Kannada sees increased acceptance and enthusiasm in B’luru, thanks to these efforts

NT Bengaluru

As Kannada Rajyotsava is set to be celebrated vigorously across the state on Friday, the Kannada language and its associated sentiments have received a fillip, thanks to constructive efforts by a few individuals and the lightning fast responses on social media. This is happening even amidst reports of language conflicts in the city. Bengaluru is a metropolis where people from different parts of the country live and work for years and years which has made local residents and even experts lament that the respect for local culture, especially the language is not just enough.

some pioneering enhusiasts are however setting a sterling example taking up initiatives close to their heart to popularise native language and ethos. FOr instance, Azzu Sultan, who’s now popularly known as ‘Auto Kannadiga,’ recalls his idea of installing a placard for non-Kannadiga speakers, with Kannada words conveyed with English letters. “There have been issues of communication with passengers and auto drivers. The idea of teaching Kannada struck me and I came up with these placards,” he said. His initiative made him an overnight sensation, as he earned praise from both Kannadigas and non- Kannadigas. “Although all I wanted was for people to start learning the language, I did not expect this to become so popular!,” he added. At present, the placards are now installed in 800 autorickshaws, and according to Sultan, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) have come forward to prepare and distribute 1 lakh placards. “Every traffic police station will distribute these placards to 1000 autos,” he summed up.

Even traditional Kannada classes, which switched to the online mode owing to the pandemic back in 2020, expect a rise in student count. Narendran Somisetty, who runs “Speak Lang” in Uttarahalli, feels motivated to teach basic Kannada after observng the rising sentiment, “So far, we’ve handled around 1000 students in the past decade. But looking at social media, we are super motivated to bring in a lot more!,” he added. His classes last for a month and help new settlers here to learn basic Kannada. A two month course is also available.

Conversation at multiple levels on Kannada needed, says academic

Chandan Gowda, the author and academic, welcomes these efforts of making people learn kannada in bengaluru through social media. “It’s a constructive effort,” he observed. “Many of the new technologies do not necessitate social interaction in shopping and local travel and reduce opportunities for the new settlers in the city to learn Kannada. But a few local individuals have used technology to promote learning kannada which is the constructive side of kannada activism,” he added.While efforts like these help protect the local culture, Gowda feels a conversation at multiple levels is needed to help promote a proper understanding of the issues underlying language conflicts. “As the country runs on a federal model of governance, a lot of discussion needs to be seen - be it among Kannada and non Kannada speakers, or among the state government and the central government,” he concluded.