Kannada Barutha??

A geeky peek into Bangalore

Aaaah! I am sure most of you in Bangalore would have heard this, but what is Kannada Barutha? Here it goes. Bangalore, the IT capital of India, the silicon city and now a Metro city opened its gates to almost all kinds of people. Very evidently the recent poll census proved that there are only 47 per cent of original inhabitants in Bangalore/Bengaluru. The life style of the city has seen a gradual change with Pizza Corners replacing MTRs, classy eat outs replacing Vidyarthi Bhavans and flashy pubs replacing all our Mahalakshmi wine shops.

Change is inevitable from the days of BEML, HAL and BHEL to Infosys, WIPRO; Bangalore has a new look now on the world map. Gone are the days where a typical Sunday for any Bangalorean was a nice romantic walk on the pavements of Lal Bagh, rave idli and coffee.. at the nearest yet old looking MTR and a wonderful Annavra film either at Santosh or central talkies. Today’s Bangalore is deluged in traffic, stress and pressure, Saturday nights without beer is desolate and a Sunday without a visit to either a nearest spa or health clinic is schlocky!! The Gandhibazars are now AC cooled super markets, Majestic is now replaced by ultra modern and diversified Brigade road, Sri Cauvery coffee joint is now Coffee Day..* and Bhagyalakshmi Coffee Adda.. is now Barista. With globalisation and more retail market the city will definitely see more forceful changes.

Have all these changed our language? Kannada the local language of Bangalore is supposed to be one of the most meaningful languages, it also has an unique script as compared to its other counterparts; but what percentage of people really use Kannada in Bangalore now? The figures are staggering, only 37 per cent of people speak Kannada in the state’s capital, for the rest it is only ‘Kannada Barutha?’

Any normal guy starts with this sentence ‘Kannada Barutha?’ while talking to other person, people confirm before they speak the language. You want to ask an address in Bangalore or reply to a question, then English is the most preferred language other than Hindi. It’s a famous fact that two Kannidagas in an IT company always talk in a neutral language!! even the vendors and shop keepers are channelled with this new wave, the moment when you step in any shop in Bangalore, you are always asked ‘Kannada Barutha?’ or the entire conversation takes place in non-Kannada languages. People have lost confidence about speaking in the local language and moreover speaking Kannada on the streets of M G Road or Koramangala is substandard.
Shopping malls in the city have been completely banned from using Kannada, not a forced one but definitely an adapted one. One has to confirm that the other person knows the language before he starts using any language. ‘Ondu glass beer’ is a insult when it comes to any decorous pub in Bangalore. ‘Swalpa menu card kodthira..??’ has been replaced by ‘Can I have the menu card please?’

Just to hit some facts, Marathi is still the largest and common speaking language in Mumbai even though Mumbai has the highest number of inhabitants. Telugu is a practised ritual in yet another IT hub Hyderabad. When it comes to Tamil Nadu, beware you can be alive either if you are a fan of Rajnikanth or you know Tamil. Malyalam runs in the blood of every Mallu be it Kuwait, Dubai or any hospital; but when it comes to Kannada it is always ‘Kannada Barutha?’ and next is ‘Namaskara.’

I am neither a Kannada activist nor do I run any Kannada supporting organisation, I am just a plebeian who loves the language.
Globalisation is the trend and modernisation is the mantra but at the cost the language? Sounds no logic.. Is speaking Kannada down market? The answer has to be found within oneself. Next time when you hear ‘Kannada Barutha?’ you just remember that Kannada runs in your blood..

Courtesy: Bangalore Mirror, Dt:July 8th 2009