Reasons why there's anger against non-Kannada migrants in Bengaluru —
Hear me out before you pass on your comments, and let me know your thoughts:
Bengaluru as a city was founded nearly five hundred years ago and was planned to a large extent. It was meant to be a city for pensioners later but eventually became India's Silicon Valley.
How did this happen?
It was given a right push from the beginning, which mostly has to do with able administrators like Sir Mirza Ismail, Sir M Vishveshwariah and Maharajas of Mysuru like Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar and Rani Vani Vilas who established educational institutes, R&D centres and invited industrialists to set up their bases in the city by offering large sums of money and land.
Skip to the 21st century, Bengaluru's political class felt that it was about time India had its own California — a Silicon Valley — if you will.
S M Krishna pushed for industries to come to Bengaluru and invited foreign companies to set up their IT hubs in 'ooru, which offered many things beyond its pleasant climate — women's safety, entrepreneurship, a talented workforce and friendly locals who could speak any language that suits you.
Over the years, not only has Bengaluru created some iconic institutions, but has also put India on the global map. While most Indian cities like Kolkata and Chennai hung on to their past glory, Bengaluru surged past Delhi and even inspired many other states to develop cities on similar lines — Pune, and Hyderabad.
Over the years, many locals started migrating abroad for better opportunities and started selling their land to whoever bid the highest. As a result, the native population began to descend. On the other hand, it was not just your Tamil migrants who took refuge in the city.
Malayalis arrived in hordes, dotting bakeries, retail marts and real estate companies. Telugu migrants dominated the paying guest scene, while also getting into the construction business and learning the local language quickly.
Meanwhile, an aspirational population in the north which was young eyed Bengaluru for more opportunities. Today, lakhs of them have settled in the city, buying properties and whatnot.
But only a handful of them speak Kannada. Imagine waking up to Suprabhata in the morning, having filter coffee with your friends at Maiyas, then going for a small walk in a nearby park all while spreading smiles and head nods at anyone even remotely familiar to you.
Bengaluru, unfortunately, is no longer the same. You call for a cab, and the driver calls you "bhaiya". You call a restaurant to book a table, and they either address you in English or Hindi. Kannada has become a third option for citizens here, and some migrants are making it worse for everyone by remaining adamant against learning the language and adapting local mannerisms and customs.
Bengalurigas will speak to you in broken Hindi, invite you home for a cup of coffee and show you all the places around. That's how nice people were. It is no longer the same. People are very rude, they drive rashly and blast Bollywood music from their woofers.
Roads are congested, there are hardly any trees left and the drains are overflowing most of the time.
In contrast, a few entitled non-locals in Bengaluru who say things like "we pay taxes which is why the city developed" should realise how this would make one feel. We put the effort into learning Telugu or Tamil if we travel to the other states, or Hindi, if we go up north.
But asking to be respectful of our traditions, culture, customs and language seems to be a bit too much to ask for.
Bengaluru was not built in a day, and most certainly won't fall within one.
This narrative will only embolden rogue elements hiding behind the Kannada flag.
'Ooru was built over centuries by noble kings, able administrators and visionary political leaders who were native to the land. Policies which pushed us to lead the IT-BT revolution were also introduced by locals.
Initial insecurity was not addressed effectively both by the political class and the non-resident locals.
Today many locals, including non-Kannada natives have turned sympathetic towards justifying hatred against migrants from the north working in the city.
Do I sympathise with the sentiment? — beyond the point. Most of my friends (and myself) have left the city. I do not want to go back and see it in its current condition.
It needs to be decongested. It was never meant for twenty million people. Youngsters flocking from northern Karnataka are now forced to do menial jobs instead of having dignified ones in the city because there's no development anywhere in the state but Bengaluru.
You need visionaries today, more than ever.
Mark my words: these reservations being scrapped or implemented do not matter. But things are no longer going to be the same from now. This will only get progressively worse, but the city is not going to shut down.
Hear me out before you pass on your comments, and let me know your thoughts:
Bengaluru as a city was founded nearly five hundred years ago and was planned to a large extent. It was meant to be a city for pensioners later but eventually became India's Silicon Valley.
