At bars, you can now drink, dance... and listen to lectures

Ona regular weekday evening, a group of Delhi residents have gathered at a bar in Hauz Khas. Drinks are poured, snacks are served and the crowd chats among themselves. But that’s where the similarity to a normal night out ends as prominent Indian dancer Navtej Johar grabs a mic and begins his lecture on the philosophy of dance and yoga.

- Aaditya Khatwai

The event was a part of anew social activity in Delhi: lectures at bars. Organised by groups such as Nerd Nite, unLecture and Pint of View, they are an answer to Delhi's desire to learn and socialise in a more stimulating and informal environment.

22-year-old Mishka Lepps said it makes learning more comfortable. “In formal learning setups... it’s difficult to be myself. The moment you take learning into an informal setting, that disappears.”

Lepps started UnLecture in July this year with her friends from St Stephen’s, Sonalika Aggarwal (22), and Kezia Anna Mammen (21), ina bid to recreate the stimulating atmosphere of college once they graduated.

All the groups were also inspired by similar events in the West, such as the ‘Lectures on Tap’ series in the US. “These events fill a niche, bringing a very vibrant and intellectual ecosystem to an informal place where you can let your hair down,” said Gopi Krishnan Nayar (35), who opened Nerd Nite’s Delhi branch in June this year. Nerd Nite started in Boston in 2003, and has since spread to over 100 cities across the world.