New Culture in Kolkata: Coffee Shops Galore

 Several years ago the CM of WB suggested as an employment alternative resorting to making Alur Chop and Telebhaja. Obviously the suggestion was subject to a lot of ridicule and general mirth! Some months later the PM of the Country propagated a similar idea by asking  Ipeople to make Pakodas, this time attracting less criticism perhaps because the staunch Hindutwavadis believed it as a Gospel Truth! The Results are clearly seen in the deplorable condition of the Country’s overall economy.

I suffered a debilitating illness four years ago forcing me to be bedridden all this time. I had no way of finding out what was happening actually on the ground. I woke up to a proliferation of Guesthouses across the city. Most of them of good quality and service.In one of my favorite South Kolkata localities — Golpark-Hindustan Park area, I counted as many as six such Guesthouses, all quite established and pretty high in demand. Recently I availed of the services of one such Guesthouse ( in fact I used all their 14 rooms) and found their service quality to be of excellent standards. May these Guesthouses and their tribe continue to blossom and grow.

But perhaps I am transgressing. After four years in bed, I am absolutely amazed at the explosion of Cafes - Coffee houses and Tea shops - across the city. Almost every house in South Kolkata has been converted into a Coffee shop and likewise in Salt Lake. I haven’t been to the Northern part of the city yet but I am sure the story there would be the same.The custom is good and dense, the variety of food enormous although the quality varies from outstanding to rank bad and the service likewise. But what has struck me really is the outstanding enhancement in the enterprise and entrepreneurship of people all around. If not a swayed by the Alur Chop - Telebhaja culture many people have definitely taken to the Cae Culture in a big way. The result is manifold: some increased economic activity, many places to go to for small foods, lovely ambience in many places and overall beautification in many localities.

I AM happy at these developments. What about you?