Latest news with #KaushikMukherjee
India Today
23-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
‘If this language nonsense…', says founder on shifting firm from Bengaluru to Pune
An entrepreneur announced his plans to shut his Bengaluru office and relocate operations to Pune following the language row that reared up again in Karnataka recently. The post and the intent comes following a viral video that showed a State Bank of India (SBI) official refusing to speak to a customer in Kannada. Kaushik Mukherjee, in a post on social media platform X, said the move stemmed directly from his team's concerns about regional language dispute. 'This idea was mooted by the staff themselves,' he wrote. 'I agreed to their POV (point of view).'advertisementHe said his team raised concerns about language-related hostility following the video from an SBI branch in Anekal taluk, Bengaluru. 'If this language nonsense is to continue, I do not want my non-Kannada speaking staff to be the next 'victim',' Mukherjee said in his tweet. His statement reflects growing anxiety among professionals working in Karnataka, particularly those not fluent in the local language. The widely circulated video from SBI's Suryanagar branch in Bengaluru's Chandapura area shows a manager repeatedly refusing to speak Kannada with a customer. She can be heard arguing, 'Do I have to speak in Kannada? Is it mandatory? Where is it written? Show me the rules.'advertisementAfter the video caused public outrage, the SBI in a statement announced the official had been transferred. The incident also drew immediate political attention. BJP MP Tejaswi Surya called the manager's conduct 'unacceptable' and insisted that fluency in Kannada be mandatory for customer-facing roles in the state. 'Banks working in Karnataka should serve customers in Kannada. Period,' he said, adding that he had raised the issue with central Minister Siddaramaiah also weighed in, condemning the bank manager's actions and supporting the State Bank of India's decision to transfer her. 'The matter may now be treated as closed,' he said in a statement on the transfer, Kannada organisations staged protests outside the bank branch, demanding stronger action against the manager. A new video of the same staffer surfaced online on Thursday, this time showing her apologising in Kannada. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka#Bengaluru
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Moving to Pune': Bengaluru entrepreneur Kaushik Mukherjee blames ‘language nonsense' for office shift after SBI Kannada row
A Bengaluru tech entrepreneur has announced plans to relocate his company's office to Pune within six months, citing employee concerns about recent language-related incidents in Karnataka. The move follows public debate after a viral video showed a bank manager refusing to speak Kannada in Bengaluru. Bengaluru tech founder cites employee concerns Kaushik Mukherjee , co-founder of a tech firm, posted on X that he had decided to move the office following discussions with his team. "Today I took a decision to wind up our Bangalore office in the next 6 months and move it to Pune. If this language nonsense is to continue, I do not want my non Kannada speaking staff to be the next 'victim'. This idea was mooted by the staff themselves. I agreed to their POV," he wrote. — kush07 (@kush07) Mukherjee's post was a direct response to a viral video of a State Bank of India (SBI) manager in Chandapura, Bengaluru, who refused to speak Kannada to a customer. In the video, the manager says, "This is India, I'll speak Hindi, not Kannada." The incident sparked criticism across the state. Political leaders react to SBI incident Bengaluru South Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya shared the video on X, writing, "If you are doing customer interface work in Karnataka, especially in a sector like banking, it is important to communicate to customers in the language they know." He also said that he has consistently demanded that public-facing roles in Karnataka be staffed with Kannada-speaking employees. — Tejasvi_Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the incident. He called the manager's conduct "strongly condemnable" and urged the Union Finance Ministry to introduce cultural and language sensitivity training for bank staff across the country. Live Events SBI responds to backlash Following the backlash, the bank transferred the manager to another branch. Both the bank and the manager issued apologies. The manager also released a statement in Kannada, promising to be more sensitive to customers in the future. Language debate in public services The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has expressed concern over the growing number of non-Kannadigas posted in customer-facing roles in banks. According to the KDA, this trend is leading to a disconnect between local citizens and essential services. Under Reserve Bank of India guidelines, banks must offer services in English, Hindi, and the regional language. Despite this, incidents like the one in Bengaluru have reignited debates over language use in public-facing institutions in Karnataka.
