Vandalism over English name boards in Bengaluru raises concern

Branches of popular coffee shops in Bengaluru such as Starbucks and Third Wave Coffee were vandalised by the pro-Kannada activists. (Image credit: @aralalobo/X)

Brand Bengaluru may have suffered a major setback as pro-Kannada activists vandalised signboards of business establishments in the country's tech and startup capital on December 27.

This happened while the activists were taking out a rally, led by TA Narayana Gowda of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV).

Thousands of pro-Kannada activists went on a rampage in the city's Central Business District, including Lavelle Road, MG Road, Brigade Road, UB City on Vittal Mallya Road, and Bellary Road, tearing down hoardings in English between 11 am and 3pm on December 27, reigniting the migrant vs native debate and language row.

They targeted several business establishments, including Starbucks, Third Wave, Toyota, House of Masaba, Forest Essentials, Theobroma, and others.

Similar acts of vandalism were reported in KR Puram, Rajajinagar, and Yelahanka.

Also read:  Starbucks, Third Wave among outlets targeted in Bengaluru as pro-Kannada activists destroy English signboards 

In the viral videos, activists outnumbered the police and were seen vandalising or blackening English signboards of retail outlets. Traffic on Airport Road was also affected on December 27.

Permission to protest was restricted: Police

“They took out a rally from Sadahalli Gate near the airport to Cubbon Park. We had informed them that there was no permission to protest, other than at the Freedom Park in the city. However, they split into multiple groups and went on a rampage, which we never expected. There was no provocation from our side. Many engage in these acts to gain fame on social media without considering the consequences, especially for a global city like Bengaluru," a senior police official told Moneycontrol.

Following the protests, Phoenix Mall of Asia in Hebbal and Phoenix Marketcity in Whitefield were forced to shut down on December 27.

The mall management and pro-Kannada activists were at loggerheads over not giving prominence to Kannada in name boards and not hiring adequate number of locals for jobs.

In a statement, the mall management said: "The Phoenix Mall of Asia reaffirms its commitment to rules and regulations by incorporating Kannada signage at the mall's premises. This strategic initiative not only underscores the mall's dedication to comply but also reflects the respect for the cultural context of the region. The inclusion of Kannada signage is a testament to our commitment to operate within the legal framework and align with local guidelines".

Also read: Bengaluru's Phoenix Mall of Asia causes massive traffic chaos on Christmas eve; cops issue advisory

Many business establishments pointed out that this vandalism was unwarranted, especially since Bengaluru's civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has set a February 28, 2024, deadline to implement the 60 percent Kannada requirement.

The KRV, which led the rally, stated that it was organising an awareness campaign. "People from different states are conducting business in Bengaluru. If they wish to continue operating in Bengaluru, they are required to display nameplates on their shops in Kannada; otherwise, they should vacate Karnataka," the organisation said.

Moneycontrol spoke to many industry veterans about the impact of the rally on the IT capital's image.

Former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai said, "We must respect Kannada, but violence is not the solution. How can the police fail to prevent such acts of violence and vandalism? Violence by anybody is unacceptable in any civilised society. The government should enforce the law and make the violators compensate the victims of violence."

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of Biocon Ltd, wrote on X: "This soft-handed approach by the police is very troubling. These are professional, paid vandals - it’s so obvious. @DKShivakumar please take action and keep our city safe".

This incident also tarnished Brand Bengaluru, a flagship project of deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru development minister DK Shivakumar.

Shivakumar stated: "We are not against the protest, but we will take action against those who damage public properties."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi expressed support for the demand that shop signages in Karnataka should predominantly feature Kannada.

Corporates raise concern

RK Misra, co-founder of Yulu Bikes and president of the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEVs), told Moneycontrol: "On the one hand, the deputy CM has been talking about Brand Bengaluru for nearly six months, but just one incident has certainly tarnished that brand. This does not do anything good for 'Brand Bengaluru.' People in Bengaluru are known for their tolerant and inclusive culture, and this incident certainly does not represent Bengaluru in any way, nor does it promote culture or language. Bengaluru is now a global city. What happens in Bengaluru resonates globally because industries from every corner of the world are established here. Big industries, along with their top executives, are based here. What starts in Chickpet doesn't stay confined to Chickpet; its impact can even reach Chicago," he said.

Also read: Businesses should have 60% Kannada language nameplates before Feb 28: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah 

"Everybody should learn the language, of course. It can make life easier when talking to shopkeepers, drivers, colleagues, and friends. Some people may not make an effort due to their busy lives, so while I fully agree that we should encourage language learning, it's important to respect those who may find it difficult. Governments should incentivise and promote the learning of Kannada, making it easier and friendlier for everyone. Collaborating with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and other organisations can facilitate this. Of course, individuals should also make an effort to learn," Misra added.

Other startup founders said they’re still assessing repair costs but the unpleasant memory hangover will linger longer.

