On a typical night out, you expect loud music, crowded dance floors, and conversations that rarely go beyond small talk. But in Nagpur, a different kind of gathering is taking shape, one where people sit with a drink in hand, listening intently to a conservation architect talk about restoring centuries-old temples, or a marine biologist describing life under the sea. This is Pint of View, a concept that is finding its footing in the city. Originally started in Bengaluru by Shruti Shah, Harsh Snehanshu, and Meghna Choudhary, and inspired by the ‘Lectures on Tap’ series started in the USA, the platform now has chapters in eleven cities like Delhi and Mysuru, along with international editions in London and Paris. Nagpur joined the list earlier this year, and in just three sessions, it has already built a consistent audience. 

 

For Vasundhara Kanoria, who manages the Nagpur chapter, the idea came from a gap she had personally experienced. “Having lived in larger cities, I saw how easy it was to find spaces where you could meet new people, exchange ideas, or simply learn something outside a formal classroom. This opportunity was somewhat limited in Nagpur.” “Harsh had been my senior in college, and I asked him if we could bring Pint of View to Nagpur. I was genuinely a bit sceptical about the response, but it has been excellent so far.” Part of that response comes from a larger shift in how people are choosing to socialise.

 

“Our parents’ generation had a lot of close friends and built-in communities. But that has shrunk for our generation to a large extent. A lot of people move away for studies or to work, and even offices have a work-from-home system, so we miss out on socialising there as well. We wanted a community of like-minded people who socialise more meaningfully.” That is exactly what these sessions are doing. The audience is a mix of people from all walks of life, but there is a shared curiosity that binds them. A small group of regulars has already attended all three sessions and signed up for the next. The choice of venue plays a role in this. Hosting these talks in bars or lounges is deliberate. “Education in India has always been very formal,” Vasundhara said.

 

“We wanted to break that, and the setting makes a huge difference. It lowers hesitation, makes questions easier, and encourages interaction. Ironically, despite being hosted in pubs, most people are not there for the drinks. They are there for the experience. The novelty of the format helps, but it is the content that makes people come back.” 

 

 

 

If the setting is what draws attention, it is the speakers who hold it. Pint of View does not look for conventional, widely visible professionals. Instead, it leans towards people whose work is not commonly understood, but deeply engaging once you hear about it. “Rohan Chakravarty, an environmental cartoonist, was our first speaker. He is known for his comic ‘Green Humour’, and spoke about his creative process and the ‘deceptively simple art of making a comic’. Shivani Sharma is a conservation architect who worked on the historic Markanda temples for over a decade. She humorously recalled her experiences, be it working on the field as a woman, interacting with locals, and the sheer patience her profession demands.

 

Our upcoming session will feature Asiem Sanyal, a marine biologist who has worked on remote, unknown islands. These are not careers most people encounter everyday. And that unfamiliarity becomes a point of curiosity.” Vasundhara said. “They have to be engaging and knowledgeable,” Vasundhara added, “But expertise alone is not enough. The speaker’s ability to hold a room’s attention matters as much as their knowledge.” “For the first three sessions, I reached out to speakers I had already seen in action. Going forward, those interested in speaking are asked to share recordings, podcasts, talks, or any public speaking experience. If that is not available, a mock session is conducted to understand how they present. We are ultimately looking for is a mix of principle, insight, and experience, something that can’t just be Googled.” Vasundhara observed that for many attendees, the lived experiences of these speakers leave a lasting impression.

 

“So many attendees stay back after the session ends to interact with speakers, or just among each other. They think, question, and engage with ideas alongside people who share this curiosity. In a city like Nagpur, that is known to be slow-paced, there is a hunger for spaces that offer more than just passive entertainment; and I believe Pint of View offers just that.” Because that, in the end, is what defines the appeal of Pint of View. It is not just about listening to someone speak. It is about walking away having learnt something you didn’t expect, and having found people who were just as curious as you.