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‘Will never change name & we are not leaving Mumbai,’ say Karachi Bakery owners

Hyderabad-based owners of Karachi Bakery say they shut their Mumbai store, dogged by controversy over its name, as lease expired & are now looking for another location in the city.

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Hyderabad: Days after the iconic Karachi Bakery store, embroiled in a controversy with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) over its ‘Pakistani name’, shut shop in Mumbai, the Hyderabad-based owners have told ThePrint that they will never think of changing the brand’s name.

Rajesh Ramnani, one of the owners, also denied the claims of MNS workers that their ‘massive protests’ over the ‘Karachi’ name led to the brand shutting its store in Mumbai. 

Ramnani cited lease expiry and higher costs as reasons for the decision, adding that they are on the search for a new location and do not plan to leave the financial capital.

“The controversy saddened us but we have to carry our legacy forward. I used to go to the store after school ever since I was nine years old. We have emotional ties with the brand; will never think of changing the name no matter what,” he said. “Also, our lease agreement expired in Mumbai, which is why we shut the store. We are searching for new places and will come back once that is found. The brand is not leaving Mumbai.”

Karachi Bakery, an indigenous brand from Hyderabad, was founded in 1953 by a Sindhi migrant Khanchand Ramnani, who migrated in 1947. 

Over the past six decades, the brand has seen phenomenal growth operating over 20 stores across the country, covering four cities including Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru, apart from Hyderabad. 

The vast business is now run by Khanchand Ramnani’s grandchildren and great grandchildren. 


Also read: Shiv Sena, MNS threaten to stop Bigg Boss over ‘anti-Marathi’ comments, Viacom18 apologises


No stranger to controversy

The Karachi Bakery is no stranger to controversy. 

According to Lekhraj Ramnani, another of Khanchand’s grandsons, a similar incident took place in the bakery’s Hyderabad’s nodal store in 2019 when a few alleged BJP workers wanted the name to be changed to ‘Indian Karachi Bakery.’ 

To pacify them, the management put an Indian Flag before the name of the store.

Days after the deadly Pulwama attack in 2019, in which more than 40 CRPF personnel were killed by a suicide bomber from the Pakistan-based militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Bengaluru Karachi Bakery store was attacked by a group of men who also demanded that the name ‘Karachi’ be hidden. 

“This is not yesterday’s bakery, our grandfather gave us this name and our fourth generation is running this,” 62-year old Lekhraj said. “People need to understand the emotional ties we need to have with this.”

Although the unwarranted controversies have been upsetting, the support from the customers is what’s giving them confidence to go ahead and not be scared, says the family.

“Not just the family, even our customers are equally emotionally attached to Karachi Bakery,” Rajesh said, “We’ve received so much support from people across the world, who’ve been our customers, over these issues. We are confident that we have nothing to be scared of. We and Karachi Bakery are as Indian as everyone else is.”

The iconic Hyderabad store

For all its expansion, the Karachi Bakery is synonymous with its Hyderabad store, which still is a major landmark in the city. 

The family owns over 10 outlets in Hyderabad but the flagship store is at the 85-year-old Mozamjahi Market 

Over the years, it has turned out to be one of the must visit spots for tourists and non-locals. 

“Although there are other stores in the city- all of them are managed by store managers. Only the main Mozamjahi Market store is personally managed by family members who are present there all the time,” said Lekhraj.

So iconic is the brand that it is a part of the city’s identity. For Hyderabad, it has always been the Charminar, Irani Chai, biryani and Karachi Bakery fruit biscuit.

The ‘fruit biscuit’ is the bakery’s signature dish, which is a souvenir that people from other cities usually ask ‘Hyderabadi’ cousins, friends to get for them. 

Asked about the secret ingredient that’s helped Karachi’s fruit biscuit to maintain its identity despite the rise of few other popular confectioners and them attempting to do something similar, Rajesh said “it’s a family recipe”.

“We mix all the ingredients by ourselves even today. Family members do the mixing required to make the fruit biscuit batter – not anyone from outside,” he said.

The bakery’s Osmania biscuits and ‘Dilkush’, bread with fruit stuffing, are also one of their popular items. 


Also read: Hyderabad police find ‘Chinese link’ in instant loan apps cases that ‘drove 3 to suicide’


 

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51 COMMENTS

  1. This name suggests the best of pre-1947 undivided Hindustan continues here. Great that best of Karachi delicacy is available actually in India! Name should not be changed. Better to avoid situational and short sighted views. Yes, Pakistani’s may have some objection.😂

  2. The name of the store arises an emotion of undivided India. Whats the problem in the name. Stop complaining on such small issues.

