Why are you forcibly imposing Hindi?

I’m a Kannadiga, born and bred in Karnataka, and my mother tongue is Kannada. It’s not just a language to me it’s my identity, my heritage, my pride. So when I see Hindi creeping into my state, pushed by policies or attitudes that treat it like some superior default, I have to ask: Why are you forcibly imposing Hindi? No one no government, no outsider, no well-meaning “unifier” has the right to belittle or sideline Kannada in my own land. Let me tell you why Kannada stands tall on its own, and why this imposition feels like a slap to everything I hold dear.

Kannada’s Greatness Isn’t Up for Debate

Kannada isn’t some footnote in India’s story it’s a cornerstone. It’s one of the oldest living languages in the world, with a history stretching back over 2,000 years. Inscriptions like the Halmidi stone from 450 CE prove it’s been thriving since ancient times. It’s a classical language, recognized by the Indian government in 2008 for its rich, independent literary tradition. Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam they’re siblings in this elite club, but Hindi? It’s not even in the same league historically.

Our literature is a treasure chest. The Kavirajamarga from the 9th century written by Amoghavarsha Nripatunga is one of the earliest works on poetics in any Indian language. Pampa’s Vikramarjuna Vijaya from 941 CE earned him the title of Adikavi (first poet). We’ve got eight Jnanpith awards more than most Indian languages thanks to giants like Kuvempu, who gave us our state anthem, and Da Ra Bendre, whose poetry still sings in our hearts. Kannada’s script, born from the Kadamba alphabet, is a beauty elegant, distinct, and ours. Tell me, what’s Hindi got that matches this legacy?

A Language of Science and Soul

Kannada isn’t just old it’s alive, versatile, rich. It’s got over 40 million native speakers, and its dialects like Kundagannada or Haveri Kannada show how it bends and breathes with its people. Linguists rave about its agglutinative grammar: we stack suffixes like building blocks to make meaning, precise and poetic. Ever hear a Kannada lullaby or a vachana from Basavanna? It’s music soulful, direct, profound. And science? Our kings patronized astronomy and math texts like Ganita Sara Sangraha were translated into Kannada centuries ago. This isn’t a “backward” tongue; it’s a language of intellect and emotion.

No Right to Impose

So why the push for Hindi? Karnataka’s not your playground to experiment with “one nation, one language.” Our Constitution doesn’t crown Hindi king it’s just one of 22 scheduled languages, equal to Kannada in every way. Article 345 says states decide their official languages, and ours is Kannada end of story. Forcing Hindi into our schools, banks, or metro signs isn’t unity; it’s erasure. Look at the facts: in 2024, 90,794 students failed their third-language Hindi exams in Karnataka’s SSLC results. That’s not kids failing Hindi Hindi’s failing them. Why burden us with a language many won’t use, when Kannada and English already open the world?

I’m not blind I get migration, jobs, Bollywood’s pull. Bengaluru’s a melting pot; 40% of its people aren’t from here. Fine. Speak Hindi at home, chat with your friends, order your chai in it. But don’t expect me to nod when you plaster it over my state like it’s our default. English connects us globally neutral, practical. Hindi’s just another regional tongue, no closer to Karnataka than Gujarati or Bengali. Historically, it never ruled here our kings spoke Kannada, not Devanagari’s ancestor.

Love, Not Fanaticism

Don’t get me wrong I’m not burning bridges or hating on Hindi speakers. I’m not fanatic; I just love my language. When my wife said a cobra in our yard was “good luck” and everyone agreed, I rolled my eyes at the superstition, not her. Same here I’m calling out the folly, not the people. But when you sideline Kannada, when you act like it’s less, you’re poking at something sacred. We’ve fought this before 1982’s Gokak agitation made Kannada mandatory in schools. Tamil Nadu’s 1960s anti-Hindi protests kept English alive as a co-official language. We Kannadigas aren’t new to this game.

So, why impose Hindi? Unity? Please. India’s strength is its diversity, not some forced sameness. Kannada’s not a hurdle it’s a gift. No one’s got the right to replace it, belittle it, or shove it aside in my state. I’ll keep asking questions, keep digging for truth, because that’s who I am. And Kannada? It’s not going anywhere. Deal with it.