By invitation: In cosmopolitan Bengaluru, language debate is meaningless'

We live in the state of Karnataka and the importance of local language scarcely needs pointing out. However, this is rarely the case, for we appear to be collectively besotted by the idea of a single language, whether it’s Hindi or English. In school, we studied three languages – ideally, the first should be local, obviously, the second, English – for its reach cannot be ignored. It is understood and spoken by a very large number of people in the country. Third, we have Hindi, which also has a mass reach.

Bengaluru is, inherently, a mixed city, cosmopolitan in nature and home to a large migrant population who arrive from places like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa to work here. Many of these people, of course, don’t know Kannada. Learning a local language takes time and until then, they rely solely on Hindi or English in order to get by. Fortunately enough, a good 95% of the local population speaks or understands English, making it fairly easy to rely on the language. This means people are even less compelled to learn Kannada. We hope, therefore, that they know enough Hindi to get around, at least in public transport, like the Metro.

Let’s come back, however, to the mediums of mainstream education. I don’t think there is room for language jingoism here – the debate, in its entirety, is needless. Kannadigas are a broad-minded lot, who embrace other people, their culture, food, language and everything else. This must continue. The language debate, is, in that sense, needless. There is enough space in Metro stations for three signboards with three languages, as well as announcements in Kannada, English and Hindi on the train. What does this prove? That this is an inclusive city that believes strongly in embracing diversity. We also underline our ‘Kannadiga-ness’, for we do love our own language and culture too. Kannada is and must be top priority, even as we ensure that there is no jingoism over English or Hindi. The very concept, in fact, is alien to us. Real Kannadigas are not this way. After all, why is Bengaluru what it is today? It is because we are an accepting people and must remain that way.

The writer is a leading Branding Expert (As told to Ranjani Madhavan)