Bengaluru Entrepreneur Relocates to Pune Amid Language Controversy
A tech entrepreneur in Bengaluru, Kaushik Mukherjee, is moving his company to Pune due to language-related issues, including a viral video of an SBI manager refusing to speak Kannada. The decision highlights ongoing debates about language use in public services.
BengaluruPuneKaushik MukherjeeSbi Kannada RowLanguage ControversyReal Estate PuneMay 23, 2025
Kaushik Mukherjee, co-founder of a tech firm, posted on X that he had decided to move the office following discussions with his team. 'Today I took a decision to wind up our Bangalore office in the next 6 months and move it to Pune. If this language nonsense is to continue, I do not want my non Kannada speaking staff to be the next 'victim'. This idea was mooted by the staff themselves. I agreed to their POV,' he wrote.
Mukherjee’s post was a direct response to a viral video of a State Bank of India (SBI) manager in Chandapura, Bengaluru, who refused to speak Kannada to a customer. In the video, the manager says, 'This is India, I’ll speak Hindi, not Kannada.' The incident sparked criticism across the state.
Political leaders reacted swiftly to the SBI incident. Bengaluru South Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya shared the video on X, writing, 'If you are doing customer interface work in Karnataka, especially in a sector like banking, it is important to communicate to customers in the language they know.' He also stated that he has consistently demanded that public-facing roles in Karnataka be staffed with Kannada-speaking employees.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the incident. He called the manager’s conduct 'strongly condemnable' and urged the Union Finance Ministry to introduce cultural and language sensitivity training for bank staff across the country.
Following the backlash, the bank transferred the manager to another branch. Both the bank and the manager issued apologies. The manager also released a statement in Kannada, promising to be more sensitive to customers in the future.
The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has expressed concern over the growing number of non-Kannadigas posted in customer-facing roles in banks. According to the KDA, this trend is leading to a disconnect between local citizens and essential services. Under Reserve Bank of India guidelines, banks must offer services in English, Hindi, and the regional language. Despite this, incidents like the one in Bengaluru have reignited debates over language use in public-facing institutions in Karnataka.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Kaushik Mukherjee moving his company to Pune?
Kaushik Mukherjee is moving his company to Pune due to concerns about language-related issues in Bengaluru, particularly after a viral video showed a bank manager refusing to speak Kannada to a customer.
What was the incident that sparked the controversy?
The controversy was sparked by a viral video showing a State Bank of India (SBI) manager in Chandapura, Bengaluru, refusing to speak Kannada to a customer and insisting on speaking Hindi.
How did political leaders react to the SBI incident?
Political leaders, including Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, condemned the incident and called for better language sensitivity training for bank staff.
What actions did the SBI take after the incident?
Following the backlash, the SBI transferred the manager to another branch and issued an apology. The manager also released a statement in Kannada, promising to be more sensitive to customers in the future.
What are the concerns raised by the Kannada Development Authority?
The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) is concerned about the growing number of non-Kannadigas in customer-facing roles in banks, which they believe is leading to a disconnect between local citizens and essential services.
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