Kolkata is sipping its way through a new classroom culture

As experience-led socialising gains ground, the city is warming up to the idea of the bar classroom, where experts replace DJs and conversations revolve around ideas rather than small talk. Last Sunday, CT attended one such session at AMPM where physicist Dr Soumitra Sengupta unravelled the mysteries of space and time before an audience that had gathered as much for the discussion as the drinks. The setting was casual, but the curiosity was real, offering a glimpse into a growing trend that is turning the city's nightlife into a space for learning, conversation and connection.

Learning beyond The classroom

Dr Soumitra Sengupta conducting the sesssion

PB Mehta conducting a session

For the organisers, the idea went beyond hosting a one-off event. It was about creating spaces where people could gather around conversations, not just cocktails. "While food and drinks bring people together, we wanted to create reasons for people to stay, think and engage," said Abhimanyu Maheshwari, co-founder of Conversation Room. He added that people today were increasingly looking for experiences that were both social and meaningful, making bars an ideal setting for discussions that might otherwise feel intimidating. For organisers Analina Sanyal and Proiti Seal Acharya, the concept was also a response to a familiar refrain. "People often said there's nothing happening in Kolkata," said Analina. "We wanted to create a space where learning felt less intimidating and more conversational, bringing people, ideas and experiences together in an informal setting." Proiti shared a similar vision. "Interesting discussions shouldn't be limited to classrooms or academic spaces. We wanted to make knowledge-sharing accessible, engaging and enjoyable for everyone," she said.

When adda met academia
For attendees, the biggest draw was the chance to learn in a setting that felt far removed from a traditional classroom. "What initially attracted me was the uniqueness of the concept," said Sumedha Verma, who attended few sessions. "The idea of combining learning with an informal, engaging setting was different from traditional formats." Pratiti shared a similar view, saying such experiences would appeal to "genuinely curious folk who are looking to learn and interact with experts and like-minded people." For attendee Sudeshna Sanyal, the session made science feel accessible rather than intimidating. "What I loved most was how science was taken off its academic pedestal and made accessible to everyone," she said. Surviswa Banerjee was equally impressed by the speaker's ability to simplify complex concepts. "The session connected scientific ideas