NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 5 Glimpses of India

The elders in Goa were heard reminiscing nostalgically about the good Old Portuguese days and their famous loaves of bread.

The author mentioned that the eaters of the famous bread loaves might have vanished but the makers were still there. He mentions the age-old time-tested furnaces existed and their fire had still not extinguished. Hence we can say that bread-making is still popular in Goa.

The author said that baker used to be their friend, companion and guide. The baker came at least twice a day. Once when he set out in the morning on his selling round, and then again, when he returned after emptying his huge basket. The jingling thud of his bamboo worked as an alarm for the children. They ran to meet him and greet him not because of their love of the loaf, which was bought by the maid-servant of the house. They actually longed for the bread-bangles, which they chose carefully. Sometimes, it was a sweet bread of special make.

(i) In the Portuguese days, the bakers had a peculiar dress known as the kabai. It was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees. (ii) When the author was young, he saw the bakers wearing a shirt and trousers, which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.

Anyone who wears a half-pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that “he is dressed like a pader”. This was so because the bakers were known as pader and they wore such half pants.

The bakers usually collected the bills at the end of the month. The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in pencil. It was profitable profession in the old days.

The plump physique was referred as a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’. This physique was linked to the bakers because they never starved. Baking was a profitable profession back then. The baker, his family, and his servants always looked happy and prosperous and had a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’.

Bread is an integral part of Goan life. Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol. It is difficult to say how important a baker can be for the village. For occasion of daughter’s engagement the lady of the house prepares sandwiches. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas. The author says that everybody loves the fragrance of loaves. The elders were given loaves and the children were given bread-bangles, which they longed for. Bakery is a profitable profession shows that the love for bread is enormous in Goa.

Coorg is situated in the midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. It is the paradise on the Earth.

There are many stories about the Kodavu people’s descent. One of the story tells that the fiercely independent people of Kodavu are of Greek or Arabic origin. It is said that, a part of Alexander’s army men moved to south and settled there. Their costume, martial practices and marriage rituals also point to the fact that they are from Arabic origin.

The people of Coorg are fiercely independent. They are of Greek or Arabic descent. Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality. They are more than willing to recount numerous tales of valour related to their sons and fathers. Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license.