Hindi Signboards on Bengaluru Metro Lead to Protest

News Network
June 22, 2017

Bengaluru, Jun 22: The use of Hindi in sign-boards of Bengaluru's Metro rail has sparked off strong protests by pro-Kannada campaigners, who have urged the State government to do away with the three-language policy and stick to two languages.

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The protests – mostly an online/ social media campaign under the hashtag #NammaMetroHindiBeda – have begun after the inauguration last week of the full phase 1 of the Metro rail, with the north-south corridor being made operational last Saturday.

The social media activism soon drew over 10 lakh responses from across the city and the State, with many weighing in on what they felt was an imposition of Hindi in a local commuter transit system.

"For Kannadigas, there is Kannada signage. For others (migrants), it is in English. There are other community language people here too – like Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam speakers who are greater in number than Hindi-speakers. Why should Hindi be given special status? We are against that," said Arun Javagal, one of the campaigners.

Reiterating that this is not an anti-Hindi protest – in that, the campaigners are neither against the Hindi language nor against Hindi-speakers – the campaigners said they questioned the special treatment being meted by Metro officials to Hindi specifically.

"When we go to north Indian cities, we make the effort to learn Hindi. If there are migrants from other States who come to Karnataka, a large number of them have tried to assimilate here by learning the language. We welcome that. But the small chance that there is, that new migrants will make any effort to learn Kannada, will diminish if the convenience of Hindi is there," said Vallish Kumar, another activist.

Metro officials refused to comment on the language debate, saying this is only an option offered to commuters – nowhere is Kannada neglected. Besides, if Hindi boards are to be shunned, should Hindi films also be banned, they asked, on condition of anonymity.

But Kumar argued that the campaigners have nothing against private initiatives or institutions – only state government institutions that seem to willingly include Hindi where it is not mandated.

"Many Central government services that were earlier in Hindi, English and local languages are not available in the local Kannada language now. This could be postal services, railway tickets, bank documents like cheque books. Why has this slowly crept in? In the case of the Metro, neither the State government nor the Centre has insisted on Hindi signages – but this was a policy adapted by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Board members many years back," Kumar said.

Karnataka is the second southern state seeing a backlash against what they see as forced Hindi imposition in services, after Tamil Nadu that saw protests by many, including political parties, against Hindi sign-boards along highways.

Asked whether this is not language chauvinism that hits at the cosmopolitan nature of a city like Bengaluru, the campaigners said their campaign is only about a local commuter service restricted to a city – not the railways or the airport which are Central government institutions.

"There is fear that, over a period of time, languages would be extinct because very few use them – we have seen this Hindi hegemony bring down the extent of usage of languages like Bhojpuri or Maithili or Santhali," said Javagal.

The campaign drew support from the State government and Opposition MLAs – with Congress spokesperson Dinesh Gundu Rao saying he is against the overuse of Hindi.

"I think Kannada should be given priority and Karnataka will give priority to Kannada. I think people should also learn Kannada. In that sense, I don't see why people need Hindi on signages. If people want to learn and read Hindi, that is up to them. But in signages and hoardings, it isn’t required, we need to look at this seriously," said Rao.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said he would hold consultations with Metro officials on what prompted this move.

"Bengaluru is a cosmopolitan city; Hindi, English and Kannada are used. Kannada is compulsory and English should be used, but the Centre cannot force Hindi on people. We will talk to the concerned officials about this," Reddy said.

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News Network
May 4,2024

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Mangaluru, May 4: A tragic incident unfurled last evening in Subrahmanya of Kadaba taluk in Dakshina Kananda, where a young gentleman, who had recently entered the bonds of matrimony a mere ten days hence, met his untimely demise due to a lightning strike.

As twilight descended, a tempestuous thunderstorm, accompanied by billowing rain clouds, cast its shadow over the locale.

Somasundar was diligently engaged in the task of piling up dried nuts in the yard to shield them from the impending deluge, when fate cruelly intervened, subjecting him to the fatal force of a lightning bolt.

Despite the expeditious efforts to convey him to Kadaba Community Hospital subsequent to his sudden indisposition, he tragically succumbed to his injuries. 

Somasundar, who operated a car washing enterprise in proximity to Subrahmanya, is mourned by his mother, sister, and wife.

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News Network
May 14,2024

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Mangaluru, May 14: The Met department has sounded a yellow alert in 13 districts of Karnataka including the three coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada for next four days. 

The other districts are Belagavi, Dharwad, Haveri, Chikkamagalur, Chitradurga, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya, Ramanagara, Shivamogga. These districts are expected to received 6-11 cm of rain, the department said.

On Monday Dakshina Kannada and Udupi experienced a monsoon-like atmosphere. Rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, began in most parts on Sunday evening. In Udupi, rain showered in the early hours of Monday. While Kundapur and Udupi received moderate rains, Karkala experienced a heavy downpour.

The showers lowered the daytime temperature in both districts. Light rain fell in Mangaluru and its outskirts early Monday morning. Mangaluru city recorded a maximum temperature of 33.4°C and a minimum of 23.2°C on Monday. This is expected to decrease by two to four degrees in the next four days, according to the weather department. 

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News Network
May 12,2024

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Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing into sexual abuse charges against Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, will not be going abroad to bring him back, and the Interpol will share information about him.

He also cautioned political leaders about making public statements or sharing information in connection with the case, which is sensitive.

The 33-year-old Prajwal Revanna, who is grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, is facing charges of sexually abusing several women.

The scandal has raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest.

Prajwal Revanna is said to have flown abroad on April 27, a day after the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka was held.

He was BJP-JD(S) alliance's joint candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls in the first phase.

"No, there is no such option. Blue Corner Notice has been issued and the Interpol will share the information. The respective country in which he is found or identified - they will inform them (Interpol) and then our agencies, the CBI will get to know, and through them we will get to know."

"So far there is no information," Parameshwara said.

He was responding to a question on reports about the SIT team travelling abroad in connection with the case.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "Investigation is going on, not to affect the investigation we don't want to share any information."

Responding to a question on Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's statement alleging conspiracy behind the arrest of BJP leader Devaraje Gowda, for making allegations against Congress leaders in connection with the case, Parameshwara said, "If anyone says anything I cannot react to it. We cannot respond to every public statement. As this is a serious case, we cannot share information until the investigation is completed."

"My request to the public and to our leaders is to be cautious while making statements. If not, based on the statements given by them, we may have to call them for investigation and record their statement under 41 A of CrPC," he added.

Asked whether JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy will also be served notice, the Minister said he is a former CM and that he believes that the former has taken this case seriously.

"Before giving any statements on this case or before sharing any information in the public domain, one has to be cautious, and this applies to all," he added.

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