International Coffee Day Today: How Coffee House Culture Promoted Social Connections And Intellectual Exchanges

Have you ever visited a coffee house in New Delhi, Lucknow or Indore? The scene is familiar, groups of media persons, artists, and activists, all engaged in never-ending discussions, sometimes hot sometimes passive. In the 1960s and seventies, leftist activists and progressive intellectuals thronged the Connaught Place coffee house run by the Indian Coffee House cooperative.

I vividly remember during the 1975-77 emergency, this hub was razed to the ground as dissenters and anti-Indira Gandhi forces gathered there to exchange notes or underground literature. My friends Udayan Sharma, Paras Nath Choudhary, Dev Dutt, and an occasional guest in disguise, Ladli Mohan Nigam, Shyam Dutt Paliwal, and several others who till then had escaped arrest, used to spend hours, gulping down coffee cups. Now the Coffee house is Palika Bazar.

Later the coffee house shifted to Mohan Singh Place, but the original ambience never returned. Leftist thinkers, such as Dr Lohia, were instrumental in popularizing coffee houses in cities like Delhi's Connaught Place, Lucknow, and Allahabad.

These spaces became known for their vibrant intellectual atmosphere and as meeting points for activists and like-minded individuals. Dr. Lohia, a prominent socialist leader, recognized the importance of these spaces for fostering democratic dialogue and promoting socialist ideals among the masses.One of the most noteworthy contributions of leftists in India was the establishment of the Indian Coffee House cooperative chain.

The Indian Coffee House chain was founded in the mid-20th century as a cooperative venture to provide a platform for intellectuals and activists to gather and discuss important social and political issues. The chain quickly gained popularity for its affordable food and beverages, as well as its role as a meeting point for progressive thinkers. Coffee houses have been recognised as islands where individuals gather to share ideas, foster creativity, and cultivate informality. This vibrant culture transcends mere caffeine consumption, representing a rich tapestry of social interaction, artistic expression, and intellectual discourse.

A friend, Paras Nath Choudhary has this to say on coffee drinking "I am a coffee crazy man and I can go anywhere in the world just to savour a different coffee. I regard it as the best brew in the world. I even put wine and whisky lower than coffee in the hierarchy of social lubricants… I like some cities because they are coffee cities. I am not a fan of Africa but I admire it because its shepherds discovered coffee plants. I am impressed by a friend who is in Mysore visiting coffee gardens in Karnataka and seeing up close how coffee is grown and value-added. I have taken a shine to Delhi since it has begun to favour me with vegan coffee. The lack of coffee and the activities that weave around it can leave an ashen taste in my mouth."

Now that big brands like Starbucks, Coffee Day, and Barista have overwhelmed the market with expensive variants and flavours, the humble coffee house cup of joy, has been pushed behind. But connoisseurs of the brew still relish the steaming filter coffee with an aroma that lingers on for a while.

Talking about coffee as an intellectual stimulant, social scientists say that the 17th-century European coffee houses sparked Enlightenment ideas, 19th-century Parisian cafes nurtured artistic movements while the 1960s American coffee houses fueled counterculture discussions. In today's digital age, coffee houses serve as refreshing oases for face-to-face interaction, revitalizing our sense of belonging and collective humanity.

Whether you're a student, artist, entrepreneur, or simply a coffee lover, the coffee house culture welcomes all, offering a unique blend of stimulation, comfort, and connection.

A coffee estate owner of Coorg, Jagan Benjamin says "Coffee's journey to popularity in India began in the 17th century when a Sufi saint is said to have smuggled seven coffee beans from Yemen and planted them in the hills of Chikmagalur, Karnataka. The British later commercialized coffee cultivation in the 19th century, establishing plantations in South India. Today, India is one of the largest coffee producers globally, with South Indian filter coffee and modern café culture contributing to its widespread popularity."s established.