Zoho CEO Joins 'Kannada Debate,' Urges People to Learn the Language

A recent post by Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu has sparked a fiery debate online. Vembu advised individuals making Bengaluru their home to learn Kannada, calling it a sign of respect.  

The discussion stemmed from a post on X featuring two men wearing T-shirts with the slogan "Hindi National Language" and captioned "Perfect T-shirt for a Bangalore trip." In response, Vembu wrote, "If you make Bengaluru your home, you should learn Kannada, and your kids should learn Kannada. Not doing so after living many years in Bengaluru is disrespectful."  

He added, "I often request our employees in Chennai, who come from other states, to make an effort to learn Tamil after they arrive here."  

Netizens Divided  

The post ignited mixed reactions. While some praised Vembu's stance, others criticized it.  

One user commented, "I have many Kannada friends in Mumbai, living here for decades. No one can speak Marathi. Not one word. Fair?"  

Another user called language learning a personal choice, writing, "This is a personal choice. It should not be forced on anyone. Learning a language is like learning a musical instrument. There is no place for moral policing here, only pragmatism."  

Others supported the idea, emphasizing the benefits of learning a local language. One user remarked, "Learning the local language is useful in many ways. Everyone should at least make an attempt. It's more fun and makes local interactions feel good!"  

Another agreed wholeheartedly, stating, "Respect the local culture and language wherever you settle. It’s one of the foundational principles of our republic."  

A final comment summed it up by drawing a parallel: "Just like Artificial Intelligence (AI), we should also make an effort to adapt Language Intelligence (LI). Respect towards local culture is needed everywhere."