For months, Pint of View has been taking big ideas out of auditoriums and into pubs, creating a space where difficult questions, fascinating stories, and curious people can meet over a drink.

We're delighted to get one of India's most notable environment activists to talk about the sand nexus and shifting rivers to Bangalore.

About the Speaker

Siddharth Agarwal is an environmental activist, river walker, and founder of Veditum and India Sand Watch.

Since 2014, he has walked more than 6,000 kilometres across India, including extensive journeys along the Ganga and Ken rivers, documenting environmental change and the stories of communities living alongside India's river systems.

Through Veditum and India Sand Watch, he has led efforts to bring greater transparency and accountability to India's river sand mining sector, combining fieldwork, storytelling, and data-driven investigation.

About the Lecture

Mention "sand mining" in India and chances are the conversation will quickly turn to the "sand mafia." But what exactly is this network? How does it operate? And why has it proven so difficult to regulate?

Sand is not merely a construction material. It is a critical component of river ecosystems, formed over millions of years through geological processes. Yet as India's cities continue to grow, millions of tonnes are extracted from rivers every year, much of it illegally.

The consequences extend far beyond environmental damage. Illegal extraction reshapes landscapes, harms communities, weakens institutions, and fuels an economy that often remains hidden from public view.

Drawing on years of field research and river journeys, Siddharth will explore how these networks function and what it takes to build public accountability around a system designed to remain invisible.

Event Details

📅 Sunday, 08 July

🕓 7 PM – 9 PM

📍 The Bangalore Local, Koramangala [This is a sober venue]

What your ticket includes

- 1 complimentary Kombucha from Local Ferment Co

Seating strictly on first come first served.

About Pint of View

Pint of View is India's Largest Lecture Community. We brought the lecture in bar format to India and are now expanding across the globe with chapters in 14 cities worldwide. Here, big ideas meet intimate spaces, and you walk in curious and walk out with a sharper lens on the world.

Book now and develop your own pint of view. 🍻