  3. It’s a matter of pride or pleasing somebody. Well educated people are now have digital dung and urine not only in their brain but also running through their veins. If you have utmost concern for country and it’s fame then stop playing games with it.. It doesn’t get bigger than this and one shouldn’t mind it to give up if they are really business oriented coz big brands are known by their quality and not by their name.

  4. It’s a matter of pride or pleasing somebody. Well educated people are now have digital dung and urine not only in their brain but also running through their veins. If you have utmost concern for country and it’s fame then stop playing games with it.. It doesn’t get bigger than this and one shouldn’t mind it to give up if they are really business oriented coz big brands are known by their quality and not by their name.

  5. These small issues make clear that Hindutva pigs are Gutter chaaps and have nothing to do with development of India except Communalism and Anti Muslim hatred…
    What has the name Karachi to do with Pulwama attack…
    Pulwama Attack was done by Modi himself to win elections… many educated indians know this… But these ashram gutter chaaps will never understand…
    Andbakht gutters… 🤣🤣

    • R u madarsha educated 😂
      Kha se laate ho itne sare fake news, apni agency khol rkhi h kyq or din bhrr Porkistani news hi dekhte rhte ¿¿¿ bolo bolo

  6. I would suggest them to shift their Mumbai Store to Kolkata as Mamta Banerjee has made a Mini Pakistan in West Bengal.So,they can easily use any Pakistani name or even Pakistani flag if they wish to.😀

  7. The agitation on the name ‘Karachi’ is unwarranted. What is there in a name? There are several prominent locations in our country.. for instance : Lahori Gate, Pindi Stores, etc etc. One day or the other, Karachi will become a part of our India again…Pakistan is decaying by the day. Jai Hind.

  8. Pappu sena se gundagardi ke alava aur kuchh expect bhi nahi kiya ja sakta. Nation needs to stand against such criminal gangs.

  9. Let the name karachhhi bakery be changedeed Ed to krishna bakery without a moment’ss delay. Why that ugly name karachhhhhi.

  10. What about many Chinese hotels starting with their. Countries names?
    In a globalised world, such objections have no relevance at least to most right thinking people.

  11. I found a nicely packed “Karachi Sweets” from a famous stores in Borivali east.
    I recalled the political actions on the setup & immediately bought the product manufacturer ed
    In Hyderabad.
    It was a very good product I think prepared in desi ghee not prescribed for a diabet but liked very much by me.
    I am sure that real Bjp will not do such mischievous actions.
    Any way my beast wishes and pray Almighty to give the manufacturer strength to bear the problems that arise .
    With warm regards,
    Satish & Mangala savkur.

  12. It’s like naming the capital city of Israel, as Berlin… It should go !! There can’t be a Karachi in the heart of Mumbai … Why would Biden let someone name the twin towers as Afghanistan Towers 😀

  13. When you accept Taimur as a name, Chengez as a name, why not karachi…After all its a city which has seen brutalities not a brute by itself.

  14. Karachi Bakery is not just another bakery, it’s an emotion. I pretty sure the guys protesting have never tasted thier heavenly cookies. The bakery should offer the protestors some samples to calm them down.

    • Panjaab Sindh Gujraat Maraatha
      In National anthem
      From my childhood to 2021 who’s cheating us?
      It’s blind Hindutva Aandhbhakts only looking for interest.

  15. I will be more happy and feel proud to be associated with Karachi Bakery by giving my outlet on lease in panel.

    Ppl are awaken now, they know the right and wrong.

  16. People asking for name change are narrow minded.i know theres a cloth store of karachi name on the main road of ganfawati raichr.(it was there in 1970)

  17. Sir Ganga Ram hospital is in Lahore Pakistan but the Pakistan government ha not changed its name. They must be having attachment with the name.

  18. I too suppuort karachi bakery,, some odors should understand the emotional value for the undivided India,,karachi was a great city of that India,, karachi bakery gives us a wee glimpse of the past where Hyderabad (south india )and Karachi shared the same nation

  19. There is one sweet shop named bombay in karachi.people there never demanded that name be changed to karachi sweets.it appears people and political workers or even orthodox mullas of pakistan are more liberal then ours

  20. The name must not be changed. Just to remind ourselves and future generations to come that Karachi was once a part of India. We will not rest until Karachi and all of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh is won back and merged to India. These territory have been captured by Islam and one day we will get it back. Those who have migrated from this part of the country must never forget their roots as part of greater India or Akhand Bharat. Keep the 🔥 burning.

