A light-hearted exchange about language took place in Mysuru between President Droupadi Murmu and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the first part of the President’s three-day visit to the city. While delivering his welcome address at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Siddaramaiah smiled as he asked the President, “Do you know Kannada?” He then added, “I speak Kannada”.
President Murmu replied in a similar tone, saying, "I would like to tell the Honourable Chief Minister that although Kannada is not my mother tongue, I deeply cherish all the languages, cultures and traditions of my country. I hold great respect and regard for each of them.”
She urged everyone to protect their languages and traditions. "I wish that everyone continues to keep their language alive, preserves their traditions and culture, and moves forward in that direction. And I will certainly make an effort to learn Kannada, little by little," she added, which drew applause from the audience.
The exchange comes amid a renewed debate over language in Karnataka. Several months earlier, Siddaramaiah had advocated for the wider use of Kannada, stating, “We are all Kannadigas. People speaking different languages have settled in here, and everyone living in this state should learn to speak Kannada.” His comments had drawn criticism from opposition leaders and parties.
The issue has frequently emerged in public life, from the state government’s order making Kannada mandatory on signboards to disputes between auto drivers and non-Kannada-speaking passengers. Pro-Kannada organisations have stepped up their agitation, calling for stricter enforcement of the language in administration and education, such as a two-language policy like in schools of Tamil Nadu.
On 27 December 2023, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) organised protests across Bengaluru to "enforce" a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) circular that required all signboards to show at least 60 per cent Kannada, followed by the rest in any other language.
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