Overview

• Pai called the refusal of some non-native workers to use even basic Kannada an “arrogance” that needlessly strains community relations.
• He cited a recent incident in which an SBI manager’s refusal to speak Kannada provoked protests by pro-Kannada groups and forced the bank into a formal apology.
• Pai emphasized that customer-facing roles in rural Karnataka demand prioritizing the local language when many cannot understand Hindi or English.
• He noted that native Kannada speakers make up roughly one-third of Bengaluru’s population, with migrants accounting for the remainder.
• The investor said the principle applies nationwide, arguing that learning a few words of the local language shows respect for any community professionals join.