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Hindustan Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Why is she even here?': Canara Bank official faces backlash for not understanding Kannada. Watch
A video shot inside a Canara Bank branch in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, has gone viral, reigniting debates over language use in public services. In the video, the woman, who claims she doesn't know English, questions a Malayalam-speaking staff member at the counter.(X/@PrishaSargam) The footage shows a Kannada-speaking woman confronting a bank official over their inability to assist her in the local language. In the video, the woman, who claims she doesn't know English, questions a Malayalam-speaking staff member's presence at the counter, saying, 'Why is she here if she can't understand Kannada?' The manager is seen speaking to another official in Malayalam while the customer demands answers about money deducted from her account without prior notice. (Also Read: Bengaluru man wants to pay you to drive better with UPI rewards and AI compliments) Watch video here: 'She wasn't even cordial with me,' the woman says in the video. 'When I tried asking, she started making weird faces.' The bank official, seen intervening in the situation, responds, 'You were not cordial either". How did X users react? The video has sparked divided reactions online. While some users expressed solidarity with the customer, others accused her of escalating a non-issue for social media attention. 'What do you want, information or a viral video?' one comment read. Another added, 'Someone is already assisting her in Kannada. What's the problem then?' However, a large section of users rallied behind the woman's concern, questioning the bank's hiring practices. A user wrote, 'As customers, we expect to be served respectfully and in a language we're comfortable with. After all, it's our money that keeps the bank running. Public sector banks like Canara Bank were nationalised to serve all citizens, not just a few' 'Why aren't locals being given job opportunities?' and 'If you're operating in Karnataka, you must be able to serve in Kannada' were common refrains. In response to the backlash, Canara Bank's official handle on X (formerly Twitter) issued a statement affirming its commitment to Kannada and its customers. 'Kannada is our foundation, your support is our strength,' the statement read. 'For Canara Bank, Karnataka is not just a state, it is our birthplace. Kannada is not merely a language to us, it is a feeling, a pride. We are committed to providing services in the local language at every branch in the state.' The bank added that in today's multilingual India, staff may come from different states, but 'our heart always resonates with our customers.' This comes after a viral video from SBI's Surya Nagar (Anekal Taluk) branch in Bengaluru showed a heated exchange in which a branch manager refused to speak Kannada with a local customer. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the behaviour as 'strongly condemnable' and praised the bank's swift action. The controversy reignited a broader debate over language rights, with citizens and leaders, including MP Tejasvi Surya and former Infosys director Mohandas Pai, urging that public-facing institutions must serve customers in Kannada or risk alienating the local population (Also Read: 'No roads, no rage': Viral Bengaluru post claims 99.99% drop in road rage, triggers laugh riot)
News18
23-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Bengaluru Man Praises Odisha Plumber's Efforts To Speak Kannada: ‘Behaved Professionally'
Last Updated: The man shared how impressed he was with the plumber's effort to communicate in Kannada even though he wasn't a native speaker. In the midst of ongoing debates about non-native Kannada speakers in Karnataka, a Bengaluru resident's social media post has gone viral for a positive reason. The post highlights a plumber from Odisha who, while on the job, made a genuine effort to speak Kannada. Booked through Urban Company, the plumber impressed the customer not only with his punctuality but also by communicating in beginner-level Kannada, openly admitting he was still learning the language. This gesture has sparked positive conversations amid the language debate. The post on X (formerly Twitter) read: 'Today the plumber whom I booked from Urban company said working in Bengaluru from past two years, Already spoke decent beginner Kannada, and said still learning. He was from Odisha, was on time and behaved professionally. This I have observed in workers from that state." Today the plumber whom I booked from Urban company said working in Bengaluru from past two years,Already spoke decent beginner Kannada, and said still was from Odisha,– was on time and behaved I have observed seen in workers from that state.— Śrīdatta (@sridatta_a) June 21, 2025 Soon, the comments section flooded with users sharing their own stories of non-native speakers making sincere efforts to learn and use Kannada. Another added, 'Agreed. We had gone to a resort, and the guys working there also from Odisha, were able to converse with us in Kannada. They have been here for a little over 2 years." 'We too recently got introduced to an Oria plumber. Living in Bengaluru for 15 years or so. Unless he tells you, can't make out he's not a local… spoke flawless Kannada," someone else wrote. 'They are hard workers. Seen them before their best self, wherever I've seen them. Chennai or Bangalore. Blue collar or white collar. Professional," read another comment. A video of a Tibetan man speaking fluent Kannada on the streets of Bengaluru also gained widespread attention recently. The middle-aged man, speaking as part of a vox pop, shared how Kannada had become an everyday part of his life. 'I know many Tibetans who speak Kannada more than their mother tongue. Locals respect me a lot when I speak in Kannada. They feel proud that an outsider has made the effort to learn their language," he said in the clip. After drinking Kaveri water you speak Kannada automatically. This statement is not true for our fellow North Indians. #StopHindiImposition. — Dr Prisha Sargam (@PrishaSargam) June 14, 2025 The highlight of the video was his take on the common excuse many use – 'Kannada gottilla" (I don't know Kannada). He replied, 'There's no such thing as 'Kannada gottilla.' After drinking Kaveri water, you automatically start speaking Kannada." Many people praised the man and called it a great example of respecting local language and culture. First Published:
