#MicroblogMondays – For the Love of Kannada

Posted on by Parul Thakur
Picture Credits : Kannada Gotilla website
Picture Credits : Kannada Gotilla website

My mother tongue is Hindi and the only foreign language I know is English.

As 2015 ends, I would complete 10 years in Bangalore and this city is not my second home – it IS my home. So, I decided to learn Kannada not because there was a need to learn but because I believe that if I have to call this city my own, it is not fair if I do not even understand the language that’s spoken here.

With that aim in mind, I headed to Google and learnt about KannadaGottila – a NGO that helps people learn Kannada and say more than just Kannada Gotilla (I don’t know Kannada). These days I am getting whatsapp lessons from the team of this NGO and I am slowly learning simple kannada basics.

Every language needs to be respected and my learning Kannada is a mark of respect to the city that has accepted me and given me so much. People who belong to Bangalore encourage me for my efforts and though my accent is funny, they don’t hesitate to appreciate and help me learn a little more, fix that grammar or tell me when to roll the tongue where it’s required.

I may never become an expert in this new language but at least this would help me win some hearts and tell my self that I expressed my gratitude the way I wanted to. 🙂

I am tagging this post for both #MicroblogMondays and #MondayMusings. 

For my international readers, Kannada is the language spoken in the state of Karnataka, India which is to the South of India. I came to this state almost 10 years ago from the North of India where people speak a different language depending on the state of the Northern region. Sometimes, it is an entirely different language and sometimes it is a different dialect. 

Kannada Gotilla, a NGO based in Bangalore helps people in India and abroad learn this language almost free of cost. One can donate if one is willing to and this money is spent to help children in rural Karnataka go to school.  But this is not forced upon. For all the good work that this NGO is doing, here’s is a heartfelt “thank you!”.

 

63 thoughts on “#MicroblogMondays – For the Love of Kannada”

  1. That’s great, Parul. Even I don’t know Kannada. Had I stayed in Bangalore for more I would have definitely learnt the language as many of my friends speak Kannada so well. 🙂

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  4. Wonderful initiative and my full support to you learning Kannada, you do both yourself and the language a great service through preserving and belonging. 🙂

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  8. That’s great! I had never even heard of that language. I agree – if you live in that city and intend to stay there, you owe it to yourself and to the community to understand their language 🙂 I hope it goes well and that you pick it up quickly!

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  9. I believe that’s the beauty of India. Different languages, one heartbeat. Aap koi bhi bhasha boliye, baat sidhi dil ko chhuti hain. I am from Mumbai. My native language is Gujarati, but I am good with English, Hindi, Marathi. I have Tamil friends so I can sing few Tamil movie songs. I watch Telugu and Malayalam movies as well.

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  10. Its interesting, in school we all learn the local language. So by default we wnd up learning at least 3 languages plus one classical language.
    The more languages you learn the lesser mental health issues in future. A big plus.

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  13. Nice initiative Parul, yes. every language needs to be respected. I too learn Tamil when i worked there for 3 years in Tamilnadu, not because i have to, but just to be able to talk to friends and colleagues in their language and understand their feelings better. People express emotions better and clear in their mother tongue only right?
    By the way, picked up language quick by watching movies 🙂

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    1. Yeah – when it comes to expressing emotions, mother tongue wins. But knowing the local language is a thing of joy 🙂 Glad you know a bit of Tamil. It’s a hard one!

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  14. First great attitude, you choose to learn Kanada and looks like the learning is helping you… I tried my level best to master Kannada, I attended a 3 month course undertaken every Sunday at Kannada Parisid institution… they take it on Hismat hospital and give you a book as well, the fees were nomial, like just 500 bucks… I speak some kannada and can be understood but not everyone bears me, but I make it a point to speak Kannada… anyway… Kanada Gotilla seems to be a excellent Organisation…everyone should donate something if that money is used to fund education of the rural kid forks. Goodday

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  15. Its so nice to know you are learning Kannada. I spoke Tamil at home and my first language was Tamil and second language was Hindi, I did not know a word of Telugu, living in Telengana. working in the NGO sector helped me learn to speak Telugu, so now I take sessions in Telugu, but still can’t read and write… agree with you on everything you wrote..

