Serampore, India – The Warmth of Community Emanating from a 100-Year-Old Tea Shop
In the heart of Chatra, a bustling neighborhood in Serampore, West Bengal, located roughly 30 kilometers from Kolkata, the social fabric of the community is stitched together by the ritual of tea. This is where 65-year-old retiree Ashish Bandopadhyay has been weaving his own thread, volunteering at a modest tea shop that has stood the test of time. Clad in a soft pink polo shirt, Ashish is the embodiment of reacts life’s philosophy, "No job, just passion."
The tea shop, a place of simple elegance overlooking Chatra ghat, has thrived for a century as a cornerstone of communal interaction and camaraderie. Naresh Shome’s tea shop, named after its original owner, is where the essence of Bengali culture can be sipped from clay cups, filled with black tea or the spiced Kobiraji variety.
Since its humble beginnings under extract owner Naresh Chandra Shome, a freedom fighter and former employee of Brooke Bond, the tea shop has transformed from a mere place of commerce into a haven of social exchange. Shome, after parting ways with his company job, instead chose the path of activism, using his shop as a gathering spot for fellow freedom fighters and missionaries. This legacy of collective responsibility endures, as the shop today is managed by a team of volunteer customers who spirit of communal service and care for the shop echoes Shome’s own history of commitment to social welfare.
Ashish, a lifelong customer since his youth, now pays homage to this tradition by volunteering his time to brew, serve, and refine the art of Bengali cha, making the tea shop a cornerstone of community life. Alongside Ashish and the other volunteers, the current owner, Ashok Chakroborty, carries the flame of tradition and community service. He steps out for his clerical duties each day, leaving the reins of his family-owned shop in the hands of these valued volunteers.
Despite the wear and tear of time, including the occasional whitewashing and ceiling repair, the shop’s walls bear witness to the many traditions and stories it has nurtured. The building itself, with its rich history dating back to 1650, has seen the ebb and flow of colonial rulers and local life. From a Danish trading settlement to present-day Serampore, the tea shop stands as an enduring symbol of the town’s heritage.
Local restoration activists and the younger generation alike are cognizant of the tea shop’s importance in the cultural tapestry of West Bengal. Preserving this legacy remains a challenge, as the pace of modern life risks eroding the cherished tradition of "adda"—the Bengalis’ art of long, leisurely conversations. Yet, the heartbeats of the community are still reflected in the cups of tea that find their way into the hands of those who frequent Naresh Shome’s tea shop, symbolizing a hope for continuity and a collective commitment to shared history.
In this quaint establishment, time seems to slow down, allowing patrons to savor the warm embrace of community, the weight of history, and the comforting ritual of tea. As evening descends, Ashok returns to take over the till from Ashish, continuing the unbroken chain of service and ensuring the legacy of Naresh Shome’s tea shop endures, one steaming cup at a time.
