Tensions in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru, have surged as pro-Kannada activists from Karnataka Rakshana Vedike engaged in violent protests on December 27th. The protesters targeted businesses for allegedly not complying with a recent BBMP order that mandated 60% of signage space in Kannada, intensifying the language dispute.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urged everyone in Karnataka to learn Kannada, emphasising the language’s importance and suggesting that non-Kannada speakers should learn it. Congress, in collaboration with the JDS, leveraged the Amul-Nandini controversy to promote regionalism and linguistic chauvinism. Siddaramaiah called for boycotting Amul, framing non-Kannadigas as outsiders, and fueling a language-culture war.
The party intensified the language divide during assembly elections, criticising labels on FMCG products and rejecting Hindi as the national language in April 2022. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, aligned with Congress, played a significant role in the protests, promoting linguistic chauvinism.
Social media campaigns like #ServeInMyLanguage, supported by Congress and KRV, deepened the language divide, highlighting their solidarity. The recent focus on enforcing Kannada signage requirements demonstrates a shift in the language dispute, and concerns are raised about potential repercussions on businesses and the broader linguistic landscape.
Notably, T-shirts with slogans like “Hindi Gotthilla Hogo (We do not know Hindi, get lost), Naavu Kannadigaru, Naavu Dravidaru” (We are Kannadigas, We are Dravidians) gained traction, echoing anti-Hindi sentiments akin to Tamil fanaticism. A few years ago, Tamil Nadu also ran a campaign on a similar note. T-shirts with the slogans “Hindi Theriyadhu Poda (We dont know Hindi, get lost) were popular at one point.
Ironically, the recent signboard controversy in Bengaluru saw the removal of English boards, not exactly Hindi signages, highlighting a shift in focus (unknowingly?). Previously, Kannada enthusiasts championed English as a link language during the “Hindi imposition” protests. Now, the narrative has turned against English itself!
What adds to this is the silence of those who vehemently opposed so-called Hindi “imposition” when the BJP was in power. In a Congress-led Karnataka, the same critics are on mute.
It’s worth noting that the same Kannada activists who advocated against Hindi imposition are now protesting English “imposition (?) while also communicating with non-Kannadiga residents in the city in English! Saying things like this is Kannada Nadu (Kannada Nation) and only Kannada will work is non-inclusive behaviour and only time will tell whether such language fanaticism would help the Silicon Valley of Bharat. It appears as if these Kannada activists are unable to see the larger picture and are over-focusing on Kannada.
A parody handle shared this post.
Looking at the recent behaviour of the Kannada activists, this could probably come true one day (hopefully not). It will be interesting to see when corporations move out because of such language fanaticism and when real estate and other businesses plummet down owing to non-Kannadigas moving out of the city. Wish this doesn’t happen and hope Kannada activists start seeing sense before destroying the economy of the state any further.
