‘Stop Hindi imposition’: Language activists demand Diwali wishes in Kannada

Customers, employees and netizens based in Bengaluru demanded that local language Kannada be prioritized as Diwali wishes came in Hindi and English. #StopHindiImposition trended on Twitter.

Published on: Oct 27, 2022, 09:24:26 IST

By Yamini C S

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The debate over Kannada language and Hindi imposition in the southern states has erupted on Twitter again after Diwali wishes came in English and Hindi, but not in the local language.

A fresh row was triggered once again on Twitter over language and Hindi imposition. (Image source: Velivada)

Netizens flooded Twitter with posts highlighting that Kannada is the last language in line in Karnataka capital Bengaluru, which has a significant Hindi-speaking population. “First Class English. Second Class Hindi. Third Class Kannada in Kempe Gowda International airport, Bengaluru. The H'ble PM of India will inaugurate a statue of #KempeGowda on Nov 10 here and garner all Hindu Vokkaliga votes for BJP in Karnataka,” a user tweeted.

READ | Do non-Kannadigas in Bengaluru face discrimination? Debate brews on Twitter

Diwali wishes and posts from corporate offices were also on language activists' radar. "Successfully made my Hindian HRs delete our company's LinkedIn post on sending Deepavali wishes in both English and Hindi script. We successfully pushed them to post in English and Kannada 😎. Having their office in Bengaluru, that's the least they could do. #StopHindilmposition," another said.

Along the same lines, a pro-Kannada user posted, “Today's office in Bengaluru!! Our org is celebrating Deepawali/Diwali and they only prefer Hindi & Hindi culture !! MNCs talk abt diversities but they never follow. I can read the lines but can't understand!! Dear Kannadigas Happy bankrupt!! that's what #HindiImposition does!”

READ | Actor Kiccha Sudeep wins hearts win ‘Madam, it’s not Kannad, it's Kannada..' statement

A popular clothing store in Bengaluru also came under fire as customers demanded to be served in their own language. “@pothysonline.. it’s Deepawali in Namma Bengaluru and not Diwali. Change the content immediately @KannadaGrahaka,” a netizen called Vinay Bharadwaj wrote.

READ | #ServeInKannada trends on World Consumer Rights Day

Despite being called a global city and being the tech hub of the country, Bengaluru cyberspace, primarily Twitter, continues to witness these debates time and again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated Bengaluru Weather Live and with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Bengaluru. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and more across India . Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.