Three entrepreneurs opened a pop-up queer café in Kolkata with hopes to turn it into an art collective
A café has opened up in the heart of south Kolkata; this in itself may not be news — but the fact that it is specifically for the queer community has caught our attention. 'Amra Odbhut', the Bengali phrase which literally translates to 'We are queer', is more of a collective effort.
The lack of a physical space for the LGBTQIA+ community to socialise without being judged or restricted is what led Nandini Moitra, Upasana Agarwal and Raina Roy to open this café. Of the three, Moitra, 24, and Agarwal, 21, are the happy couple, and Roy, 36, is a well-known activist in the city's queer circle. Their first event was held on December 31, in Jadavpur, Kolkata.
We spoke to the proprietors Nandini Moitra and Upasana Agarwal to know more.
It's a pop up. What are the timings or dates?
We come up with events, rather gatherings, twice or thrice a month. We have already hosted two events. The next one is scheduled for January 29.
Is this your first such venture?
Nandini: We used to have a collaboration with another person for creating a queer space, but due to an unavoidable reason, we had to scrap it. But the dream of such a space remained, and thus, 'Amra Odbhut' was born.
Why a café specifically for the queer community?
N: In our community, socialisation is somewhat restrained to occasional seminars and protests, if not through a friend or social media sites. The seminars and conventions are fairly limited to the English-speaking elite class. And, it is a prevalent idea in society that 'queer' is a western concept. We want to bridge that gap. Our café is essentially bilingual, where people can come and converse in any language they want.
The other aim was to create an art collective — where people can come, perform and share their work. It is a little difficult to share queer art; generally only the community appreciates, and is interested in buying it. For instance, there was a time when Upasana asked cafés in the city whether they would let her host a queer programme. But those venues raised concerns, so she decided we should create a space of our own.
We also want to make it a small sustainable model where queer artists can sell their art without facing rejections to set up their exhibition. And those who are interested can buy these. This is not limited to only members of the community, but also their circles.
Upasana: We thought it was important for queer people to have a safe place to perform — a place where they will not be judged for their identity. They will not be ogled at. A place where they will not have to face thousands of derogatory questions and comments. We also provide anonymity that many seek. It's not that there are no such spaces for LGBTQIA+ people, but they are not fixed or are just hidden in plain sight. We wanted to give it a formal shape in the public domain. Though our main goal is to create a virtual space, like an art collective, having a stable physical establishment is required to create that comfort zone.
What are your long-term plans?
N: We want to open a cultural space where we can screen queer-themed movies, and get Bengali subtitles for them. We also want to make it a permanent café.
U: There is a severe lack of cruising places for lesbians. The places that exist usually have an NGO attached to it. I wanted to go beyond that. Many don't want to be associated with NGOs.
How has the response been so far?
N: After people found out about Amra Odbhut, many said they wanted to perform here; or just be there to socialise. Some of them said that they would love to open a space like this.
Is your café open only to the LGBTQIA+ community?
N: Of course not. Anyone can visit, irrespective of their gender identity. As long as they are sensitive to others. In fact, cis-heterosexual women can perform here too; but the stage is not open to cis-heterosexual men. The society provides such spaces to them all the time; this particular stage is for the marginalised.
Story behind the name 'Amra Odbhut'
'Amra Odbhut' is a famous song by Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore. The literal translation of the first line of the song is 'We are the messengers of the new and the youth'.
The song talks about these new-age messengers who are restless, queer. It talks about those who don't fear breaking the barriers to be who they are.
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