Watch: Man pulls up another for not knowing Kannada, video goes viral

A video showing a Bengaluru resident questioning a non-Kannada speaker over his language preference has reignited the language imposition debate in Karnataka. Shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the handle ‘ManjuKBye,’ the video captures a heated exchange where a local criticizes a man for not learning Kannada despite reportedly living in the state for 12 years.

Also Read: Bengaluru: Here’s what an auto driver has done to help people learn Kannada

The local man accused him of “disrespecting” Karnataka’s culture and language by failing to learn Kannada, calling it a sign of “arrogance” toward local customs. 

This is Good. Question the Lazy folks

12yrs in Karnataka and yet to understand and learn Kannada?

That says only Two things, Zero Curiosity and willingness to Learn, Arrogance towards Local Culture and Language.#Kannada#Karnatakapic.twitter.com/fdkosPscKc

— ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ತನಯ (@ManjuKBye)

This is Good. Question the Lazy folks

12yrs in Karnataka and yet to understand and learn Kannada?

That says only Two things, Zero Curiosity and willingness to Learn, Arrogance towards Local Culture and Language.#Kannada#Karnatakapic.twitter.com/fdkosPscKc

— ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ತನಯ (@ManjuKBye) October 30, 2024

">October 30, 2024

The video quickly went viral, garnering over 8,000 views and sparking polarized reactions online. Some users condemned the local’s actions as “harassment” and called for his arrest. “This is harassment on the streets. The guy filming this needs to be arrested,” one user commented. Others expressed frustration over what they see as a push to enforce Kannada, stating, “How can someone force anybody to learn a language?”

On the other hand, several commenters sided with the Kannada-speaking man, arguing that learning the local language shows respect and integration into the culture. The original post advocated this view, captioning the video, “Question the Lazy folks...12 years in Karnataka and have yet to understand Kannada.”

This incident highlights ongoing tensions in Karnataka over language and regional identity, as Bengaluru’s diverse population grapples with balancing local cultural pride with linguistic inclusivity.