Farewell to years and years of slices of love

IN the past week, a small blackboard appeared in front of Santha Bakery at Pulimood bearing a poignant note: "It's time to say goodbye. Thank you all for everything."

- PARVANA KB

For some, it may seem just a few words on a board, but to many, it is a farewell to a lifetime of memories. For decades, this bakery has been a part of their lives, its aroma and warmth a companion in joy. As the shutters fall for the final time on Friday, it is not just the closing of a bakery shop—it is the end of an era, spanning three generations.

For over eight decades, Santha Bakery has been a part of Thiruvananthapuram. Whether it was the simple everyday bread, the festive plum cake, or the hot and spicy puffs or cutlets, Santha Bakery gave Thiruvananthapuram a taste of the best. Founded in June 1940, this bakery has been one of the pioneers in bringing in new flavours.

"After the formation of Kerala state, many people from Malabar, who had worked in the Madras Residency, opted for the Kerala government. Many from Malabar moved here with families. In the Malabar region, bakery culture had already gained popularity, influenced by the British. Here too, bakeries were becoming popular. The Secretariat, Post Office, and banks nearby were the backbone of our business," says P M K Premnath, the current owner of the shop.