In recent times, many incidents of autorickshaw and cab drivers in Karnataka fighting with passengers over language have grabbed headlines. While there are some drivers who are reluctant to communicate in any language other than Kannada, there are also passengers who harass drivers for not knowing how to speak Hindi (which is not our national language, btw).
Speaking of which, an autorickshaw was spotted somewhere in Karnataka recently which had a very disrespectful sticker pasted on the back. The sticker read, “You are in Karnataka learn Kannada. Don’t show your attitude you fu**er. You come to beg here.”
This is Xenophobia of the highest order, Regional pride cannot be used as a justification for treating people from other states as 3rd class citizens. pic.twitter.com/GEbQdNyuXK
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) July 24, 2023
While the exact location where this picture was clicked is unknown, the picture of the autorickshaw is being circulated online, thereby garnering a varied range of reactions. A lot of people raised concerns over the safety of non-Kannada-speaking people living in Bengaluru. There were also people who compared the autorickshaw driver to those in states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, where the drivers are allegedly friendlier to passengers.
Have a look:
Maharashtrians are cool, if you say “mala Marathi yet nahi”
Our autowale kaka would say “basa basa” and would take you to Mumbai darshan with his half Marathi and half Hindi mix.🤌🏼
Also he'll get you dose and uttape. pic.twitter.com/g2t2kp7aLt— Ankita 77 (@areyyaarankita) July 24, 2023
In UP and Uttarakhand we really don’t care where people come from. The autowale will drive you through anywhere you want just show them money. In uttarakhand people are way polite to even discuss someone’s orgin
— Abhay 🇮🇳 (@InfinityAbhay) July 24, 2023
I can vouch for Gujarat, Maharashtra and even Rajasthan too.
We embrace everyone.
— Aastha Shah | Web3Conf Team (@aasthaashahh) July 24, 2023
Never faced such issues in Maharashtra in Mumbai and even in Pune . But visited once in Bangalore and Bus driver didn’t answer. Maharashtra is amazing .
— Gagan Talwar (@gagantalwar) July 24, 2023
I agree with you Ankita.
Our auto wale kaka’s be like ‘basa mi sodto tumhala pudhe’ They would not compel visitors or work pros who have travelled to Maharashtra from other states to speak Marathi. Karnataka is becoming a little too aggressive and crude to migrants.— Rajjath (@Rajjath24) July 24, 2023
True!!
Last week in mumbai I had a full convo. with a security guard.
He was speaking in Marathi and I was responding in hindi. Just for last few sentences of convo. he switched to hindi.
It was fun as I could understand what’s he saying and he didn’t have any prob with hindi.— Nikhil Pandit (@niks1020) July 24, 2023
Once travelled to Ayodhya in UP. Our bike got damaged a little, was not able to move forward. Found this security guard that took us to near by small town. People were so nice, bringing us food. the mechanic worked for 12 hours on our bike. UP people are actually good too.
— Abhay 🇮🇳 (@InfinityAbhay) July 24, 2023
As a north indian spending my college life in ramtek maharashtra was the most lovely time of my life. After telling those exact words , i used to get a smile and then went ahead on the journey.. because of that love i wanted to learn marathi now i can understand it.
— Anukaran saxena (@phoenix4karan) July 24, 2023
As a lover, learner and teacher of languages myself, I agree with the first line. But, can’t justify the second and third. Such statements demean ourselves and not the one who reads it!
— സെലിബ്രിറ്റി Tintumon™ (@_tintumon_) July 24, 2023
Not supporting anyone, but during my short stay of 9 months in Pune, I was told by locals and my society people that “ I need to learn Marathi if I am in Maharashtra”. But, I never needed to because Hindi was enough. And, even the people were very friendly and inclusive.
— siva phaneendra sai (@PhaneendraSiva) July 24, 2023
Generalization is not good, here in pondy/Tamilnadu,They will really try their maximum in speaking English, Now a days they speak Hindi too. Initially they’ll speak in Tamil but if you don’t understand anything they’ll shift to English. Few can be rude as exception is universal☺️
— Dibyajyoti Mahanta (@Dibyajy60016610) July 24, 2023
This truly raises safety concerns for people who are living in Karnataka but don’t know the language.