| Abstract: | The migration of Goan bakers to Bombay represents a significant yet understudied chapter in the social and economic history of both regions. This paper examines the historical trajectory, cultural identity, and occupational transformation of Goan bakers who relocated to Bombay from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. Drawing on archival records, oral testimonies, and existing scholarship, this study examines how Goan migrants established themselves in Bombay’s highly competitive urban economy through the bakery and confectionery trade. Many migrants from Goa entered this sector and gradually built a recognizable niche within the city’s food market. The research explores the socio-economic circumstances that encouraged migration from Goa, including the limited employment opportunities in the region, the culinary influences shaped during Portuguese rule, and the increasing demand for inexpensive baked goods in a rapidly expanding metropolitan centre such as Bombay. The study also considers how Goan bakers adjusted their traditional skills to suit the tastes and needs of Bombay’s diverse population. In doing so, they became part of the evolving food culture of the city. Their bakeries, which were often small family-run establishments, served not only as places of business but also as spaces where community ties were strengthened. These establishments frequently provided employment to other migrants from Goa, thereby creating support networks that helped newcomers adapt to life in a large and unfamiliar urban environment. By situating the experiences of Goan bakers within broader discussions of migration, labour, and identity, this research highlights the entrepreneurial role played by the Goan community in the shaping of Bombay’s informal urban economy. The findings suggest that Goan bakers did more than simply continue a traditional occupation; they contributed to the transformation of Bombay’s culinary landscape. Their story offers an important perspective on how migration, livelihood strategies, and cultural traditions intersected in colonial and postcolonial urban India. |