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
After SBI Kannada Row, Bengaluru Founder Plans To Relocate Office To Pune
A Bengaluru-based tech founder has decided to move his company's office to Pune within six months. The reason: the ongoing "language nonsense." "If this language nonsense is to continue, I do not want my non-Kannada speaking staff to be the next 'victim'," entrepreneur Kaushik Mukherjee wrote on X. He said the decision stemmed from concerns raised by his employees, adding he "agreed to their [point of view]." Today I took a decision to wind up our Bangalore office in the next 6 months and move it to Pune. If this language nonsense is to continue, I do not want my non Kannada speaking staff to be the next "victim". This idea was mooted by the staff themselves. I agreed to their POV. — Kaushik Mukherjee ???????? (@kush07) May 22, 2025 This came after a recent incident at an SBI branch in Bengaluru's Chandapura area, where a manager refused to speak in Kannada with a customer, saying, "This is India, I'll speak Hindi, not Kannada." The video of the interaction went viral, drawing sharp criticism from Kannada activists and political leaders alike. Kaushik Mukherjee's post was in response to Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, who earlier shared the video and called the manager's conduct "not acceptable." "If you are doing customer interface work in Karnataka, especially in a sector like banking, it is important to communicate to customers in the language they know," Mr Surya wrote. He spoke of his long-standing demand that banks and other public-facing institutions in Karnataka ensure that local-language-speaking staff are posted. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also weighed in on the SBI incident, calling the manager's behaviour "strongly condemnable" and urging the Union Finance Ministry to implement cultural and language sensitivity training for banking staff nationwide. The manager has since been transferred, and both the bank and the manager have issued apologies. The manager, in a statement in Kannada, promised to be more sensitive in future dealings with customers. According to the Kannada Development Authority (KDA), there has been a growing trend of non-Kannadigas being posted in public-facing roles in banks. This, the KDA says, is creating a disconnect with local citizens who expect services in their mother tongue. As per Reserve Bank of India norms, all banks are mandated to provide services in English, Hindi, and the regional language.
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Bengaluru Tech Firm to Shift Operations to Pune Over Kannada Language Issues
It is natural to have a fondness for a regional language, but it can lead to issues when taken too far. For a long time, there have been strong discussions in Karnataka about promoting the Kannada language and prioritizing jobs for Kannadigas. However, Bengaluru, known as the hub of India's IT industry and startup economy, is reportedly losing its reputation due to rising incidents of linguistic discrimination. Recently, Kaushik Mukherjee, the founder of a Bengaluru-based tech company, addressed the issue. He revealed that his company's office in Bengaluru will be closed in six months and operations will be shifted to Pune. The move comes after several employees reported challenges stemming from language-related discrimination. Mukherjee stated that the company felt compelled to respond to the growing conflict over the Kannada language, which was creating difficulties for its team. The decision to shift locations was made based on employee feedback. In a recent incident that sparked controversy, a State Bank manager was transferred after a customer complained that she did not speak Kannada. Mukherjee expressed concern that his employees could face similar targeting in the future. He said the request to relocate was initiated by the employees themselves, and after understanding their concerns, the company concluded that moving out of Bengaluru was the right step. Netizens reacted to this development with mixed views. One person suggested relocating to Hyderabad, noting that language is not a major issue there. Another pointed out that Pune is in Maharashtra, where Marathi is the dominant language, and expressed support for the Kannadigas. Others offered advice to shift operations to cities where Hindi is more commonly spoken. One commenter recommended moving to Gurugram or Haryana, stating that such problems would not arise there.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru tech founder to shift office to Pune over language tensions, Kannadigas say ‘good riddance'
In a move driven by ongoing language tensions in Bengalur, a city-based tech founder has announced plans to wind up the company's office within six months and relocate operations to Pune. The decision comes amid growing concerns over pressure on non-Kannada-speaking staff in the city. The founder, Kaushik Mukherjee, said the move was prompted by what he termed "language nonsense," adding that he did not want his non-Kannada-speaking employees to become "victims" of the ongoing linguistic climate in Bengaluru. The idea, he revealed, was originally raised by his staff, whose concerns he chose to support. (Also Read: Bengaluru man flags lack of Kannada in vehicle loan papers: 'Took me 1.5 hours to understand') The announcement has stirred strong reactions online, with users weighing in on the implications. Some cautioned that Pune may not be entirely free from similar issues, warning, 'In Pune, there's a risk of your staff getting roughed up by MNS for not speaking Marathi.' Others suggested alternative cities like Gandhinagar or Noida, 'where no one cares about language.' Many commenters sarcastically applauded the founder's decision, saying, 'That's a great decision. Good riddance. Thank you for helping decongest our beloved city.' Others advised, 'Meanwhile, ask your non-Marathi staff to learn Marathi while you move to Pune.' (Also Read: 'Difficult to learn 200 local words?': Mohandas Pai reacts to row over SBI manager's refusal to speak Kannada) A fresh language controversy erupted recently in Bengaluru after a State Bank of India (SBI) manager reportedly refused to speak Kannada to a customer. The incident sparked outrage among locals who viewed the refusal as disrespect towards the regional language and culture. Social media quickly amplified the issue, with many demanding strict action against the bank official for ignoring the language sensitivities of the state.
