Illustration 28: Entry to the Coffeehouse; (Homegrown, 2019

“Aadda” is a concept of informal public gatherings that evolved over several decades in Bengali culture where thoughts and achievements of the day are discussed in a good manner. They are function deprived and can range from intense discussions to a weekend gathering of friends catching up over food. Aaddas can happen on the balcony or foot-steps in front of the household to tea-coffee shops. It is because of aaddas that the city preserved its depth and permanence and birthed its cultural soul. Chakravarti quoted from Namabita Das‘ doctoral thesis that for many people there,(presently old-aged) life is almost worthless without aaddas as they are their food for thoughts and these places which are part of their growing up are like second home for them and the people who come there are brother-like friends. (Chakravarti, 2017)

One can find many branches of Indian Coffee House in Kolkata which have emerged since a long time as hang out and renowned meeting places for students, litterateurs intellectuals and other people in the neighbourhood. One such coffeehouse is located opposite the Presidency College in College Street and is called as College Street Coffee House. Its history goes back to the Albert Hall founded in 1876.

Illustration 28: Entry to the Coffeehouse; (Homegrown, 2019)

From the outside, one can only see the board squeezed in between the two bookstalls. It‘s only after you enter the dark alley, one will find himself inside the hidden lanes of eateries and bookstores. The place has high ceilings with sunlight coming in through high-set windows falling on set of small tables set together. The