A viral Instagram video has reignited debates on linguistic bias and fare discrimination in Bengaluru’s autorickshaw services. The clip shows two women hailing autos across the city, one conversing in Hindi and the other in Kannada, revealing stark differences in treatment and pricing.
In one instance, a driver quoted Rs 300 to the Hindi-speaking woman but dropped it to Rs 200 when the same request was made in Kannada. Another ignored the Hindi-speaking woman entirely but accepted the Kannada-speaking passenger. This has sparked discussions about linguistic preference influencing service quality and fairness.
Social media erupted with divided opinions. While many condemned the behavior as discriminatory, some argued that autorickshaw drivers face legitimate challenges like rising fuel costs and lax fare regulation. Others stressed the importance of respecting local languages and cultures while maintaining equality.
One user commented, “We are all Indians first, but respecting every culture and language is key. Non-Kannadigas should learn Kannada.” Another criticized the situation, saying, “Why glorify regional discrimination?”
Comparisons to cities like Mumbai, where autorickshaws largely adhere to meter-based fares regardless of language, also surfaced. Despite differing views, the incident has underscored the need for fair practices and mutual respect across linguistic lines.
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