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The word 'adda' exists in many Indian languages including
Bengali. But the essence of the word is essentially
Bengali and synonymous
with Bengali culture and tradition. It usually takes place
among friends, relatives or colleagues. Adda manifests
itself everywhere in embryonic form. From the Egyptians or Turks
chilling out with
a cup of coffee or the Americans guzzling bear in a pub – everybody is found relaxed, relieved and
deeply engrossed in a typical 'adda' mood, sometime or the
other. Addas are best seen during the festivals. In cities
and towns, these grew in modified form in later years.
In Calcutta, young men cluster on 'rowaks', (narrow platform outside
a dwelling house) parks, bus-terminuses, canteens and in
all possible places under the sky for an adda session. Its an undeniable fact
that the unemployed youth mostly constitute the addas.
But the addas are so addictive that these people can never
forget the charm of a harmless adda. They continue meeting
at the appointed time in their fixed rendezvous even after
getting employed.
The addas in our neighbourhood, have always been innocuous
and carried on in suppressed voices. College canteens have
always been the ideal venues for addas. An ideal example is
the canteen in Presidency College, which have been
the hot seat for discussions and debates since hoary
antiquity on any topic under the sun. However, the addas in Calcutta
are substantially
cultural or intellectual. Sri Gopal Haldar appreciated this
in his 'Adda' – a collection of essays (on various subjects
including adda).
Creative writers have always played the pivotal role in
these brain-storming adda sessions. The adda which centred
around
the magazine 'Kallal', became immensely popular owing to
the 'Kallok Jug' (Kallol era) of Achinta Kumar Sengupta. Even engineers,
doctors, lawyers or high flying executives have their exclusive
addas within their professional circles.
Several outstanding writers in those days viz., Tarashankar
Banerjee, Nazrul Islam, Premendra Mitra, Sailajananda Mukherjee
used to throng the 'Kallol' adda. 'Sabuj Patra' by Prasanta
Chowdhury was another adda which drew a lot of enthusiastic
people. A counter-adda was soon set up by a team of conservatives
at 'Shanibarer Chithi'. The notable participants were Parimal
Goswami, Brajendranath Banerjee, Mohitlal Majumdar, Sajanikanta
Das, Bibhuti Bhusan Banerjee etc. Even, an august personality
like Nirad C. Choudhuri is believed to have been a regular
participant in the adda at the 'Prabasi' Office.
Another famous adda, though austere and more sedate in
nature, was the 'Parichay Adda', where the topics of debate
were mostly strange and outlandish. Stalwarts like Satyendranath
Basu, Prasanta Chowdhury, Professor Humphry Mouse, the Oxonians
like Hiren Mukherjee, Tulsi Goswami, Humayan Kabir, Shahid
Suhrawardy used to flock in those addas. Several erudites
like Sudhindranath Dutta, Maledem Muggaridge, the then assistant
editor of 'The Statesman' and even Jamini Roy the painter were also
among the regular participants.
The Bengali adda, unlike Shakespeare's Mermaid Tavern, was
more akin to Dr. Johnson's circle attended by Burke, William
Pitt and men of their ilk.
A more placid and less formal adda was held at M.C. Sarkar's
office. M.C. Sarkar was a renowned book seller and
publisher. The adda was organised by Sudhir
Ch. Sarkar. He used it as a platform for people to comment
on the children's magazine "Mouchak". It was visited regularly
by Makhanlal Sen, Tusharkanti Ghosh, Manoj Basu, Kedarnath
Chatterjee and even Sarat Chandra in his early days. Gajendranath Ghosh hosted the adda of the
'Bharati Group'.
Today's generation may not be fully aware of the intense adda at the
'Desh' office which was presided by Sagarmoy Ghosh. Another
adda was held in the magazine section of the 'Ananda Bazar Patrika'
and was hosted by Ramapada Chowdhury.
The most remarkable coffee house of  recent
times, is the one at College Street. Another
one at Chittaranjan Avenue (misleadingly termed as the 'Chowringhee
Coffee House') was favourite haunt of the film-maestro
Satyajit Ray.
Sudhir Chandra Sarkar's reminiscences of a different but
novel form of adda, was the walking adda. The members, in
this case, would walk up to a friend's house and walk back
chatting. They would generally end up in a tea-stall at
the starting point. Similar sort of adda is usually found
among the retired groups of morning walkers at the Dhakuria
Lake and several parks each morning and evening. They go
on with their rigmarole - chatting and reminiscing about
their golden by-gone days, or some more relevant, contemporary
issues like modern politics, sharp decline
in moral values and ideals or how they have been rendered
helpless and de trop due to old age, senility and financial
insolvency.
