Bengaluru’s ongoing language debate took a fresh turn when a signboard at a Café in Vidyaranyapura proclaimed, “Hindi is the official language.” A video of the board, shared on X, ignited a wave of online reactions, further intensifying discussions on linguistic identity in Karnataka.

Responding to the viral post, Vidyaranyapura Police clarified that an individual named Babu had installed the sign without the café owner’s knowledge. Authorities confirmed that the sign had been removed and the matter was under review.

Public reactions divided

While some condemned the sign as provocative and disrespectful to Kannada culture, others criticized Bengaluru’s growing unfriendliness toward non-Kannada speakers. One user shared a past experience of being ignored by a city bus conductor for speaking in Hindi, vowing never to return. Another user questioned if the café intended to enforce Hindi on its customers.

Speculation also arose about possible tampering, with a user suggesting the digital board might have been hacked. Amidst the backlash, some urged people to verify facts before blaming the café.

The incident highlights the ongoing tension between Kannada preservation efforts and linguistic inclusivity in India’s tech hub.

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