Death and Revival of bakery

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The author traces the history of a refurbished bakery in Majorda, South Goa

Speak of Majorda and her bakers will always be remembered. If one checks  the antecedents of bakers and bakeries all over Goa, chances are that the bakers are either from Majorda-Calata or have been trained there.

Godinho bakery flourished in Calata as its owner Joaquim Piedade Godinho provided  villagers with fresh, golden bread, fermented with the traditional sur (toddy), and the kundea poi (wheat husk flat bread). Joaquim, content with the economic returns, trained his son to continue the business after him, but a government job lured his son away in 1971 and after his demise, the bakery shut shop. Time gradually seeped its way into the joints of the masonry of the forn (traditional wood-fired oven) and tore it apart. Thus it lay – a useless ruin for almost two decades.

The sight of his father’s bakery in ruins bothered Joaquim’s son Joao Menino Godinho. The trade secrets he learnt 50 years ago were still fresh in his being. He also had an urge to do something for Goa. All these three factors combined and Joao decided to reopen Godinho bakery once more.

He said, “When I decided to reopen my father’s bakery in 2016 I had to rebuild the forn. There was only one mason skilled enough to do the job. Unfortunately he suffered a paralytic stroke while the work was mid-way. Getting a substitute was a real problem. The dome collapsed but was finally constructed after trial and error.”

Read the full article in 'Viva Goa' magazine copy.

Viva Goa magazine is now on stands. Available at all major book stalls and supermarkets in Goa.

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