By: Karishma Khan
Why is it that when someone asks, ‘Where are you from?’, nobody simply says, ‘I am from India.’? Instead, people identify themselves as Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Kannada, or Tamil.
When we travel to another state and don’t understand their language, why doesn’t anyone switch to Hindi, our national language? Respecting the regional language is good, but if the person in front doesn’t understand it, is it right to continue speaking in a language they don’t know?
This exact issue has now escalated into a serious conflict between Maharashtra and Karnataka, leading to violent incidents and political tension.
Maharashtra has suspended its state transport bus services to Karnataka after an MSRTC bus was attacked in Chitradurga. The attack, allegedly carried out by pro-Kannada activists, took place on Friday night while the bus was en route from Bengaluru to Mumbai.
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik condemned the incident, stating that the bus driver, Bhaskar Jadhav, was assaulted and his face blackened. A police case has been registered in Karnataka, but Maharashtra has made it clear that bus services will not resume until Karnataka’s government clarifies its stance.
Meanwhile, on the same day, a Karnataka state transport bus conductor was reportedly attacked in Belagavi for not responding to a girl in Marathi. This has raised questions, was the Chitradurga attack an act of retaliation?
Belagavi Incident
51 year old Karnataka bus conductor Mahadevappa Mallappa Hukkeri recounted his ordeal with tears in his eyes. According to him, a girl, accompanied by a male friend, boarded the bus in Sulebhavi village and spoke to him in Marathi.
Hukkeri, who did not understand Marathi, asked her to speak in Kannada. This led to a heated exchange where the girl allegedly abused him and insisted that he must learn Marathi. Moments later, a crowd gathered, and he was physically assaulted. He suffered head injuries and was admitted to Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences. Fortunately, his condition is stable.
In response, Karnataka police arrested four individuals for attacking the conductor. However, the situation took a complicated turn when the same girl filed a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case against Hukkeri, accusing him of inappropriate remarks. While no arrests have been made in this case yet, investigations are ongoing.
The timing of these two attacks raises serious concerns.
- The Belagavi attack happened first, a Kannada speaking conductor was assaulted for not speaking Marathi.
- The Chitradurga attack happened later, a Maharashtra bus was vandalised by pro-Kannada activists.
Was the second incident a reaction to the first? While there’s no official confirmation, the long standing Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute makes it difficult to ignore the possibility of retaliation.
These incidents highlight a deeper issue, regional identity overpowering national unity.
India is a diverse country, with each state having its own language and culture. But when this diversity creates barriers instead of bridges, conflicts arise.
Is it fair to expect someone to speak a language they don’t know?
Should people be attacked simply because they don’t understand a regional language?
Why is Hindi, which is understood by most Indians, not used as a neutral medium in such situations?
The reality is, people have become more focused on their state identity rather than their national identity. While local languages should be respected, forcing someone to speak a language they don’t understand creates division, not unity.
These incidents have further fuelled protests and tensions in Belagavi.
Pro-Kannada activists blocked roads and burned effigies, demanding justice for the Karnataka bus conductor.
Marathi groups condemned the attack on the MSRTC bus and called for strong action.
Outside Marihal police station, activists protested against the POCSO case, calling it false and an attempt to shift the blame.
Belagavi, which has a large Marathi speaking population, has always been a sensitive zone. Maharashtra has long demanded its inclusion, while Karnataka refuses to let go. This border dispute has existed for decades, and incidents like these only make things worse.
Despite the growing unrest, officials are urging for calm.
Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang assured that law and order will be maintained.
“This issue will be resolved through investigation. There is no need to panic. Everyone must work towards maintaining peace,” he stated.
This is not just about buses or two isolated incidents, this is a wake-up call for how divided we have become over regional lines. If this continues, the idea of a united India will become nothing more than an illusion.
