Khatti, Of Tea, Talks & Friends
Khatti …. It’s a tribe hungover the charms of tea, talks and friends. In a fast-growing city when life treats us hard, taking a moment to interact with those who understand you, who belong to your stories can be relaxing and that is what ‘khatti’ is all about!
Of course, with time, ‘khatti’ has evolved. It is no longer limited to roadside betel shops or popular squares across the city. Uber cool cafes and coffee joints have also emerged as equally popular destinations to have ‘khatti’ with friends at least for the young brigade.
We, at My City Links, bring you the ‘Khatti Makers’ of Bhubaneswar from across all age groups. From their favourite spots to their topics of discussions, here’s everything you want to know about them.
The Professionals
These are Bhubaneswar’s longest surviving ‘khatti’ communities, who discuss everything from politics to sports to entertainment. The public here is mostly in their 40s and early 50s and have a disciplined lifestyle.
Talking to MCL, Prasanna Panda, one of the old-time khatti members, near Raj Mahal Square, says, “We have been going khatti every weekend since the last 35 years of our life. We have seen the city grow from here. Our khatti has its own name and identity – “DHOKhatti”. My friends and I don’t have to coordinate over phone before going to khatti, it just happens. It’s like a second nature for us now.”
He further adds, “It’s more like a family club and members can’t quit or bunk any khatti sessions. If they do, they are pulled up and made to justify their absence (laughs). It’s a special place really, more like a lifestyle now.” He also informs us about few other famous Khattis, like the Mausidokaan khatti, Keshari Talkies khatti and another opposite BMC office. “People from my generation will know what I am talking about!
As nostalgia takes over his voice, he goes on, “During our college days, I never knew that the same khatti where we spent most of our time would produce so many IAS and IPS officers in future.”
So, do they also take selfies, which have become a mandatory element in get-togethers, we ask. “Well, yes, we take lots of selfies but mostly to preserve memories, not for uploading on social media.”
Where You Can Spot Them: Raj Mahal Square, Keshari Talkies Chhaka, Opposite BMC, near BJB College and some other spots
Backbench Floaters
This is that group from the younger generation that still prefers ‘khatti’ in front of a betel shop instead of settling inside a happening food joint. In their early 20s, this is the crowd addicted to attendance stress and exam failures (and also cigarettes!) and ‘khatti’ for them acts as an escape from all problems.
Shashank Shrivastav, whom we spotted in front of a betel shop on KIIT Road, hanging out with friends, on being asked why he was keen on this particular area, replies, “What do you mean why? I am an engineer, isn’t that self-explanatory? Sania (the name of the betel shop) is the spot that gives us momentum after each class. It’s a one-hour lecture of fluid mechanics, how do you think we deal with six of those lectures and plenty of lab experiments?”
So, do they care to stop for a selfie or a social status upload? “We have moved past that zone, now khatti is a regular need,” he tells us.
Students from different streams come together at different times of the day with their groups to this spot. The crowd here starts from early morning to mid-day (often after bunking classes) till late in the dawn when friends and romantics bid goodbye. And damn, goodbyes must be a forever memory!
Where You Can Spot Them: Near KIIT Law School, in front of Sahid Nagar shops
The Digital Generation
Just out of their teens and emerging as adults, this is the generation for whom ‘khatti’ too is a part of a social media package! With the kick of the 16th birthday and the new-found liberty they get at home, these get a chance to enjoy post schools with their friends, food and internet.
This is the generation that talks less stories but Instagrams quite a few. Selfies are a must for them. Part of the package!
Explaining their idea of fun, Rishabh Agarwal, a high school student tells us, “Why do you even have to visit a place for ‘khatti’? We can hang out with friends and smoke a cigarette even inside a moving car. Memories are memories, doesn’t matter where they are from! We still make good snap stories of our drives’ So, why do they feel this need to post everything online? “There’s nothing wrong about posting online, as long as you belong to your tribe, you can do anything. But somewhere down the line, talks can liberate a mind so much better than the likes on a Facebook post, but again, who am I to judge?,” he points out.
Where You Can Spot Them: Anywhere they get a wifi connection, any happening café or joint! Of course, this generation also loves to travel, be it on bikes or all packed in one car!
Well, whatever be the kind or type of khatti, it has its own beauty and leaves behind precious moments of togetherness. At the end of the day, it’s all about how de-stressed we feel after sharing our tales with those from our own tribe. Khatti is a culture that can never die! Long live the khatti…