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Who does not love the smell of baked bread? Especially when it comes from the renowned Shaikh Brothers Bakery. This bakery is an iconic representation of historical restaurants that have been there since and before Independence. The Ibrahim family was running a bakery at Mirzapur Street in Kolkata (then Calcutta). In 1880, Shaikh Ghulam Ibrahim decided to come to Assam to expand his business. It started from a soda water-making plant at Pan Bazar in 1882 to Shaikh Brother Bakery in 1885.
Shaikh Brothers are the holy grails. For over a century now, this bakery has become synonymous with cakes and goodies and has weathered the ravages of time that have consumed many of its competitors. For a few generations now, this bakery has reinvented itself to stay ahead and delight connoisseurs and commoners alike.
History Of Shaikh Brothers Bakery
It all started over 139 years ago when Ghulam Ibrahim came to Assam to work on the construction of the Guwahati-Shillong Road. While here, Ibrahim realised there was good potential for starting a bakery business. At that time, many British officers and planters were living in Assam, and Ghulam Ibrahim saw an opportunity to serve them fresh baked goods.
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Shaikh Ibrahim's first business venture in Guwahati was established in 1882 in Panbazar, but it was a soda water-making plant. His elder brother, Shaikh Sobiruddin, joined him, and Shaikh Brothers were established in Guwahati in 1885.
Back then, the Britishers found that the bread from Shaikh Brothers was soft and fresh and greatly preferred it over the local bread, which was hard and tacky. During Jawaharlal Nehru's visits to Guwahati, cheese straw from this bakery was always served on his breakfast table, as he had a real fondness for it.
The bakery continued to flourish after Independence and throughout the 1970s. Today, the Shaikh Brothers bakery is a well-known name in Assam, and its products are still popular among locals and visitors alike.
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Shaikh Brothers Bakery Is Famous For
Shaikh Brothers Bakery is known for their delicious Cheese Straws, the same ones Jawaharlal Nehru's loved, as well as their American Red Velvet Cake, Special Black Forest, Mango Mousse, Choco Truffle, and Rum and Raisin.
Guwahati locals love the classics from Shaikh Brothers, which are cheese straws and red velvet cake, thanks to the quality ingredients and high level of customer service they offer. As time passes, Ghulam Ibrahim's hard work and determination ensure that Shaikh Brothers will remain a popular spot in Guwahati for years to come.
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Famous Personalities Fond Of This Place
Shaikh Ibrahim said the products were sent by horse cart to the Governor House in Shillong every day. Governor House sent the cart to the bakery every night.
Apart from Fuller and Kerr, Sir Michael Keane, who was governor of Assam from 1932 to 1937, and Robert Neil Reid, who served as governor of Assam from 1937 to 1942, were the elite patrons of the bakery. Nawaz, who is the adviser to the All-India Bakers' Association, proudly said the bakery has been a witness to British rule, freedom struggle, independence, and all the developments till date since 1885.
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India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was extremely fond of this bakery's cheese straws. Indira Gandhi's Z-category security personnel would even stand by the oven for a security check while bread meant for the former Prime Minister was being baked and packed to ensure its safety.
Not only this, later, freedom fighter Gopinath Bordoloi, who became the first chief minister of Assam, Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan, freedom fighter and barrister from Assam Jnandabhiram Barooah, and many others were elite patrons of the bakery. Their families still buy products from this bakery.