How did this happen?
It was given a right push from the beginning, which mostly has to do with able administrators like Sir Mirza Ismail, Sir M Vishveshwariah and Maharajas of Mysuru like Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar and Rani Vani Vilas who established educational institutes, R&D centres and invited industrialists to set up their bases in the city by offering large sums of money and land.
Skip to the 21st century, Bengaluru's political class felt that it was about time India had its own California — a Silicon Valley — if you will.
S M Krishna pushed for industries to come to Bengaluru and invited foreign companies to set up their IT hubs in 'ooru, which offered many things beyond its pleasant climate — women's safety, entrepreneurship, a talented workforce and friendly locals who could speak any language that suits you.
Over the years, not only has Bengaluru created some iconic institutions, but has also put India on the global map. While most Indian cities like Kolkata and Chennai hung on to their past glory, Bengaluru surged past Delhi and even inspired many other states to develop cities on similar lines — Pune, and Hyderabad.
Over the years, many locals started migrating abroad for better opportunities and started selling their land to whoever bid the highest. As a result, the native population began to descend. On the other hand, it was not just your Tamil migrants who took refuge in the city.
Malayalis arrived in hordes, dotting bakeries, retail marts and real estate companies. Telugu migrants dominated the paying guest scene, while also getting into the construction business and learning the local language quickly.
Meanwhile, an aspirational population in the north which was young eyed Bengaluru for more opportunities. Today, lakhs of them have settled in the city, buying properties and whatnot.
But only a handful of them speak Kannada. Imagine waking up to Suprabhata in the morning, having filter coffee with your friends at Maiyas, then going for a small walk in a nearby park all while spreading smiles and head nods at anyone even remotely familiar to you.
Bengaluru, unfortunately, is no longer the same. You call for a cab, and the driver calls you "bhaiya". You call a restaurant to book a table, and they either address you in English or Hindi. Kannada has become a third option for citizens here, and some migrants are making it worse for everyone by remaining adamant against learning the language and adapting local mannerisms and customs.
Bengalurigas will speak to you in broken Hindi, invite you home for a cup of coffee and show you all the places around. That's how nice people were. It is no longer the same. People are very rude, they drive rashly and blast Bollywood music from their woofers.
Roads are congested, there are hardly any trees left and the drains are overflowing most of the time.
In contrast, a few entitled non-locals in Bengaluru who say things like "we pay taxes which is why the city developed" should realise how this would make one feel. We put the effort into learning Telugu or Tamil if we travel to the other states, or Hindi, if we go up north.
But asking to be respectful of our traditions, culture, customs and language seems to be a bit too much to ask for.
Bengaluru was not built in a day, and most certainly won't fall within one.
This narrative will only embolden rogue elements hiding behind the Kannada flag.
'Ooru was built over centuries by noble kings, able administrators and visionary political leaders who were native to the land. Policies which pushed us to lead the IT-BT revolution were also introduced by locals.
Initial insecurity was not addressed effectively both by the political class and the non-resident locals.
Today many locals, including non-Kannada natives have turned sympathetic towards justifying hatred against migrants from the north working in the city.
Do I sympathise with the sentiment? — beyond the point. Most of my friends (and myself) have left the city. I do not want to go back and see it in its current condition.
It needs to be decongested. It was never meant for twenty million people. Youngsters flocking from northern Karnataka are now forced to do menial jobs instead of having dignified ones in the city because there's no development anywhere in the state but Bengaluru.
You need visionaries today, more than ever.
Mark my words: these reservations being scrapped or implemented do not matter. But things are no longer going to be the same from now. This will only get progressively worse, but the city is not going to shut down.
Let me clear up a few things:
1. I DO NOT support reservations in the private sector.
2. These are merely observations of a native who was born and brought up in Bengaluru.
3. Everyone is free to move for better jobs but must be mindful of local sentiments, and its history.
1. I DO NOT support reservations in the private sector.
2. These are merely observations of a native who was born and brought up in Bengaluru.
3. Everyone is free to move for better jobs but must be mindful of local sentiments, and its history.
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