Bengaluru, April 15, 2025 – A viral video claiming Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) ditched Hindi from its digital flight boards ignited a fiery online clash Monday, with some cheering Kannada pride and others slamming it as exclusionary. Posted on X last week, the clip—showing Terminal 1 screens in only Kannada and English—racked up over 2 million views, fueling cries of “Hindi imposition” resistance (Hindustan Times). Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) hit back Sunday, insisting no changes were made to its display system.
“Hindi’s gone—Kannada rules!” bragged the X post, captioned with #StopHindiImposition (NDTV). Supporters hailed it as a stand for Karnataka’s identity, but critics fumed: “Do only Kannada speakers fly here?” (Times of India). BIAL clarified, “Flight info stays English and Kannada, as always—wayfinding signs keep Hindi too” (The Indian Express). KIA’s 74 million passengers in 2024—30% non-Kannada—rely on clear info; Hindi’s 43% national reach makes its absence a sore point (Census 2011, ACI).
The row’s no shock—Tamil Nadu’s anti-NEP fight fuels South India’s language wars (The Hindu). Karnataka’s 2024 saw 15 pro-Kannada protests, three targeting Hindi signs (Deccan Herald). X splits hard—“Kannada’s enough!” vs. “Airports aren’t for politics!” (post:1). A Delhi flyer told The Economic Times, “I struggled—English isn’t my strength.” Yet, a Bengaluru techie countered, “Learn Kannada or deal” (Business Standard). KIA’s 600 daily flights serve 46 Indian cities—excluding Hindi risks chaos (DGCA).
For India’s tech hub, it’s a tightrope—pride versus practicality. Will BIAL bend, or hold firm?
