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Shashoo Bakery: The Old and Famous Bakery of Gwadar

Qadir Bakhsh Aka Shashoo with his friend
Shashoo Bakery, or Shashoo Bhatti, is the famous and old bakery of Gwadar city. It is located at the beginning of Shah Bazar in Ismaili Ward. The founder of this bakery is Qadarbakhsh, son of Yousuf, who is also known as Shashoo Bitthi Wala. He has been running the bakery for forty years. People call him Shashoo because "shish" means six in the Balochi language, and he has six fingers on his left hand, so he is famous by this name. Now, Shashoo has become a brand name in Gwadar city, and everyone, young or old, male or female, is well aware of this name. Even if they don't recognize Qadarbakhsh by face, they know where his bakery is located as soon as they hear his name, because his name itself is enough.

Oven fire set on at Shashoo Bakery
According to Shashoo, he initially learned the art and work of baking from Gul Muhammad Yousuf in Muscat, Oman. He worked in Muscat for twelve years and served as a manager at Gul Muhammad's place. The bakery where Shashoo worked in Muscat was located in the Souk area of Mutrah.

Saleem while baking cakes in oven
The chain of learning the baking profession goes like this: Neikbakht, also known as Neikbakht Biscotti, was one of the earliest bakery owners in Gwadar. He learned the craft from a Hindu named Bhola Chand. When Bhola left Gwadar, he handed over the entire bakery business to Neikbakht.

Yousuf while preparing cake flour
Gul Muhammad learned from Neikbakht, and Shashoo learned from Gul Muhammad in the same way. Other famous early bakery owners in Gwadar include Neikbakht Biscotti, Phalan Biscotti, Azim Biscotti, and Zulaikha. At that time, there were only these four bakeries in Gwadar.

Oven of Shashoo Bakery
After working in Muscat, Oman, Shashoo returned to Gwadar and started his own bakery. He has been associated with the baking profession for a total of fifty-two years, forty years in Gwadar and twelve years in Muscat. Initially, he opened a large bakery in the bazaar, but it could only run for about a year because the bakery expenses were not being covered, and Qadar Bakhsh incurred a loss of at least eleven lakh rupees. After that, the bakery had to be closed. The equipment for this bakery was brought from Karachi and Iran.

Saleem preparing cakes and other stuff
Additionally, Shashoo also took a one-year contract to run a bakery in Sarbundar, which belonged to a person named Ghous Bakshsh, but he could only operate it for a year.


Inside View of Shashoo Bakery
The various items made at Shashoo Bakery include double roti, cakes, nan kataai, kara, toast, bun, and sheermal, all prepared in a traditional manner. Shashoo says he cannot afford to use modern equipment and machinery or cater to the changing preferences of modern times and customers, which is why this bakery is not generating substantial profits. He procures one or two bags of flour and makes items accordingly, producing only as much as can be sold in a day, since he doesn't have storage space for keeping and stocking items. In the past, Shashoo Bitthi used to bake rotis as well, and people would come from far away to buy rotis because there were very few tandoors and roti makers in Gwadar at that time. Back then, Shashoo himself managed the bakery, and his mother took care of baking tandoori rotis. People also bring fish and chicken to the bhatti (oven) to be cooked, in addition to cakes and double rotis.

Yousuf mixing and blending cake flour
Now that Shashoo has grown old, his sons handle all the responsibilities and work of the bakery. This bakery is different from other bakeries because it is both a shop and a bhatti (oven). Items are made here in such quantities that they get sold out in a single day.

Saleem preparing cakes
Shashoo Bakery is famous for its simplicity, purity, and authenticity. None of the items contain any mixes or adulterants. The building, floor, walls, and the people working here reflect the fact that whatever they sell is pure, unadulterated, and fresh.Shashoo has four sons who run this bakery. The eldest son, Abdul Hakeem, takes care of the accounts. The second son, Abdul Hameed, is affectionately called "Lala" by people, which means "elder brother" in Balochi. Lala has played a key role in carrying out all the work and maintaining the dignity and reputation of this bakery, and he has more responsibilities. Lala Hameed makes all the items sold in the bakery and also sells them to customers. The third son, Yousuf, makes cakes and dough. The youngest son, Saleem, is responsible for the bhatti, baking all the items made in the bakery. Around seven to ten people sell the bakery items all over the city, some on bicycles and some on foot. They are paid based on the profits earned. Having been running for over forty years, this bakery remains extremely popular and famous among people due to its tradition, simplicity, and local flavors.

 
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