i.e., a long frock or a shirt and a half pant like trousers. The author seems to be very observant because not only does he know all this but also knows the profit-making in it as he says that in those days, the baker was very prosperous and never starved. He also knew that they maintained monthly bills on the walls. Such strong observation powers would definitely be beneficial for children as they would become aware of the citizens of their neighbourhood.

Ans. 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 the loaves have left but the makers still exist.

Ans. The narrator states that the eaters of loaves might have vanished but the makers are still there. They say that those age-old, time tested furnaces still exits and the fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished.

Ans. 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.