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    1. So you are already multi-lingual 🙂 In North, HIndi and Sanskrit are two language subjects other than English – the foreign language. I studied Sanskrit till standard 8 and beyond that nothing else. So now it’s a bit hard but I am trying. Thank you 🙂

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  16. It’s wonderful…I’m hopeless when it comes to learning languages…You know some people just don’t have the , what do you call it, knack for it? I tried but failed miserably.. And then when people tell me I ‘should’ learn if I want to live here, it puts me off further…But I do understand little bit of Kannada and I wish I’m able to speak as well…

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    1. I agree that learning a new language at this age is hard (when I say age – i mean kids are best at this). I too have learnt very basic and “should” learn is not the right approach. Bangalore is pretty much cosmopolitan and people know English here more than the North and that works a lot. If you are interested, you should try the website I am talking about. Their watsapp audio and chat lessons are great!

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  17. 10 years and you don’t know Kannada? Shame on you, woman 😛

    Atleast I’m glad you did not call it Kannad.

    I was born and brought up in Bangalore and know Kannada much better than I know my mother tongue Malayalam. I know English, Hindi and Kannada fluently meaning speaking, reading and writing. I can speak Tamil and Malayalam as well. So I’m pretty proficient in languages.

    You should learn Kannada, it is a delightful language. And believe me you need it! 😀

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  18. Learning languages is fun…I am learning Marathi for my husband … I can understand but when I try to speak it becomes a mix of marathi, hindi and assamese … total comedy circus 😛 Good luck on learning the language. Plus point is I love flaunting that I know 5 languages 😀 I have been thinking of learning a foreign language for long… maybe this year I will start 😀

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  19. I need to take a lesson from you Parul. I’ve been in Western India for over almost two decades now shuttling between Pune and Mumbai yet I’m not comfortable with Marathi. Must rectify that ASAP.

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  20. there are less number of people these days who speak kannada in bangalore.Tamilians and telgu ppl being more -_- Its really great to see you learn kannada 🙂

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  22. Yes, i have picked up basic Kannada as well. I understand it much better than I speak but I have functional proficiency. I would love to learn more but the hurdle is that everyone in my gated community converses in English or Hindi even the Kannadigas. The only opportunity I get is to speak with maids. 🙂 Well done. Like you I have lived here for 12 years now, and Bangalore is Home!

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  23. I see a lot of south Indian families in my apartment where the children do not know their own mother tongue since the language spoken in their homes is english. I learnt that this way they will have competitive advantage. This scenario pains me since competitive advantage is all very fine and good but do they realise their language might die if the younger generation does not speak and understand it.
    So, when I read your post I felt proud for you and the step you have taken towards learning kannada. When you live in a place then why not own the place completely. I also would like to learn kannada at some of time. By the way, as you know I spent my early childhood in Assam, although I have forgotten most of the assamese I had learnt in school I can still write my name in assamese and I feel good about it.

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    1. Thank you Anamika for sharing your feelings. I do agree that competition has changed many things around us. It’s upto us to see what’s right for children.
      When I was in school my friends had taught me a bit of Urdu 🙂

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  24. 14 years in Bangalore and that is one thing i didnt do…too bad of me. seriously. Just that living in an army area, I just never felt compelled too. And that i was too young and immature :p By the time i grew up i wasnt there. But thats a great job you’re doing, its the best way to respect a city you love…way to go dear.

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  26. That’s awesome Parul. It’s always lovely to learn a new language. I picked up bits and pieces of Tamil when I was in Tamil Nadu while since I have come back here, it’s been a lot of Arabic as well :D. And must say, residents are delighted when they realize that those who have come to their city from another have made an effort to learn the new language.

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  27. I appreciate your interest in learning kannada. Try speaking to your kannada neighbours(who converse mostly in English and Hindi) in Kannada. Atleast then they will realize what they are missing. Thanks.

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    1. Thank you Arun! I try to show off my little Kannada to Srinidhi Sagar guys or the temple poojaris and it works wonders 🙂 I am not that fluent with grammar but at least I understand more now 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

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  28. Parul, i dont know why i feel like saying this: “Thank you, thanks a lot”. Even though learning kannada, will help smoothen daily life substantially, not many non-kannadigas take up learning kannada.

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    1. Thanks Arjun! I am glad you feel good about this very little step of mine. I am not fluent yet and grammar is a big issue. You know how it is learning when you are not a child anymore. But yes, it’s Kannada Baruthe 🙂

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