A video circulating on social media has sparked debate and controversy in Bengaluru, showcasing a heated exchange between two men at a petrol pump. The incident involves a man being reprimanded for not knowing Kannada despite having lived in the Karnataka city for 12 years.
The video captures the verbal altercation, where the man is told by another individual, “You have to respect every culture and language.” The accuser then goes on to say, “You want a job here, salary here, but don’t want the language? You don’t know Kannada?…because you have to learn, right? You have to respect every culture, every language… for the last 12 years, you have been living here. You don’t know Kannada.” When the man responds that there’s no necessity, the accuser retorts, “Then why are you staying here? At least learn this [ Kannada language ]. This is Bengaluru, not Mumbai or Gujarat…”.
The video has garnered significant attention on social media platforms, with users expressing a range of opinions. While some users agreed with the sentiment that respecting local languages is essential, many criticized the aggressive approach and questioned the right to force someone to learn a language. One user wrote, “Who the hell you are ask us to learn Kannada. Its none of your business. It’s our wish whether to learn or not. You don’t have any right to make it mandatory. Its not an arrogance, its his wish. You stay in AP or Telangana and we never force you to learn Telugu Language. This is India not Afghanistan.” Another user on X stated, “He lives in Karnataka and earns in Karnataka… So he pays taxes also to Karnataka, not his home state. Of all non-Kannadigas leave Bengaluru then half of the city will starve to death.” Yet another user expressed, “Why should he learn? Is forcing to learn language the new criteria to move to different state. The language jingoistic people just want to harass outsiders. Not everyone is keen to learn different language because they are too much other responsibilities.”
The incident highlights a sensitive issue of language and cultural identity, raising questions about the boundaries of language learning and the implications of imposing such expectations on individuals who choose to live and work in a different region. It remains to be seen how this incident will shape discussions on language integration and cultural acceptance in Bengaluru and beyond.
