The Kannada language debate in Karnataka, a long-standing issue fueled by regional pride and cultural identity, has flared up in recent months with a series of incidents and policy moves that have deepened tensions in the state’s cosmopolitan hub, Bengaluru.
The push to prioritize Kannada in public and private spheres, driven by pro-Kannada activists and supported by the Congress-led government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has sparked both protests and counter-narratives, highlighting the complex interplay of linguistic identity, migration, and inclusivity in India’s IT capital.
Recent incidents fuel the debate
In a recent incident that has reignited Karnataka’s ongoing language debate, a heated exchange unfolded at the State Bank of India’s (SBI) Chandapura branch in Bengaluru on May 20, 2025, when a customer demanded that the branch manager communicate in Kannada, the state’s official language. The manager, reportedly refusing to speak Kannada and insisting on using Hindi, declared, ‘This is India, I won’t speak Kannada,’ prompting a sharp response from the customer, who emphasized Karnataka’s linguistic identity and cited Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines mandating service in the local language. The altercation, captured on video and widely shared online, sparked outrage among pro-Kannada activists, who planned protests to demand accountability from SBI.
However, the latest wave of tensions began in late 2024 and continued into 2025, with several high-profile incidents drawing attention to the Kannada language row.
On February 21, 2025, a violent clash in Belagavi, near the Karnataka-Maharashtra border, saw a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus conductor, Mahadevappa Hukkeri, assaulted for insisting that a passenger speak in Kannada rather than Marathi. The incident, which occurred after Hukkeri questioned a passenger traveling on a free ticket meant for women, escalated when a group accompanying the passenger attacked him. Pro-Kannada groups, led by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), responded by blocking the Belagavi-Bagalkot road, demanding action against the assailants. Four individuals were arrested, but the conductor was also booked under the POCSO Act, adding complexity to the case. In retaliation, a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus driver was assaulted in Chitradurga, Karnataka, prompting Maharashtra to suspend bus services to the state. Karnataka’s Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy emphasized that residents must learn Kannada, while also urging respect for other languages.
Another incident in January 2025 reignited online debates when entrepreneur Vatsal Sanghvi shared on X that he and a friend faced harassment from a Bengaluru policeman at 10:30 PM until his friend responded in Kannada, prompting an immediate change in the officer’s demeanor. Sanghvi’s post, which garnered significant attention before being deleted, criticized ‘uncalled harassment’ based on language, amplifying discussions about inclusivity in Bengaluru’s multicultural setting. Bengaluru Police responded, requesting details to investigate, while netizens debated whether such incidents reflect systemic bias or isolated overreach.
A viral X post on January 27, 2025, further escalated tensions, with a user claiming, ‘Bengaluru is closed for north India and neighbouring states who don’t want to learn Kannada.’ The post, amassing over 133,000 views, argued that those unwilling to respect Karnataka’s language and culture should not benefit from its opportunities. Responses ranged from support for Kannada pride to accusations of regional chauvinism, with one user noting, ‘Bengaluru was possibly the first cosmopolitan city in India. To say it’s closed for those who don’t learn Kannada is sad and ridiculous.’
Policy moves and activism
The Karnataka government’s pro-Kannada policies have been a significant driver of the debate. In December 2023, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) mandated that commercial establishments display at least 60% Kannada on signboards by February 28, 2024, a deadline enforced by KRV through protests and vandalism of non-compliant businesses.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a long-time advocate for Kannada, reinforced this with amendments to the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2022. The government’s push intensified in 2025 with discussions around a proposed quota bill, paused due to industry backlash, which would require 50% of management roles and 70% of non-management roles in businesses to be reserved for Kannada-speaking locals or those passing a proficiency test.
On the education front, the Kannada Development Authority (KDA), led by Purushottam Bilimale, urged Siddaramaiah on March 7, 2025, to adopt a two-language policy favoring Kannada and English, inspired by Tamil Nadu’s rejection of the National Education Policy’s (NEP) three-language formula. Inspired by Tamil Nadu’s stance, Kannada activists argue that Hindi’s inclusion undermines Karnataka’s linguistic identity. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa acknowledged on March 3, 2025, that while the two-language policy is a ‘technical issue,’ the government is committed to upholding Kannada without forcing it on students unfamiliar with the language.
Positive Initiatives amid tensions
Amid the confrontations, conciliatory efforts have emerged. In October 2024, Bengaluru auto driver Azzu Sultan, known as ‘Auto Kannadiga,’ launched an initiative to teach basic Kannada phrases to passengers via laminated placards in his autorickshaw. By November 2024, Bengaluru Traffic Police partnered with him to install these placards in 5,000 autorickshaws, fostering goodwill among non-Kannada speakers.
Fallout and broader implications
The fallout from these incidents has been multifaceted. Pro-Kannada groups like KRV and Namma Naadu Namma Aalvike have gained traction online, with posts on X accusing ‘outsiders’ of disrespecting Kannada and framing Hindi as a tool of cultural imposition.
Critics, however, argue that such activism risks alienating Bengaluru’s 40% migrant population, potentially harming the city’s reputation as a global IT hub. Social media platforms have amplified these divides, with influencers like Sugandh Sharma facing backlash for claiming Bengaluru’s economy relies on North Indians, prompting a police complaint and a subsequent apology.
The Congress government’s vocal opposition to Hindi imposition, echoed by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s critique of the NEP as the ‘Nagpur Education Policy,’ has aligned with regional sentiments but drawn criticism from the BJP for politicizing the issue ahead of elections. Meanwhile, historians like Janki Nair note that Bengaluru’s cosmopolitan nature has historically been a site of linguistic tension, with Kannada’s dominance in public life now under strain.