Chapter 5


Glimpses of India

Oral Comprehension Check

1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

Answer: The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days and the traditional loaves of bread that were famous during that time. They fondly remember the village bakers and the role they played in daily life.


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

Answer: Yes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. The text says that the makers of bread — the mixers, moulders, and bakers — are still present. The traditional furnaces are still in use, and the thud and jingle of the baker’s bamboo staff can still be heard in some places, showing that the tradition continues.


3. What is the baker called?

Answer: (English):

The traditional Goan village baker is called a ‘pader’.

ଉତ୍ତର (ଓଡ଼ିଆ):
ଗୋଆର ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ବ୍ରେଡ୍ ବେପାରିକୁ ସ୍ଥାନୀୟ ଭାଷାରେ ‘ପାଦେର୍’ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ।


4. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?

Answer: The baker would come twice every day — once in the morning on his selling round, and again after emptying his basket. The children ran to meet him not for the loaves of bread, but because they were excited to get bread-bangles and sometimes sweet bread, which they loved.

ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ:
ପାଦେର୍ ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ଦୁଇଥର ଆସୁଥିଲେ — ଏକଥର ସକାଳେ ବ୍ରେଡ୍ ବିକ୍ରି କରିବା ପାଇଁ, ଓ ପରେ ଝୁଲି ଖାଲି କରି ଫେରିବା ବେଳେ। ଶିଶୁମାନେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖି ଦୌଡ଼ିଯିବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଥିଲେ କାରଣ ସେମାନେ ବ୍ରେଡ୍ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍ଗଲ୍ (ବା ମିଠା ବ୍ରେଡ୍) ପାଇଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଉତ୍ସାହିତ ଥିଲେ।


Oral Comprehension Check

1. Match the following – What is a must:

Occasion What is a must
(i) As marriage gifts Sweet bread called bol
(ii) For a party or a feast Bread
(iii) For a daughter's engagement Sandwiches
(iv) For Christmas Cakes and bolinhas

2. What did the bakers wear. (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was young?

Answer:  (i) In the Portuguese days:

The bakers wore a peculiar dress called the kabai, which was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees.

(ii) When the author was young:
The bakers wore a shirt and trousers, which were shorter than full-length pants but longer than half pants.

3. Who invites the comment "he is dressed like a puder? Why?

Answer: Anyone who wears half-pants that reach just below the knees invites the comment "he is dressed like a pader."

This is because the traditional bakers (paders) in Goa used to wear similar knee-length trousers, and that style became associated with them.

4. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

Answer: The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in pencil in the house.

5. What does a jackfruit-like appearance' mean?

Answer: A ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ refers to a plump or fat body, just like the round and bulky shape of a jackfruit.

It is used humorously to describe a person who looks well-fed and healthy, like the traditional Goan baker who was always prosperous.


1. Where is Coorg?

Answer: Coorg, also known as Kodagu, is the smallest district of Karnataka, situated midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore.

2. What is the story about the Kodavu people's descent?

Answer: The Kodavu people are believed to be of Greek or Arabic descent.

  • One story says that a part of Alexander’s army settled in Coorg when they could not return, and they married local women.

  • Another theory relates to Arab origin, supported by their traditional dress (kuppia), which resembles the kuffia worn by Arabs and Kurds.

3. What are some of the things you now know about –

(i) the people of Coorg?

  • They are known for their hospitality, bravery, and independent nature.
  • The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army.
  • General Cariappa, the first Chief of the Indian Army, was a Coorgi.
  • Kodavus are the only Indians allowed to carry firearms without a licence.

(ii) the main crop of Coorg?

  • The main crop is coffee.
  • Coorg is called “coffee country” because of its vast coffee plantations.

(iii) the sports it offers to tourists?

  • Coorg offers several adventure sports, such as:

  • River rafting

  • Canoeing
  • Rappelling
  • Rock climbing
  • Mountain biking
  • Trekking on various walking trails


(iv) The animals you are likely to see in Coorg?

Answer: In Coorg, you are likely to see a variety of animals such as:

  • Wild elephants
  • Macaques (a type of monkey)
  • Malabar squirrels
  • Langurs
  • Slender loris
  • Also, birds, bees, butterflies are commonly seen, especially while trekking.

(v) Its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?

Answer:

Distance from Bangalore: Coorg is about 250–260 km from Bangalore.

  • How to get there:

  • By Road: Two main routes from Bangalore – the most popular is via Mysore.

  • By Rail: Nearest railway stations are at Mysore, Mangalore, and Hassan.
  • By Air: Nearest airports are Mangalore (135 km away) and Bangalore (200 km away).