‘Bengaluru is Bengaluru because of North Indians’, Woman’s comment provoke intense debate
A video featuring a woman claiming that Bengaluru owes much of its success to North Indians has sparked a fierce debate on social media, with strong reactions pouring in from both supporters and critics. The video, which has since gone viral on X (formerly known as Twitter), shows the woman sharing her experiences and observations as an outsider in Bengaluru. In the video, the woman, who moved to the Karnataka capital from North India, discusses her experience of “cultural shock.”
She acknowledges that she has often felt singled out by locals, claiming that people frequently refer to North Indians as “these Hindi people” and that auto drivers tend to charge them higher fares. “I don’t know about the cultural shock, but people here do hate North Indians. That’s what I have observed,” she says in the video. Despite this, she expresses her admiration for Bengaluru, calling it a city she loves and would want to visit again. However, she also said in the same video, “Especially when Bengaluru is what it is because of North Indians to a large extent. Yet, people struggle to accept that”.
North Indians in Bengaluru
The video quickly gained traction online, leading to a wave of comments that both defended and challenged her statements. Several users agreed with the woman’s observation about the significant role North Indians have played in the city’s development, particularly in the tech industry. One user noted, “Most of the well-established companies or startup founders and employees in Bangalore are from other parts of India. She is not wrong. Why this unwanted divide in the name of language?”
I don’t see anything wrong in her statement! And that’s how it should be! Kannadigas travel to other places as well – in and out of the country and they don’t face this kind of hate in the north! Even if they are having a hard time speaking Hindi, most people do adjust with them
— Manish Tyagi (@Tyagiji_M) December 21, 2024
On the other hand, not everyone agreed with the woman’s opinion. Critics took issue with her broad generalization, arguing that the city’s success is also due to the infrastructure and opportunities provided by Bengaluru itself, rather than just the influx of North Indians. Despite the city’s reputation as a melting pot of cultures, many locals express resentment towards non-Kannadigas (those not from the state of Karnataka), particularly in relation to language and cultural differences. The woman in the video echoed this sentiment, claiming that locals often show hostility towards outsiders, especially those from North India.
