‘ADDA’ – A cultural insight to Bengal, the sweetest part of India

(Chakravarti, S., 2021. A brief history of Adda—the Bengali fine art of discussion)

If I were ever to settle anywhere outside India in a far off sheltered bay of classical Western shores or let alone Western shores, be it the tranquil mountain slopes of the western Alps the thing which I am going to miss the most is “adda”, especially Puja “adda”.

Adda or mutual gathering as we all know can take place at any hour of the day. People enjoy these addas over little fries or tea garnished with some leg-pulling of others. Though these gatherings are in the DNA of Bengalis critics of such culture have pointed out that modern Bengalis can never aspire to rise above the ten-to-five jobs because we love to waste a large part of our precious time indulging in such cultural banters. But anyhow these informal gatherings can be seen in every nook and corner of Bengal, be it roadside tea shops, bus stands, or shady boughs of trees. These are general addas but there is a different version that adds a new flavor altogether. It’s the Puja adda, the one we have in the presence of Maa Durga in the para pandals.

 Durga Puja as we all know is the biggest festival of Bengal. All people living in distant places come together and unite in such festive season.  Gatherings such as these take place after much-bated waiting. They add vibrant hues of life without which it would have been a drab and dour one. Womenfolk whilst relieving themselves from the hustle and bustle of the mundane affairs, churns out the beauty of their existence through the clickety-clack of their expensive accessories, tittering and glittering.  The male members get absorbed in discussions of the day-to-day office talks or dole out on issues that they feel could have made the world different. For the college-goers, it’s a reunion with their old para friends, away from their syllabus of mundane affairs.  For the children, it is the freedom they enjoy, free from the clutches of discipline.

Bengali women participate in Sindur Khela smearing of the vermilion on Durga Puja’s last day Bijoya Dashami at a Durga puja pandal at Kolkata, West Bengal, India on October 17, 2010. Durga Puja commemorates the slaying of the demon king Mahishasur by goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil. (Photo by Subir Basak/Flickr Vision/ Getty Images)

Adda in any form fulfills the myriad needs of an individual. If we look into its sociological anatomy then we find that such gatherings not only act as a relief from the day-to-day humdrum but also bring in harmony, peace, and joy as it helps to vent out one’s suppressed desires and feelings. The Puja adda especially does immense work in lifting the banner of unity and harmony.  Most of the Bengalis have the flair to become poets, writers, and litterateurs because of these gatherings in general.  These gatherings become the epicenter of many intellectual talks and discussions which lead to political awareness and a self-development of an individual. These gatherings have a democratic manifestation in itself where all participants of the adda are free to express their opinions or feelings. This is very important from a political standpoint also, especially in a democratic country like ours.

(image by Avinash Sinharoy, www.unsplash.com)

As we all know the famous saying ‘everything that glitters are not gold’ so is adda. It could not save itself from the wrath of the critics. Making it a cliché of the critics’ remarks that the reason behind the failure of the Bengalis in the financial arena is these gatherings. They can only be an excellent ‘babu’ which gives them enough time for this adda. To become a successful entrepreneur, one should have the diligence and perseverance to achieve it, keeping behind the lure of adda.

(image by Ashutosh Roy, www.unsplash.com)

Critics may have pointed their fingers at these addas for the downfall of Bengal or Bengalis but from the pages of history, it is known to all that it is not the monopoly of Bengal or Bengalis.  These addas are also to be found in French coffee shops, or in Greece.  The political ideas and ideologies so put forward by the greatest philosophers of all time   Aristotle, Plato is the rich harvest of ADDA.

Bibliography:

1.Singh, P., 2020. The micropolitics of an ‘Adda’ for women in India: Shaheen Bagh. Astrágalo. Cultura de la Arquitectura y la Ciudad, 1(1), pp.97-104.

2.Sen, D., 2021. Speech Genres and Identity: The Place of Adda in Bengali Cultural Discourse.

3.Chakravarti, S., 2021. A brief history of Adda—the Bengali fine art of discussion. [online] Quartz. Available at: <https://qz.com/india/1122129/adda-a-brief-history-of-the-bengali-fine-art-of-discussion/> [Accessed 4 April 2021].

4.Mahmud, F., 2021. Adda: What the institution of the convivial community chat over ‘cha’ means for Bengali literature. [online] Scroll.in. Available at: <https://scroll.in/article/940880/adda-what-the-institution-of-the-convivial-community-chat-over-cha-means-for-bengali-literature> [Accessed 4 April 2021].

5.Adda: The Meeting Ground for Discussions, D., 2021. Adda: The Meeting Ground for Discussions, Debates, and Tel Bhajas. [online] NDTV Food. Available at: <https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/adda-the-meeting-ground-for-discussions-debates-and-tel-bhajas-1705787> [Accessed 4 April 2021].

6.Telegraphindia.com. 2021. Storm in a coffee cup: pleasures of adda. [online] Available at: <https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/coffee-houses-and-the-bengali-culture-of-adda/cid/1785231> [Accessed 4 April 2021].

7.The Statesman. 2021. Curtains on the adda. [online] Available at: <https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/curtains-on-the-adda-1502905694.html> [Accessed 4 April 2021].

8.Nytimes.com. 2021. The Chattering Masses (Published 2005). [online] Available at: <https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/travel/tmagazine/the-chattering-masses.html> [Accessed 4 April 2021].