Malgudi series-3
It is indisputable that Bangalore is one of the most multi ethnic cities of our country with great spread of people across language, religion, caste, taste, interests etc; but that is it ? how does Bangalore differ from rest of the cities ? what are the things in common ? why does it differ ? is this multi ethnicity a recent phenomenon ? is this due to globalisation ?
To know this better let us look at the state in general. Karnataka is not just one amongst the four southern states, its not just a place where Kannada is spoken like any other language, its more than this, its a place where you see many cultures (Not just restricted to Bangalore), languages ,ethnicity, cuisines, dressing styles and all in all its many states in one state !
Let me elaborate a little, though Kannada is the most widely spoken, official and popular language of karnataka, coastal districts like Dakshina kannada, udupi speak Tulu which is another old dravidian language (1.7 million) with its own rich history and background. Up north in the coastal line Uttara Kannada district which shares its border with Goa has lakhs of people who speak Konkani as their mother tongue, konkani is another interesting language (0.2 million in karnataka) which links karnataka with Goa ! Kodagu which is also called as coorg a.k.a the southern Kashmir has its own rich heritage, tradition, kingdom, practises, dressing style and very different culinary style, kodavas ( 0.16 million) speak in "koorgi" which partly resembles a combination of tulu, kannada, malayali and tamil for an outsider but is a distinct language itself and interestingly they say every kodva is related to another by blood !
Certain hamlets of malnad or western ghats of karnataka speak an interesting version of kannada called havyak (1.1 million) which a kannadiga from old Mysore or north karnataka will not be able to easily pick up ! likewise kannada spoken by a person from bidar can't be followed by anybody from Hubli-Dharwad though both fall in north karnataka ! It is said by scholars and observers that the dialect of kannada changes every 15 kilometres in karnataka in any which way we travel !
Though the state has many languages, cultures, ethnic groups which are as old as the available scriptures they are still relevant, co-existing, respecting and complimenting each other. Apart from these since karnataka shares border with all the three southern states and Maharashtra you may find people of other states concentrated especially at the borders and some migrated inwards. The north Indian migration except marwadis is more recent after the opening up of economy and opportunities which is true to any other metro of our country.
This is probably why a kannadiga will not see a non Kannada speaking person as an outsider as much because he knows unlike other states, in karnataka itself there are languages, ethnicity and cultures which are as old as his own language, which collectively comprises the culture of karnataka and this is personified in naming the cultural department of the state as Kannada and culture department instead of Kannada culture department which would be a narrow representation of the vast culture of the state comprising of Tuluva, kodava, konkani and havyaka people along with kannadigas.
The most interesting part is a Tuluva, kodava, konkani and havyaka are a subset of the vast kannadiga population where Kannada acts as a common language for communication between these sects. It is these sects which have done more publicity to Kannada and its culture outside the state and country.
Now looking at the diversity existing within the state from centuries you can decide whether multi ethnicity in Bangalore is a recent phenomenon or an old one ! The tolerance of the locals towards anybody from outside needs to be attributed to the absorbing and understanding culture imbibed in the very nature of how the state is comprised of !
It is indisputable that Bangalore is one of the most multi ethnic cities of our country with great spread of people across language, religion, caste, taste, interests etc; but that is it ? how does Bangalore differ from rest of the cities ? what are the things in common ? why does it differ ? is this multi ethnicity a recent phenomenon ? is this due to globalisation ?
To know this better let us look at the state in general. Karnataka is not just one amongst the four southern states, its not just a place where Kannada is spoken like any other language, its more than this, its a place where you see many cultures (Not just restricted to Bangalore), languages ,ethnicity, cuisines, dressing styles and all in all its many states in one state !
Let me elaborate a little, though Kannada is the most widely spoken, official and popular language of karnataka, coastal districts like Dakshina kannada, udupi speak Tulu which is another old dravidian language (1.7 million) with its own rich history and background. Up north in the coastal line Uttara Kannada district which shares its border with Goa has lakhs of people who speak Konkani as their mother tongue, konkani is another interesting language (0.2 million in karnataka) which links karnataka with Goa ! Kodagu which is also called as coorg a.k.a the southern Kashmir has its own rich heritage, tradition, kingdom, practises, dressing style and very different culinary style, kodavas ( 0.16 million) speak in "koorgi" which partly resembles a combination of tulu, kannada, malayali and tamil for an outsider but is a distinct language itself and interestingly they say every kodva is related to another by blood !
Certain hamlets of malnad or western ghats of karnataka speak an interesting version of kannada called havyak (1.1 million) which a kannadiga from old Mysore or north karnataka will not be able to easily pick up ! likewise kannada spoken by a person from bidar can't be followed by anybody from Hubli-Dharwad though both fall in north karnataka ! It is said by scholars and observers that the dialect of kannada changes every 15 kilometres in karnataka in any which way we travel !
Though the state has many languages, cultures, ethnic groups which are as old as the available scriptures they are still relevant, co-existing, respecting and complimenting each other. Apart from these since karnataka shares border with all the three southern states and Maharashtra you may find people of other states concentrated especially at the borders and some migrated inwards. The north Indian migration except marwadis is more recent after the opening up of economy and opportunities which is true to any other metro of our country.
This is probably why a kannadiga will not see a non Kannada speaking person as an outsider as much because he knows unlike other states, in karnataka itself there are languages, ethnicity and cultures which are as old as his own language, which collectively comprises the culture of karnataka and this is personified in naming the cultural department of the state as Kannada and culture department instead of Kannada culture department which would be a narrow representation of the vast culture of the state comprising of Tuluva, kodava, konkani and havyaka people along with kannadigas.
The most interesting part is a Tuluva, kodava, konkani and havyaka are a subset of the vast kannadiga population where Kannada acts as a common language for communication between these sects. It is these sects which have done more publicity to Kannada and its culture outside the state and country.
Now looking at the diversity existing within the state from centuries you can decide whether multi ethnicity in Bangalore is a recent phenomenon or an old one ! The tolerance of the locals towards anybody from outside needs to be attributed to the absorbing and understanding culture imbibed in the very nature of how the state is comprised of !
Thanks for putting up this interesting piece of writing on the subject from a Kannadiga's perspective.
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