“Glimpses of India” 

  1. :A Baker from Goa-by Lucio Rodrigues

  2. Coorg–by Lokesh Abrol

  3. Tea from Assam–by Arup Kumar Dutta


BEFORE YOU READ – Activity Questions

1. What images of people and places come to your mind when you think of our country?
Answer:When I think of our country, I imagine colorful festivals, busy markets, temples, mosques, and churches. I also think of people in traditional clothes, farmers working in the fields, and bustling city life. India is full of diversity and beauty — from snow-capped mountains to deserts, forests, and beaches.

2. What parts of India have you lived in, or visited? Can you name some popular tourist destinations?
Answer:(You can personalize this answer based on your experiences. Here's a general one.)
I have visited Maharashtra and Karnataka. Some popular tourist destinations are the Taj Mahal in Agra, the backwaters of Kerala, the beaches of Goa, Jaipur's palaces, and the Himalayan hill stations like Manali and Shimla.

3. You may know that apart from the British, the Dutch and the French, the Portuguese have also played a part in the history of our country. Can you say which parts of India show French and Portuguese influence?
Answer:Yes, the Portuguese influence can be seen in Goa, which was once a Portuguese colony. The French influence is visible in Puducherry (Pondicherry), which still has French-style architecture and culture.

4. Can you say which parts of India grow tea, coffee?
Answer:Yes, Assam and West Bengal (Darjeeling) are famous for tea plantations. Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are well known for growing coffee, especially in places like Coorg and Chikmagalur.

📚 Oral Comprehension Check – Answers

1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
Answer:The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the Portuguese days and the famous loaves of bread. They fondly remember the traditional bakers and the bread they used to eat during that time.

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 bakers, called paders, still exist. The furnaces are still being used, and the sound of the baker’s bamboo stick is still heard in some places. Also, some families continue the profession from generation to generation.

3. What is the baker called?
Answer:The baker is called a pader in Goa.

4. When would the baker come every day? Why did the children run to meet him?
Answer:The baker would come twice every day — once in the morning while going out to sell, and once again after he finished selling his bread.
The children ran to meet him not for the loaves, which were meant for the adults, but for the bread-bangles (round-shaped bread) or sometimes the special sweet bread, which they loved.

📘 Thinking About the Text – Answers

1. Which of these statements are correct?

Let’s go through each one:

  • ✅ (i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
    ✔️ Correct – He played a central role during festivals, feasts, and daily life.

  • ❌ (ii) The paders went away with the Portuguese.
    ❌ Incorrect – The Portuguese left, but the paders continued the tradition.

  • ✅ (iii) The paders still exist in Goan villages.
    ✔️ Correct – The author mentions their presence even today.

  • ✅ (iv) The paders wear a single-piece long frock.
    ✔️ Correct – This kabai was the traditional baker’s dress.

  • ✅ (v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.
    ✔️ Correct – Bread was essential during marriages, feasts, and festivals.

  • ✅ (vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.
    ✔️ Correct – The author says the baker and his family never starved; they looked prosperous.

  • ❌ (vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times.
    ❌ Incorrect – There’s no mention of paders starving now. They are still respected.

✔️ Correct statements: (i), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)

2. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?

Answer: Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life. It is a must for every celebration, like weddings (bol), parties (bread), engagements (sandwiches), and festivals like Christmas (cakes and bolinhas). This shows how deeply connected bread is to their culture and traditions.

3. Tick the right answer – What is the tone of the author in these lines?

(i) “The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places.”
✅ Nostalgic

(ii) “Maybe the father is not alive but the profession still carries on in the family.”
✅ Hopeful

(iii) “I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves.”
✅ Nostalgic

(iv) “The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all!”
✅ Funny

(v) “Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals.”
✅ Matter-of-fact

(vi) “The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous.”
✅ Matter-of-fact

                                                                                                    Author-Rumi Deka