CBSE · Class 10 · English · First Flight: Glimpses of IndiaHow does the author show that baking was a profitable profession in Goa and that the tradition still survives?

The author emphasizes that baking was a very profitable profession in the old days in Goa. The baker and his family never starved; they always looked happy and prosperous. Their 'plump physique' was an open testimony to their financial well-being. Even today, any person with a jackfruit-like physical appearance is easily compared to a baker because it signifies that they are well-fed and wealthy. The baker used to collect his bills at the end of the month, and the accounts were usually recorded on some wall in pencil. This informal yet consistent system of payment shows that the baker was a trusted and essential member of the community. The fact that the tradition continues with the same furnaces and methods suggests that the profession still holds its ground and provides a livelihood for many, even though the Portuguese have long since departed.