Glimpses of India - A Baker From Goa

1.0About the Author

Central Idea

This lesson is pen portrait of a traditional Goan village baker that still has an important place in his vicinity. The lesson revolves around the relevance of a baker in the Goan culture. Goa is the place which has the varied culture of French, English and Portuguese. Here, in this lesson the description of a village baker reminds us of the Old Portuguese days. The Portuguese may have left but the bread makers continue to have an inevitable stature.

The Goan Baker or rightly known to the Goans as 'Pader' is someone who is awaited everyday for his delicious and steaming hot bread. In this story, the author recalls his childhood days and their excitement on seeing the baker. They were so enthusiastic for the arrival of the baker that they would run to him even without brushing their teeth.

2.0Good Old Portuguese Days

Bread Making in Goa

In old Portuguese days, the people of Goa ate loaves of bread. Bread making was an art which needed perfection. Mixing, moulding and baking were the areas of specialisation of making a bread. The loaves were baked in time tested furnaces. The furnaces exist there even now. This profession has been continued by the baker's descendants. These bakers are known as 'Pader' in Goa even today.

Recalling the Author's Childhood Days

During author's childhood days, he remembers the baker used to be their friend, companion and guide. He used to visit twice a day, once in the morning during his selling hours and then again while returning after selling all his bread. The jingling thud of the bamboo he carried woke them up in the morning and they ran to meet and greet him. They ran for getting their bread bangles, which were specially made of sweet bread. The maidservants used to buy loaves and carry them inside the houses.

3.0Delivering the Loaves

The baker came with the jhang, jhang sound of his bamboo. He would call out the lady of the house and wish her 'Good Morning'. One hand supported the basket on his head, the other hand, he would bang the bamboo on the ground. The baker would place the basket on the bamboo. The children were pushed aside and mildly the loaves were delivered to the maid servant. The author recalls the aroma of loaves that filled the air. The children would not even brush their teeth and loved eating bangles made of bread with tea.

4.0Cakes and Bolinhas

Importance of Bread in Traditional Ceremonies

The various kinds of bread were very important for all occasions. No marriage was complete until and unless the traditional bol was served. The lady of the house prepared sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter's engagement and bolinhas would be prepared for Christmas and other festivals.

The Baker's Outfit

The baker was usually dressed in a kabai, a long frock reaching down to the knees or a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants. Even today if anyone dares to go out in the streets wearing half pants, he is referred to as a Pader (means baker).

Baker - A Happy Family

The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. All the accounts were written on some wall in the premises with a pencil. It was a profitable profession during those days because Portuguese were lovers of fresh baked loaves. The baker, his family members and his servants looked prosperous and happy. The baker and his family never starved. Their fat bodies showed that they were happy and were not poor.

5.0Let's Recall

• Elders of the author often think fondly of good Portuguese days and their famous loaves of bread. 2. The age-old furnaces still exist and bake bread.
• The thud and jingle of the baker's bamboo announcing his arrival can still be heard in some places.
• Even today, these bakers are known as Paders in Goa.
• In old days, the children ran to meet and greet the baker.
• They longed for bread-bangles and sweet bread.
• Marriage gifts are still considered meaningless without the sweet bread known as the 'bol'.
• It is customary that the lady of the house prepares sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter's engagement.
• 'Cakes and bolinhas' are a must for Christmas and other festivals.
• The presence of the baker's furnace in the village is absolutely essential.
• The bakers in the old days used to wear a dress known as the 'Kabai'.
• Baking was quite a profitable profession in the old days.
• The baker and his family always looked happy and prosperous.