The addas have generally been considered as male prerogatives.
But in reality, the women are not far behind in this regard.
The women of the same locality, assemble mostly in the afternoons
to discuss and exchange news and views. The topics for discussion
are usually limited and less grave like rollicking
recipes, family problems, TV serials or films, scandals
of film-stars, price-hike of commodities that affect them
adversely etc. The venues of such addas are usually
local parks, play grounds, some member's apartment, ladies'
compartments in suburban trains, the popular kitty-parties
among women of the upper crust of the society etc.
Hence, adda is synonymous with the Bengali
Calcuttans and is known for the carefree, frisky attitude of the
participants – their intense ardour to enjoy life and whisk
time through long talking sessions. Indeed, talking is an
art of the finest degree which is not everybody's cup of
tea. To be an active member of an adda and participate in
its macrocosm of discussion and debates, one has to possess
a gift of the gab and be abreast of the current affairs
with promptness of mind and clarity of thinking. This typical
Bengali trait of adda has even influenced the relatively serious
non-Bengali Calcuttans. An adda is indeed the purest
and simplest way of refreshment and enjoyment with no gainful
purpose. Kudos to the Calcutta Adda.
SOME
FAMOUS CALCUTTA ADDAS
I) COFFEE HOUSE (COLLEGE STREET) : Among the
most popular addas in Calcutta, the Coffee House in College
Street deserves special mention. Located on Bankim Chatterjee
Street, this was previously known as the "Albert
Hall". It
is now known as the 'Indian Coffee House'. This restaurant
remains opened from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday. However,
on Sundays, the timings are slightly altered as it remains
opened from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. – 9
p.m. This adda has been an extremely popular haunt
for the Calcuttans since aeons. The macrocosm of people
who flock here, are not necessarily like-thinking folks.
Neither do their topics for discussion tally with
each other. The college students hang out for idle gossips
to whisk their leisure-time. Many people come here merely
for the sake of adda and just being a part of the long talking
sessions. Several talented and illustrious persons from
different walks of life have been thronging this renowned adda
since ages. It has always been the paradise for the poets,
artistes, literati and people from the world of art and culture.
Several literary magazines owe their origin to the inspiration
from the adda sessions at this coffee house. So, the Coffee-House
at College Street is of historical significance for being
the rendezvous of innumerable versatile people, since its
inception till date.
II) NANDAN/RABINDRASADAN PREMISES : In recent
times, many people flock in and around the Rabindrasadan
and Nandan. The budding actors and directors
are
usually found to throng at this place. Among the other adda
groups are the ardent lovers of theatre and refined cinema
or parallel cinema. Overall, there is a cultural ambience
all around. This is a paradise for intellectuals and refined people.
In the vast premises of Nandan, some fair or the other is
held through out the year videlicet, song festival, poetry
festival, fine-arts or little-magazine festivals etc. This
festive air draws umpteen people to this place through
out the year. Different theatre groups stage their plays on the
open-air theatre at this place. However, the addas here are
not very old or traditional. As such, they have not grown any
specific traits which could distinguish them from others.
III) COFFEE HOUSE (JADAVPUR) : A new branch
of the Coffee House
has been opened on Jadavpur Central Road. This restaurant
has been founded, keeping in view the students of the Jadavpur
University. However, the local youth also flock here for
the sake of a sprightly adda. This coffee house, unlike the
one at College Street, is neither very old nor enormous
in size and does not have any trademark as such.
IV) ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS : Many artistes and
creative persons cluster here in the evenings humming around
the exhibition hall and theatre hall. In spite
of not being very old, this adda has a distinctive characteristic.
The members of the adda are generally obsessed in the
discussion and critical appreciation of the plays staged
here. Sometimes, a debate arises on the exhibition of paintings.
The budding creative artistes get obsessed with their work
and are elevated to a state of trance. Indeed, this is an ideal place for
honing up one's creative faculties.
V) RABINDRA SAROVAR : Several people flock
in this region at South Calcutta, for an innocuous adda as well as to
enjoy the soothing touch of exquisite nature. The veterans,
mostly the retired persons meet here for prolonged adda
sessions at dawn and
at dusk. Au reste, many young men and women are found here
through out the day especially after twilight, to enjoy
the natural ecstasies and a few precious moments of solitude,
so rare in the busy mechanical urban life of today. The
Nazrul Mancha in this region, hosts umpteen cultural programmes
and draws the bubbling youth for adda and fun.
The Rabindra Sarovar Stadium and the adjacent swimming clubs
are the prime venues where several people of all ages flock
everyday. As such, some addas have emerged here sporadically.
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