A BAKER FROM GOA

LUCIO RODRIGUES
Q1. How was the village baker very important for special occasions in the village?
Ans. The village baker was especially important for festive occasions. The villagers
were much fond of the sweet bread known as ‘bol’. Marriage gifts were
meaningless without these sweetbreads. Sandwiches, cakes and bolinhas were a
must for Christmas as well as other festivals. These were made with the bread.
Q2. Give a pen-portrait of a baker in Goa.
Ans. Lucio Rodrigues presents a pen-portrait of a traditional Goan village baker
who still has an important place in the society. Elders still think fondly of the
famous Portuguese loaves of bread. The family tradition is still carried on even
today by the new generation of bakers in Goa.
A baker had an important place in the village life of Goa. Marriages were
meaningless without bol or sweet bread, cakes and bolinhas at Christmas and
other festivals. In olden days, the bakers used to wear a peculiar dress — kabai –
a single piece long frock reaching down the knees. Later they started wearing a
shirt and trousers which were longer than the shorts and shorter than the full-
length pants. They used to be prosperous. They, their family and servants never
starved. Their plump physique was a testimony of their prosperity and good
income.
The baker used to be a good friend, companion and guide to the author. He
would come twice a day and then, the children of the house would crowd around
his basket to choose the bread-bangles. Even today, baking and bakers are
famous in Goa.