  21. What is brand ? What you want to eat think of it. Brands kee coming and going look at kyani bajey German bakery bastani bakery

  22. RAJESH JI…
    Please don’t change name of KARACHI bakery.one day whole Pakistan with KARACHI would be part INDIA.karachi was part of India and those who believe that it would be part of INDIA once again,will not oppose for name of Bakery.MNS workers…do you agree this?

  23. Name represent a taste everyone likes, how one can deny anyone of its emotional attachment? What you achieve? Some cheap publicity? Pakistan, Muslims, Christians, Khalistani are fodder of divisive forces, must move on to get global name for the nation with good work.

  24. This Karachi brand or city for that matter started before Pakistan was even born. Lahore was established by Shri Ram’s sons. Sikh shrines are un Pakistan. So this is baseless argument. Name should not be changed. Karachi is fully Indian brand. Period. I am an RSS affiliated person,but do respect our culture and heritage.

  25. Just print xyz bakery in bracket write product by karchi bakery of Hydrabad. That ends matter in many brands. What is brand ? What you want to eat think of it.

  26. There should not be any contraversy using the name as Karachi was also part of United India. profits earning entity i.e., its main office is also in India thus contributing for the growth of the nation. Above all biscuits are genuinely tastey.

  27. Karachi was founded by Hindu merchant Naumal Ochani , he had big ships could not get anchor at his old port , so he was on lookout for other places to anchor his ship . He found fishermens colony Lalach idle place . He put up his city in 4 acre plot with 4 houses , warehouse & office ,he danced it & for its defence he put up Europeien canons . Mira from Hyderabad (Sind) attacked it thrice but we’re no match with his lethal canons. He befriended with British , this lead to expansion of city Karachi. Till 1947 muslims were minority in Karachi. It was tragic that this beautiful city called queen of east was given away to pakistan.

    • Karachi Bakery, an indigenous brand from Hyderabad, was founded in 1953 by a Sindhi migrant Khanchand Ramnani, who migrated in 1947.

  28. I fully support owners of Karachi bakery. People who are calling to change name are insane or foolish or both, Karachi Bakery should stay in Mumbai for next 100 years.

    • Absolutely agree. It represents our cultural connection with the city which was very much part of undivided India. By going against this, we are supporting Pak brainwashers who teach that Pak existed from 1000 years in their schools!

    • The name and brand Bombay got destroyed by the Shiv Sena when it foolishly changed it to Mumbai. So let Karachi Bakery remain as it is and change Mumbai back to Bombay. And Chennai back to Madras !

  29. I totally agree with the owners not to change the Brand name..Karachi Bakery. There is a lot of emotional attachment to it and the Brand has been well entrenched in the consumers mind for the good quality it offers. I was living in the Mid East and I was surprised that the brand is popular with local Arabs also. I also got to know that this brand is also popular with the Asians in Europe and America. We Indians should be proud our Indian brand is so popular abroad also. I only feel that it should be easily available in all stores and online now.

    • When person is suffering from a dilapidated brain, mindlessness then only people find excuses to criticise Hinduism in such belland ways. Better be polite rather than mocking Hinduism using dung and urine allegory. Stick to the topic

  30. I won’t say what they ought to do – but I’ll say that if it were my decision, I’d say its the business that matters, not the name. The bakery became what it is because of the stuff it made & the prices it sold them for, not because of the name. If the bakery still has what it takes, and knows what the customers want, then it can thrive regardless of what its called. If on the other hand its products are getting less & less competitive and it’s merely clinging on to the brand image it built in ages past in order to survive, then the business doesn’t deserve to go on – if not today then it’s going to fail tomorrow as newer, better stores come up. In that case I’d cut my losses, and just shut/sell off the business and invest in something else.

  31. One suggestion to the owners of Karachi bakery … Jus add a tag line to your store name ” Karachi bakery… within reach of a hand ” gives a new meaning to it

  32. The bakery though famous, the products are now baked by small bakeries in Katedam on the way to RGIA Hyderabad. Only brand name is Karachi. It’s same with other brands as well. Karachi can afford to close,what poor employee working in those small bakeries. Will BJP , MNS give jobs.

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