A Bengaluru-based housing finance company, located in Jayanagar, has triggered outrage after its job posting for contact centre executives prioritized English, Tamil, and Telugu — while completely leaving out Kannada, Karnataka’s official language.
The advertisement, seeking candidates with strong communication skills and experience in banking or mortgage sectors, specified language proficiency requirements but made no mention of Kannada, even though the job is based in the state’s capital.
This omission sparked furious reactions across social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter). Many users criticized the company for ignoring the local language, calling it disrespectful to the state’s identity.
Several netizens stressed that to protect Kannada’s future, the state must enforce Kannada-medium education up to Class 10. Others demanded tougher implementation of language policies that require Kannada in public-facing roles.
Some users suggested that rising migration from Tamil and Telugu-speaking states may be shifting hiring trends. A few also reasoned that the company could be operating a multi-state call centre, serving regions like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Yet, a large section remained firm — arguing that sidelining Kannada in any Bengaluru-based job listing, regardless of operational reasons, is insensitive and hurts Karnataka’s cultural pride.
The debate reflects growing tensions over linguistic respect in one of India’s fastest-growing cities.
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