Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the growing use of English and Hindi in schools was “weakening” children’s natural talent and distancing them from their roots. His remarks came amid a renewed debate over language policy in the state.
Speaking at the Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said children in developed countries study, think and dream in their mother tongue, whereas in India, excessive dependence on English and Hindi was undermining creativity. “Children of developed nations think, learn, and dream in their mother tongue, but here, the situation is reversed. English and Hindi are weakening the talent of our children,” he said.
The Chief Minister accused the Union government of neglecting Kannada while granting “large amounts” of funds for Hindi and Sanskrit. He said Karnataka contributes around ₹4.5 lakh crore to the national exchequer every year but receives only a “paltry amount” in return, terming it “step-motherly treatment” by the Centre.
Siddaramaiah also appealed to Kannadigas to unite against what he called “anti-Kannada forces” and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protect the state’s language and culture. He said the state would consider stronger legal measures to ensure primary education is imparted in the mother tongue.
His remarks come amid a simmering language row in Karnataka, where the three-language policy and alleged imposition of Hindi have sparked protests and debates over linguistic identity. Pro-Kannada organisations have been demanding that the state government strictly enforce Kannada as the primary language in signboards and educational institutions.
Siddaramaiah’s comments are likely to intensify the political discourse around language and cultural pride in the state, as well as highlight ongoing tensions between the Centre and states over language and funding priorities.