Government’s vigorous campaign to push use of Hindi across the country has met with an unwelcome fate in Bengaluru. Not many were happy to see Hindi splashed on various signboards and instructions in Bengaluru (Namma) metro, given it is not the local language.
Their anger gained momentum when people protested against the move on social media, fuelled by a campaign by Banavasi Balaga Prakashana (a group focused on preserving the Kannada language).
The group on its Facebook page urged the fellow Kannadigas to join its campaign on #nammametrohindibeda and #nammametrokannadasaaku to stop ‘Hindification’ and ensure the primacy of Kannada.
Citizens kept pouring their anger on Twitter, criticising the ‘unnecessary’ imposition of Hindi, and urged the Karnataka government to do away with all Hindi signboards from the metro.
Kannada for Locals. English for visitors. @uavasanthrao @BengaluruMetro No hindi pls.#NammaMetroHindiBeda #NammaMetroKannadaSaaku
— Jayateerth Nadagouda (@jayateerthbn) June 20, 2017
Hindi will slowly replace English and then Kannada. If English is “foreign” y do Delhi metro & hindi belt uses English? #NammaMetroHindiBeda pic.twitter.com/wNCu16ThrJ
— Navaneeth Gowda (@NavaneethGowda1) June 20, 2017
@uavasanthrao Save Karnataka’s tax money by not wasting it on unwanted language implementation in our public services. #NammaMetroHindiBeda
— Manoj Shastry (@Manojrs008) September 19, 2016
#stopHindiImposition on #NammaMetro #NammaMetroHindiBeda #NammaMetroKannadaSaaku @CMofKarnataka @cpronammametro Shame for #BMRCL pic.twitter.com/ZH6SEuaeAV
— jds yuvabrigade (@jdsyuvabrigade) June 20, 2017
Banavasi, the group, which started the campaign says there is no logical reason behind the move.
“We are not against Hindi but we definitely won’t allow its imposition. The state government should stick to two languages – Kannada and English – in Namma Metro,” Arun Javagal of the association told Deccan Herald.
Stop this Hindi Hegemony in Bengaluru. #Kannada and English enough for Namma metro. #NammaMetroHindiBeda Say NO to Hindi.
— ಚಯ್ತನ್ಯ ಸುಬ್ಬಣ್ಣ (@Chaitanya_TS) June 20, 2017
@CMofKarnataka Sad to see so many Hindi boards all over namma metro. Why are you imposing Hindi on kannadigas sir ?#NammaMetroHindiBeda
— Amarnath S (@Amara_Bengaluru) June 20, 2017
Madrid metro has only 2 languages, Chennai, Delhi metro has only 2 langs, wonder why 3 langs in BLR metro. #nammametrohindibeda pic.twitter.com/joOVoQPWMT
— Babu Ajay (@Babuajay316) June 20, 2017
#NammaMetroHindiBedaWhy is Hindi being promoted in non Hindi speaking states?Things ought to be written in the regional language & English.
— Donna Radhakrishnan (@donna_rk_) June 20, 2017
#NammaMetroHindiBeda Being an Odia , I support my Kanadiga friends in this fight against Hindi Imposition . State languages come first .
— Kumar Anand (@ACrazy_boy) June 20, 2017
What now?
After the online protests, the Karnataka Development Authority has sought a reply from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), for violating the rules, within seven days, reported Economic Times.
“Namma Metro is a state project. The display of signs in Hindi is unnecessary and also violates the state government’s notification (dated 2008) and two circulars (dated 1982 and 1993),“ the chairman of the authority Prof SG Siddaramaiah told ET.
