After the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued notices to several decades old Irani bakeries to switch over from wood to less polluting fuels, many of these establishments in Bombay are at risk of shutting down (see "Bakeries: heritage status?” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, March 21-April 6, 2025). Acting in their interest, former Bharatiya Janata Party corporator Makarand Narwekar has written to the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) requesting heritage status for Irani cafes and bakeries. He told The Free Press Journal (FPJ) of March 15, 2025, that he had also written to the BMC but there was no response.
Birthday celebrations for (from l) Zarine Jamshedjee, Parin Bhivandiwala and
Baktu Umrigar at Senior Citizens Centre, Navsari
"These cafes have been in existence for over a century. The distinct taste and aroma of the baked goods they are known for are directly attributed to the wood and charcoal based ovens. Replacing them with non-wood or coal ovens would alter the unique flavor of the cuisine, which has been cherished by patrons for generations,” his letter stated. Considering their historical significance since the 19th century, he feels MHCC should grant the bakeries heritage status. "Introduced by Zoroastrian Irani immigrants, these cafes have become the symbol of Bombay’s cosmopolitan identity, offering a space for all communities to enjoy chai, freshly baked bread and various delicacies,” he informed MD.
The Times of India on March 15 also reported Narwekar’s appeal to the heritage panel "to grant a hearing to bakery owners to save the city’s food culture and history” as these bakeries "have long been a cornerstone of our city’s” identity. S.V.