Bengaluru has been facing a series of infrastructure issues in recent times, including traffic congestion, potholed roads, and skyrocketing rents. These problems have been exacerbated by a large influx of migrants into the city, leading to various challenges. Among these issues, the debate over the promotion of the Kannada language has become a contentious topic, with reports of harassment and discrimination against non-Kannada speakers.
The Language Barrier in Bengaluru
Over the past few years, efforts have been made to promote Kannada in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka. However, this push for linguistic identity has also led to instances of discrimination and intolerance towards individuals who do not speak the local language. Autowallahs refusing rides, vandalism of signboards in English, and overcharging of customers speaking Hindi are just some of the examples of the challenges faced by non-Kannada speakers in the city.
The Hiring Post Controversy
Adding fuel to the fire, Vikram Chopra, the CEO of Cars24 based in Delhi NCR, recently sparked controversy with a hiring post that took a direct jab at Bengaluru’s language issue. In his post, Chopra called out engineers who have spent years in Bengaluru but still can't speak Kannada, inviting them to work in Delhi NCR instead.
He wrote, “Still can’t speak Kannada after years in Bengaluru? It’s OK. Aa jao Dilli.”
He further elaborated, “We are not saying Delhi NCR is better. Only that it really is.”
The post, which aimed to attract talented engineers looking to stay close to home, received mixed reactions on social media platforms like X and LinkedIn.
Reactions and Responses
While some criticized Chopra's post as distasteful and questioned his motives behind promoting Delhi NCR over Bengaluru, others commended the CEO for his bold stance. Critics raised concerns about the segregation of employees based on language preferences, while supporters applauded Chopra for encouraging engineers to work closer to their families. The debate surrounding language, identity, and professional opportunities in Bengaluru continues to be a hot topic of discussion.
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