Bengaluru: A video posted on social media platform has once again ignited Kannada language debate on the internet. The video shows a debate between a local resident of Bengaluru and a non-Kannada speaker about the importance of learning the local language.
In the video a local resident of Bengaluru asks a man whether he knows Kannada language or not. After the man replies that he don’t know the language, the local said that he must learn the language. He added that he must respect every culture and language since he has been living in Karnataka for past 12 years. When the non-local asked, “Do you know Hindi,” the local replied, “Yes, I know Hindi because respect every language.”
When the non-local said that he respect every language, the local said, “If you respect the language you must have learned the language.” The debate took a serious turn when the non-local said that it is not necessary to learn the language. The local said, “If it is not necessary to learn the language then why are you staying in Karnataka? You want job here, you want salary here but you don’t want the language here.” He further said, “This is Bengaluru, not Mumbai or Gujarat.”
This is Good. Question the Lazy folks
12yrs in Karnataka and yet to understand and learn Kannada?
That says only Two things, Zero Curiosity and willingness to Learn, Arrogance towards Local Culture and Language.#Kannada #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/fdkosPscKc
— ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ತನಯ (@ManjuKBye) October 30, 2024
Reactions of netizens
The video sparked a sharp debate between the netizens with some supporting the stance of the local man to learn the regional language while some denouncing the need to learn it. A user supporting the non-local wrote, “Well it is “good” to learn the local language and also great if I can interact with local people who cannot speak other languages in their native tongue, but it is certainly not mandatory. If he has lived 12 years in a city without learning the language, it also means he didn’t feel the “need” and that not knowing the language never was a handicap.”
Another user wrote, “These migrants are big problem everywhere we Mumbai people also suffer the same way. They don’t get that their respective state don’t feed them. This is the reason they come here.”
One user wrote, “Many MNC’s in Bangalore from years. Can you dare ask the top leaders from outside country for not to use English language in office and only Kannada should be used?? Or make a rule that only Kannadigas to be hire. If you do so then the investors will run away…”
