'Kindly support us, we are an Indian brand': Karachi Bakery owners defend name amid protests

This is not the first time Karachi Bakery has faced such protests. (Image: PTI/X)

Hyderabad-based Karachi Bakery, an iconic Indian confectionery brand, once again found itself at the centre of controversy following India's Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7. Activist groups stormed one of the bakery's outlets, demanding a change in its name, arguing that an Indian establishment should not bear the name of a Pakistani city.

In response to the protests, owners Rajesh and Harish Ramnaniclarified the origins of the bakery's name. They stated that their grandfather, Khanchand Ramnani, founded Karachi Bakery in 1953 after migrating to India during the Partition of 1947. "It has been 73 years. Our grandfather named it after Karachi as he came to India after Partition," they told PTI.

The owners appealed to authorities for support, emphasising their Indian identity. "We request the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and senior officers of administration to support to prevent any change in the name. People are putting up Tricolour in the outlets of the bakery across the city," they said. They further stressed, "Kindly support us as we are an Indian brand and not a Pakistani brand."

Social media users rallied behind the bakery, highlighting its Indian roots. One user noted, "The owner is a Sindhi who came to India from Karachi. Please do not do this." Another commented, "This is next-level stupidity. There are Sindhis, Parsis who all moved out of Karachi during partition. In fact, there are people with Karachiwala surnames. That doesn't mean you end up attacking people. Let our armed forces deal with our enemies at the border and just pray for them."

VIDEO | Protests erupt in Hyderabad against a bakery named after Karachi. The owner clarifies and says, "Karachi Bakery was founded here in Hyderabad in 1953 by Khanchand Ramnani, who migrated to India during the Partition. It has been 73 years. Our grandfather named it after pic.twitter.com/i6dAkwxDIR

Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2025

This is not the first time Karachi Bakery has faced such protests. In 2019, following the Pulwama terror attack, an outlet in Bengaluru's Indiranagar was stormed by protesters demanding a name change. The bakery was forced to cover the word 'Karachi' on its signboard and display the Indian flag. At that time, the bakery issued a statement emphasizing its Indian identity: "The essence of Karachi Bakery is absolutely Indian by heart and will remain so. We request everybody to refrain from any kind of misconceptions.

Karachi Bakery, renowned for its Osmania and fruit biscuits, has expanded its operations over the years, with outlets in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and other cities. Despite facing challenges, the owners remain steadfast in preserving the bakery's legacy and name, which holds sentimental value as a reminder of their ancestral roots.