Overview

• A self-described Kannadiga’s late-June Reddit post warned that Bengaluru’s native population could disappear within a decade, triggering intense discussion over the city’s future identity.
• Residents blame the rapid influx of non-local tech workers for overburdened roads, inadequate sewage and waste systems, and the erosion of local Kannada customs.
• Opponents argue that many newcomers form a transient workforce likely to relocate if high-paying jobs emerge elsewhere in India.
• Suggested remedies include limiting company concentrations in Bengaluru and developing alternate tech hubs to relieve demographic and infrastructure pressures.
• Earlier this month, Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu urged everyone who calls Bengaluru home to learn Kannada, reigniting debate on language use and cultural integration.