By News18,Sahas Mahapatra

Copyright news18

Bengaluru, once celebrated as the melting pot of culture, has been grappling with the escalating tension of identity. For quite some time now, the city’s diverse population has witnessed several clashes around language, from heated altercations between auto drivers and non-Kannada passengers to protests demanding signboards in Kannada and whatnot. To add to this ongoing debate, a Reddit post has gone viral, questioning the changing cultural landscape of Bengaluru.
The post, titled Bengaluru doesn’t feel like it belongs to locals anymore, was shared on a subreddit dedicated to the city. In it, an anonymous user, who identified as a local Kannadiga, shared that while migration is not harmful, the rapid pace at which it is happening has started to “hurt more than help.”
The person argued that many newcomers to the city show little to no interest in learning the Kannada language. “Hardly anyone bothers to learn Kannada, which slowly pushes the local culture into the background. The city keeps attracting talent, but a lot of locals feel left out and end up looking abroad for better chances,” they added.
The Post Also Highlighted Issues Of Traffic Jams, Unemployment And Pollution
The user continued, “Bengaluru used to feel different, more rooted, and now it just feels like we’re losing that. For Bengaluru to improve, it needs to put the interests of Kannadigas first and foremost.” Alongside concerns about rapid cultural diversification, the user also discussed everyday struggles such as traffic jams, unemployment, pollution, and overstretched infrastructure, linking these issues to unchecked population growth in the city. They reiterated that while migration is not harmful, without a proper balance, it risks alienating those whose families have lived in Bengaluru for generations.
Bengaluru doesn’t feel like it belongs to locals anymore byu/Manthoo72 inBengaluru

Internet Is Divided Over Bengaluru Local’s Post
The post immediately went viral on social media, drawing differing opinions on the issue. A section agreed with the post wholeheartedly and blamed Kannadigas for bringing this upon themselves. “Our vishala Hrudaya Kannadigas are also responsible for this. Many speak Hindi with migrants. Why would they learn Kannada when our people are behaving like doormats? Our own people are fueling the erosion of Kannada language and culture,” said one user.
Another added, “Find ur Kannadiga friends..reach out to them.. meet them..keep messaging and calling them. Connections/friendships will survive only if u take the effort to keep them alive. By the way, during my 42-year stay in Bengaluru, I have picked up all the South Indian languages, as well as Hindi and English.”
“Grow up to globalisation. This phenomenon is not restricted to Bangalore alone,” commented a different user.
Not everyone shared the same sentiment. Many pointed out that those who have migrated have been paying taxes, and someone also shared that the city’s infrastructure is deteriorating due to poor governance, not migration.
“Calling Bengaluru ‘lost to locals’ ignores the fact that migrants who’ve lived here for 20 to 30 years, paid taxes, and built their lives are just as much a part of this city and not perpetual outsiders. And let’s be honest, locals have also benefited hugely from urbanisation with skyrocketing land and rental values, better infrastructure compared to the rest of Karnataka, and world-class opportunities without leaving home. The real issue isn’t migration, it’s governance and planning. Blaming people who move here to work is easy, but it oversimplifies a city that has always been built on diversity and shared growth,” said one person.
Meanwhile, some even argued that Bengaluru never belonged to the Kannadigas alone from the beginning.