“We heard the government and will do what is necessary by February 2024, but sudden, concerted attacks way before the deadline is just not acceptable. Now see, vandalism of the sort that happened earlier in the week has a cascading effect. Now, a customer has a negative memory associated with our outlets for no fault of ours. It scares people, ruins the facade and results in added repair costs. We heard the CM speak and are awaiting corrective actions,” the founder of a company whose stores were damaged said.

“That still won’t compensate for our repair costs and reduce the damage to our brand,” he said.

Police version

Bengaluru police said they took all preventive measures. B Dayananda, Bengaluru city police commissioner, told Moneycontrol: "This was an act of hooliganism, and the vandalism was orchestrated. They had said that they would start the rally near the airport toll plaza, and we made all arrangements and deployed adequate police personnel. We also clarified to them that protests were not allowed anywhere in the city, except in Freedom Park, but some played mischief and vandalised boards. The police acted swiftly and caught some people red-handed.”

He said that 10 cases have been registered and 53 individuals, including KRV president TA Narayana Gowda, have been arrested.

What does the Bengaluru civic body say?

The BBMP has asked all commercial establishments to display signboards with at least 60 percent of the content in Kannada by the end of February 2024.

Also read: Bengaluru shops to lose trading license if 60% signages not in Kannada by Feb-end

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath directed zonal officials to complete the survey of establishments that have not adhered to the 60 percent Kannada rule on name boards within 15 days. "We will issue notices to them, and if they fail to comply, we will suspend their trade licences."

Meanwhile, the Retailers Association of India has already written to the state government, seeking intervention to prevent further acts of vandalism and violence.

Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, president of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, stated in a release: "The Karnataka government and the BBMP should refrain from taking any action against the 60 percent Kannada name board rule for commercial establishments until the deadline of February 28, 2024. We also urge the government to ensure that no one takes the law into their own hands to harass trade and commercial establishments."

Sajjan Raj Mehta, a trade activist in Chickpet, said: "We've followed all rules and regulations of the government, and we never objected to it. We've already informed all traders to follow the 60 percent requirement in Kannada by the end of February 2024. In Chickpet, the majority of the shops have Kannada signage. Many have put up temporary flex banners since there is now a demand for display boards, and rates have also gone up. But all traders will comply with the rules."

Ordinance soon: CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the government would promulgate an ordinance to ensure that 60 percent of space on signboards and nameplates is dedicated to Kannada.

He stated that Section 17 (6) of the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill, 2022, mandates that with the approval of the government or local authority, the upper half of the signboards displaying the names of commercial industries, business establishments, institutes, counselling centres, hospitals, laboratories, recreation centres, and hotels, etc., should be in Kannada language.

"Earlier, in the circular issued in 2018, the requirement was for signboards to be in 60 percent Kannada and 40 percent in other languages. Accordingly, Section 17(6) of the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act will be amended through an ordinance for immediate implementation by commercial outlets before the deadline of February 28," he said.

"The government does not oppose peaceful protests. We believe in democracy and the Constitution. However, the government will not tolerate anyone going against the law. The Karnataka High Court has stated that protests can only be carried out at Freedom Park.  But the government will take action if the law is violated".

"Kannada is the supreme and administrative language of Karnataka. There is no compromise in this matter. All private institutions should install signboards, maintaining the ratio of 60:40, within the stipulated time frame. The public need not panic," said Siddaramaiah.

Bengaluru and Kannada

Siddaramaiah's earlier tenure in 2017 had seen the removal of Hindi signboards from Bengaluru Metro stations, a move prompted by protests from pro-Kannada groups after they had defaced Hindi boards.

He also unveiled a Karnataka flag—yellow, red, and white, with the state emblem in the middle. The Union government did not approve it. The bi-coloured (red and yellow) Kannada flag has been widely used in the state since the 1960s to celebrate its language and culture.

Siddaramaiah consistently invoked Kannada pride and urged residents of Karnataka to learn the language. In his directive to remove Hindi boards from Metro stations, he demanded that the Centre review the three-language policy on the metro, emphasising the need to respect the "cultural aspirations and sentiments of the people of Karnataka."

Also read:  Brand Bengaluru hit by back-to-back bandhs, say experts

Pro-Kannada activists are generally united in their support for Kannada, but they have various factions, such as Vatal Nagaraj’s Kannada Okkoota and two KRV factions – of Narayana Gowda and Praveen Shetty.

According to an analysis by two academicians, Shamika Ravi, a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Mudit Kapoor, an associate professor of economics at the Indian Statistical Institute, based on the 2011 Census, Bengaluru district has the highest number of languages spoken in the country. The analysis states that no fewer than 107 languages are spoken in Bengaluru, including 22 scheduled and 84 non-scheduled languages.

Also read: Karnataka government moots wide-ranging measures to promote Kannada in new bill