Guwahati’s Baking Bonds with Shaikh Brothers

Shaikh Brothers Building

Nearly 125 years ago, Shaikh Ghulam Ibrahim, a young and an enterprising youth from Hoogly district in Bengal came to Assam to execute a construction related business when Guwahati- Shillong Road was rebuilt by Maula Baux, the famous contractor of those times. During his visit Ghulam Ibrahim realized Assam’s good potentialities for bakery business where a good number of Britishers were settled by that time. Ibrahim’s family was then doing a roaring business at their bakery in Calcutta's Mirzapur Street. However, their business in Calcutta suffered seriously due to a plague epidemic in early 1880’s. Thus, at that time Shaikh Ghulam Ibrahim decided to proceed Assam to diversify and expand his .                                                                                     business beyond Calcutta. 

The 100 year old heritage chair of Shaikh Ghulam Ibrahim

Shaikh Ghulam Ibrahim and his brothers Shaikh Sobiruddin and Shaikh Kabiruddin also joined him and thus Messrs Shaikh Brothers was established in 1885. The British settelers and the emerging middle class led to provide a good bakery market in Assam. Considerations like distance vision, and the challenge to introduce something new convinced the Shaikh Brothers about a bright bakery business in Assam. The present RCC building of Shaikh Brothers was previously an Assam type house. The present owner of Shaikh Brothers, Shaikh Shaheen Nawaz stated that they import wheat and cheese from Australia, Hoves ( a type of yeast for fermentation) from Belgium, cashewnuts from Goa, dry dates and raisins from North India and Peshawar. Workers are generally employed from Bengal, Bihar and Assam. Now Shaikh Brothers also sells cosmetics and medicines other than bakery products. The good old Shaikh Brothers still use big old baking ovens for baking purpose. Guwahatians thronged Shaikh Brothers to buy their favourite cakes and cookies, patties, pizzas, pastries, etc. A special paratha ‘Bakar- Khani’ is one of the popular delicacy of Shaikh Brothers. 

Thus, Messrs Shaikh Brothers is an integral part of Guwahati’s heritage. It has watched a small town grow into a thriving metropolis. Since 125 years Shaikh Brothers played an important role to increase the taste buds of Guwahatians.

This video link will take you round the interiors of Shaikh Brothers:  http://youtu.be/_P-ekKeTGj8