Kannada language excluded from railway exam in B’luru, sparks row
The recent decision by the South Western Railway to exclude Kannada as a medium from an exam conducted in Bengaluru has sparked a major controversy, with pro-Kannada groups protesting against the move. The exam, which was held in the city, allowed only Hindi and English as mediums, leaving out the local language of Karnataka. This decision has been met with sharp criticism from various quarters, with many calling it a “systemic bias” designed to favor Hindi-speaking candidates over local ones.
The issue has gained significant attention, with many questioning the logic behind excluding Kannada from the exam. Bengaluru, being the capital city of Karnataka, has a significant population of Kannada-speaking people. Excluding the local language from the exam has been seen as a move that undermines the importance of Kannada and favors Hindi-speaking candidates. This has led to protests from pro-Kannada groups, who are demanding that the decision be reversed and Kannada be included as a medium for the exam.
BJP leader CT Ravi has also weighed in on the issue, calling it a “technical injustice”. Ravi’s statement reflects the sentiment of many in the state, who feel that the exclusion of Kannada is a deliberate attempt to marginalize the local language. The fact that Hindi and English were allowed as mediums, while Kannada was excluded, has been seen as a clear bias towards Hindi-speaking candidates.
The controversy has also raised questions about the implementation of language policies in the country. The Three-Language Formula, which was introduced in 1968, mandates that Hindi, English, and a regional language be taught in schools. However, the exclusion of Kannada from the railway exam in Bengaluru suggests that this policy is not being implemented uniformly.
Moreover, the decision to exclude Kannada has been seen as a reflection of the larger issue of language politics in the country. The promotion of Hindi as a national language has been a contentious issue, with many non-Hindi speaking states opposing the move. The exclusion of Kannada from the railway exam has been seen as a manifestation of this larger issue, with many feeling that the move is designed to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states.
The protests against the exclusion of Kannada have been gaining momentum, with many organizations and individuals joining in to express their opposition to the move. The issue has also been taken up by local politicians, who are demanding that the decision be reversed and Kannada be included as a medium for the exam.
In response to the protests, the South Western Railway has maintained that the decision to exclude Kannada was taken due to “technical reasons”. However, this explanation has not been accepted by the protesters, who are demanding a more convincing reason for the exclusion of the local language.
The controversy has also highlighted the importance of language in the context of employment and education. The exclusion of Kannada from the railway exam has been seen as a move that disadvantages local candidates, who may not be proficient in Hindi or English. This has raised questions about the fairness of the exam and the need to ensure that language is not a barrier to employment opportunities.
In conclusion, the exclusion of Kannada from the railway exam in Bengaluru has sparked a major controversy, with many protesting against the move. The decision has been seen as a reflection of a systemic bias designed to favor Hindi-speaking candidates over local ones. The issue has highlighted the importance of language in the context of employment and education and has raised questions about the implementation of language policies in the country. It remains to be seen how the controversy will be resolved, but one thing is clear – the exclusion of Kannada from the railway exam has sparked a row that will have far-reaching implications for language politics in the country.
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