A few days ago in Bengaluru’s Chikkapete market, pro-Kannada groups staged demonstrations targeting Marwari shop owners, sparking concerns over regional chauvinism and potential political exploitation. The conflict revolves around signages where English is prominently displayed while Kannada appears in smaller fonts.
Marwari traders, integral to the Chikkapete market for decades, find themselves caught in the crossfire of a regional pride dispute. Some protesters argue that the visibility of Kannada on signboards is a matter of cultural identity, while others view it as an unnecessary provocation, drawing parallels to incidents in Maharashtra.
OpIndia reported that the Kannada Rakshana Vedike orchestrated the demonstrations, demanding that at least 65% of shop signages prominently feature Kannada. They also called for the translation of brand logos into Kannada.
The incidents have raised concerns about the rise of regional chauvinism, reminiscent of past movements in Maharashtra, drawing parallels to the tactics employed by the Shiv Sena under the Thackerays. The Congress party, governing Karnataka, faces accusations of exploiting these divisions ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Despite assurances of unity from Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi, the situation on the ground paints a different picture. Recent assembly elections, where the BJP secured victories in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, revealed the limitations of using caste divisions and regional chauvinism as political strategies.
Shop owners in Chikkapete were surprised at the fervour of the demonstrations. While some are willing to comply with demands for changes in signages, they request time for implementation. The police presence during the protests is scrutinised, with reports suggesting officials did little to intervene, raising questions about the role of law enforcement in such situations.
Notably, most Marwaris having a business in Karnataka can converse in the local language fluently.
As reported by India Today on December 24, 2023, commercial establishments in Bengaluru face the threat of their trade licenses being cancelled if 60% of their signboards are not in Kannada by the end of February. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will suspend the licenses of shops, hotels, and malls that do not comply with the 60% Kannada rule on name boards by February 28. BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath led a meeting addressing the use of the Kannada language on shop name boards in Bengaluru.
The city’s civic body has mandated that all hotels, malls, and other establishments must incorporate Kannada on their name boards. It emphasised that strict measures would be taken against those who failed to comply.
With 1400 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads, Bengaluru will conduct a survey to identify shops that have followed the rules regarding Kannada language usage on signboards. Those found not following the rules may face the suspension of their trade license.
