A fresh viral clip from Bengaluru has reignited the ongoing discourse over language preferences in the city’s public domains. The catalyst this time is a heated exchange between a woman passenger and an auto-rickshaw driver, sparked by a fare disagreement that quickly escalated into a linguistic face-off.
The video, now widely shared, shows a visibly frustrated woman questioning the driver for allegedly demanding ₹390—₹100 more than what her Rapido app had shown. “Why are you asking more than what’s on Rapido?” she confronts. “Don’t yell at me. I’ll pay what the app says. I’m frightened,” she pleads.
Seeking support, she flags down another auto and explains, “Rapido shows ₹290, but he’s asking ₹390. He’s shouting and telling me to speak in Kannada.”
The original driver, in an angry tone, retorts in Kannada: “Speak in Kannada. Why are you using Hindi in Bengaluru? Use our native language first.”
The woman replies calmly, “I get your point. We’re contributing to the city’s economy. That doesn’t mean you can force this. I’m trying to learn Kannada.”
The online community responded strongly, with contrasting views. Some defended the driver, arguing that beginning in Hindi or English could provoke such responses and that using Kannada is natural. Others criticized the aggressive tone, emphasizing that while language pride is valid, it should not override basic respect.
A viewer summed it up: “Promoting Kannada is great, but weaponizing it is unacceptable. Culture should unite, not divide.”
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