An Untold Story of a Kannadiga

Hey, can I stay in your place for few days till I settle down and decide my further course of action? With empathy, I allowed him in and felt happy of helping someone.

Staying in my house, he started comparing everything to his home back in his native. I had brand new car, but he felt his was better, introduced him to Masala Dosa but he felt Italian food always good, I had marble flooring, but he felt mosaic is better… it went into my nerves, he always appreciated something outside and though didn’t always criticize, didn’t either acknowledge the shelter he lived in.

As things were going further I was thinking what or who is wrong… was feeling somehow this has to stop but how, it was kind of restless discomfort… and then alarm rang, it was 5.30 AM.  Thank God… it was a dream.

Now, replicate this dream to reality outside world. Do you see a similarity?  If you are a native living in Bengaluru from few decades, for sure you will relate this.

This blog is not against any one. In global environment, it’s obvious and necessary to allow people to travel and settle across world. However, when people become Romans in Rome, why they don’t become Kannadigas in Karnataka? In-fact, every individual living here irrespective of their language is a Kannadiga, isn't it ? 

This is also not a story limited only to Karnataka. Replace the language and state to any other metropolitan city anywhere in India, the feeling of respective natives will remain same.

Having lived here for decades, seeing city getting transformed literally in front of our eyes, the life of an ordinary Kannadiga has changed from feeling proud owner of the cultural & historical roots to being lost in bustling dusty city.

In fact we had so many classmates who could speak, write and score better than natives in Kannada subject. That’s how they had assimilated in to the society.

Then what went wrong? Is the influx of people post IT boom or we losing interest in our heritage?  Is the shyness of showing our richness or inhibition to stand in front of others?

We have rich and invaluable memories in us. Take examples like Karaga. For unknown, it’s a centuries old festival of old Bengaluru, celebrated midnight till dawn, but only those who have participated will know the vibrancy in it. Kadalekai Parishe (groundnut festival) is another tradition of city, however how many of us actually speak with pride on it or how many newly settled learn about it.

Speak of Dr. Raj movies or Shankar Nag's ideas, it won’t get recognized and topic of someone having 8-10 packs will be discussed with great interest.

Try speaking of growing in this city, spending hours in flying kites, playing tops, it will get cut shot of how in some other place it is grand ignoring the experience we had. 

Describe the elegant monuments of Badami, Pattadakal or the beauty of Dasara procession, it won’t get much mileage since the importance will be for some other celebration 1000 km away.

I think the problem is in two folds. One,we as the native need to be more proud, educated, esteemed about our culture, heritage without getting in to arrogance and with mutual respect towards fellow Indians. Teach our children the native language and speak in it, anyways at school they get introduced to English.

Second, it is important for others who have made this place as their home to fuse with local culture & celebrations without losing their pride. This helps them to enjoy this beautiful city beyond IT Parks and Malls.

Wishing every one who have made this state their home, Happy Karnataka Rajyotsava..!!