A recent complaint by a Bengaluru woman about Swiggy’s delivery services has ignited a lively debate on social media. The controversy began when the woman took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her dissatisfaction with the lack of Kannada-speaking delivery agents. Her remarks quickly went viral, accumulating over 3 lakh views and sparking a heated discussion about language and identity in Karnataka.
In her post, the woman shared a screenshot of her Swiggy order and questioned the language skills of the delivery personnel. “Bengaluru is in Karnataka or Pakistan @swiggy? Your delivery guy neither speaks nor understands Kannada, nor even English. Do you expect us to learn his state language Hindi in our land? Stop imposing things on us and ensure your delivery persons know Kannada,” she wrote.
Bengaluru is in Karnataka or Pakistan @Swiggy ?
Your delivery guy is neither speaking nor understanding #kannada ,not even #English. Do you expect us to learn his state language #Hindi in our land?
Stop imposing things on us and make sure your delivery persons know #Kannada. pic.twitter.com/smzQ6Mp7SV— Rekha 🌸 (@detached_98) September 12, 2024
The comment struck a chord with many locals, reigniting the ongoing insider-outsider debate in Karnataka. Several people rallied behind the woman’s sentiment, advocating for more job opportunities for native Kannada speakers in Bengaluru.
Amid the heated language debate, one user pointed out the potential economic consequences of such tensions. “Due to ongoing language issues in Karnataka, reports suggest that 53 companies from Surat, Lucknow, and Indore have been approached to relocate, including 14 multinationals. This could significantly impact Bengaluru’s startup culture and global presence. Will the city’s tech hub status remain secure?” they wrote, emphasizing the possible risk to Bengaluru’s global reputation as a leading technology hub.
While some supported the woman’s call for Kannada-speaking delivery agents, others argued that language should not be the primary concern. “As long as the delivery is done on time, who cares about the linguistic skills of the delivery boy!” one user commented, expressing a more practical perspective on the situation.
Another respondent challenged the woman’s view, questioning whether Bengaluru’s status as an international city required more flexibility. “Is Bengaluru in Karnataka or England? As far as I know, English wasn’t originally a cultural language in Karnataka,” they said, suggesting that English is not native to the region either.
A fourth user offered a more inclusive approach to the issue, writing, “In India, the language changes every 50km, but no one is as rigid about their language as people are about Tamil and Kannada. This shouldn’t be the case. India is a country of diversity, with many languages, and all languages should be respected.”
The controversy highlights the broader debate on language and identity in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru, a cosmopolitan city that attracts people from across India and around the world. With the state’s rich linguistic and cultural history, the conversation about balancing local and national languages continues to evolve.
The woman’s complaint, while specific to a personal experience with Swiggy, has opened up a wider discussion about the role of language in public services and the tension between preserving regional identity and accommodating the diversity of people who now call Bengaluru home.
