Bengaluru resident criticises Swiggy delivery agent over language barrier, Twitter fires back

Swiggy has not responded to the tweet yet. (Representational)

A tweet by a Bengaluru resident has sparked a heated debate about language and regional identity. The woman, whose tweet has gained significant attention, shared a screenshot of her Swiggy order, calling out the delivery platform for sending a delivery agent who did not speak Kannada or English.

Rekha 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."

While the customer blurred out the name of the delivery agent, the visible last name "Das" suggests that the worker might be from another region, likely Bengal or Odisha where the surname originates, sparking reactions on social media that delved into deeper issues of language politics, diversity, and inclusivity.

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 tweet quickly garnered mixed reactions, with many defending the delivery agent and questioning the necessity of language proficiency in such jobs. One user commented, "Do you expect the delivery guy to sit with you and chat while you eat?" pointing out that the role of the delivery agent is simply to deliver food, not engage in conversation.

Others echoed similar sentiments, highlighting India's linguistic diversity. "In India, the language changes every 50 kilometers, but no one is as rigid about their language as people are about Tamil and Kannada. This shouldn't be the case," another user remarked, adding that all languages in the country should be respected.

The controversy has once again brought to the forefront the ongoing tension in Karnataka over the imposition of Hindi. Many locals feel that Hindi, a language spoken widely in North India, is being unfairly imposed on non-Hindi-speaking states. The issue has sparked debates about regional pride and cultural identity in states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where local languages hold strong cultural significance.

Some users criticised the tweet’s provocative comparison to Pakistan, calling it unnecessary and inflammatory. "Why mention Pakistan here? Is Hindi a Pakistani language? You may think you're smart, but you aren't," one user wrote.

Why mention pakistan here? Is Hindi a Pakistani language?You may think you are smart but you aren't. We can see what you are trying to do here

Shifting Vistas (@ShiftingVistas) September 14, 2024

Another user wryly commented, "Is Bengaluru in Karnataka or England? As far as I know, English wasn't originally a cultural language in Karnataka," challenging the expectation that delivery agents should be proficient in English.

Swiggy has not officially responded to the viral tweet.