• Source:JND
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Prominent tech investor and former Infosys executive TV Mohandas Pai said that professionals working in states like Karnataka should make efforts to learn local languages, especially in public-facing roles. 

Pai criticised the surging trend of ‘arrogance’ among people who relocate to cities like  Bengaluru but refuse to learn local languages. Pai currently chairs the Aarin Capital. He said that people’s arrogance to not even learn basic Kannada leads to avoidable tensions with the local population. 

“Bengaluru is one of the most inclusive cities in India. The native Kannada-speaking population here is around 33%. People from across the country have made the city their home, have prospered here, and continue to do well. But some of them, instead of integrating, develop a sense of superiority and outright reject the local language. That’s not acceptable,” Pai told PTI in an interview.

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Emphasising the importance of sensitivity, Pai said this principle applies across the country. “Whether someone moves to Bengal, Maharashtra or Karnataka, it helps to learn a few words of the local language. It’s not just about communication—it’s about respecting the culture of the place you’ve chosen to live in,” he said.

Pai also referenced a recent controversy involving an SBI bank manager in Karnataka who allegedly declined to interact with a customer in Kannada. The incident drew sharp criticism from pro-Kannada groups and sparked widespread public outrage, prompting the bank to issue a formal apology.  Talking about the incident, Pai said that it could have been avoided by a little humility. Pai said, “All she needed to say was, ‘I’m still learning Kannada, let me ask a colleague to help.’ That would’ve shown basic respect.”

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Highlighting the role of language in delivering effective public service, especially in rural Karnataka, Pai stressed the importance of professionals being able to communicate in Kannada. “If you are posted in a village or small town, your customers may not understand Hindi or English. In such cases, it is your responsibility to adapt and speak the local language,” he said.

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