'Do You Know Kannada': Siddaramaiah Asks President Murmu, She Responds

Last Updated:September 01, 2025, 22:05 IST

During the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Siddaramaiah welcomed President Murmu and asked if she knew Kannada.

News18

A light-hearted exchange was seen between President Droupadi Murmu and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the first leg of the former’s three-day visit to Mysuru on Monday. Siddaramaiah asked President Murmu if she knew the Kannada language.

President Murmu was warmly welcomed at Mysuru airport by the state’s Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. During the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Siddaramaiah made his welcome address, and asked her with a smile, “Do you know Kannada?"

In response, President Murmu said, “I would like to tell the Honourable Chief Minister that although Kannada is not my mother tongue, I deeply cherish all the languages, cultures, and traditions of my country. I hold great respect and regard for each of them."

She urged everyone to work towards preserving their traditions and culture. “I wish that everyone continues to keep their language alive, preserves their traditions and culture, and moves forward in that direction. I extend my best wishes for this. And I will certainly make an effort to learn Kannada, little by little," Murmu said.

This comes months after Siddaramaiah pushed for everyone in the state to speak Kannada. “We are all Kannadigas. People speaking different languages have settled in here (and) everyone living in this state should learn to speak Kannada," he had said, sparking protests by opposition leaders and parties.

From the government’s order that insisted on signboards in Kannada to tiffs between auto drivers and non-Kannada-speaking passengers, there has been much heated debate around language in the state, often turning uncivil in the online space.

There has been a rise in pro-Kannada activism demanding stronger enforcement of the language in public life. Karnataka activists have also been pushing for the two-language model, which is being used in the Tamil Nadu schools.

On December 27, 2023, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) took to the streets to “enforce" an announcement by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) that all signboards should have at least 60% Kannada and the rest in any language.

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

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Mysore, India, India

First Published:

September 01, 2025, 22:05 IST

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