Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, is now becoming the epicenter of a rising language divide. A recent incident shared by a software engineer has once again brought the language row into sharp focus—this time, over a simple parking request.
Arpit Bhayani, a well-known software engineer, shared a personal experience on social media that quickly went viral. According to his post, he was denied parking just because he asked someone to “move aside” in Hindi.
Today, I was denied parking just because I asked the person to move aside in Hindi. I’m okay with what happened, but hear me out, folks…”
This one-line triggered an important conversation about language politics, especially in cities like Bengaluru, where people from all over India live and work.In a detailed note, Arpit questioned the larger debate around preserving regional languages. He asked people fighting over language identity in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka—are they really preserving their culture, or just creating unnecessary barriers?
Today, I was denied parking just because I asked the person to move aside in Hindi 🤦♂️ I'm okay with what happened, but hear me out, folks…
To everyone talking about preserving language and culture, whether in Maharashtra, Karnataka, or any other state, are you actually…
“Most kids today study in English-medium schools. Even in our daily lives, everything from apps to food packets, restaurant menus, legal documents, and even movie posters—are all in English.”
So, why the resistance if someone speaks in English or Hindi in a metro city?
Arpit suggested a practical idea:Why not make English a common language (while keeping regional languages alive as second languages)? This would help bridge the communication gap and shift focus to real problems like education, healthcare, jobs, corruption, and urban planning.
One user commented: “We don’t ask Germans or French people to speak Hindi or English when we go to their countries. We try to speak their language. Why expect different in India?”
This opened up a huge debate online —some supported Arpit, saying we need unity through a common language in urban areas, while others felt it was disrespectful not to use the regional language in a local setting.
Final Thought :
This incident is more than just about a parking spot. It shows the growing tension between identity and practicality in India’s rapidly changing urban culture. As Bengaluru continues to welcome people from across the country, maybe it’s time to ask—what really brings us together: language, or mutual respect?
