Language-related rows have been taking place in Indian states for a long time
In May, a couple in Mumbai reportedly refused to pay a delivery agent because he declined to speak in Marathi. Just last week, a shocking video went viral on social media, showing a shop owner being assaulted, by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers for not speaking Marathi. Then on July 24, MNS workers forcibly removed Gujarati signboards from several hotels along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Thane and Palghar districts, demanding that signage be displayed in Marathi.
These tensions are not limited to Maharashtra alone. Similar incidents have taken place in other parts of India as well. In Karnataka, a shop owner was recently confronted for not having enough Kannada on his shop sign. A staff member at Canara Bank also faced criticism for being unable to assist a customer in Kannada.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has been in an ongoing dispute with the central government over imposition of Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP). The state continues to strongly oppose any move that threatens the prominence of Tamil, its native language.
Language-related rows have been taking place in southern states for a long time. However, the situation has become more volatile following the central government’s push to make Hindi mandatory in non-Hindi-speaking states, particularly in the peninsular India where languages like Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada are dominant.
While there have been reports of local hostility towards migrants in the past, most of these incidents appear to be politically motivated. Young leaders have been accused of harassing people, particularly in Maharashtra, where such cases have reportedly increased sharply, possibly due to the approaching elections.
Fear of cultural erosion
As of 2025, Maharashtra is projected to have a population of around 128.66 million. According to the 2011 Census, over 57 million people had already migrated to Maharashtra from other parts of the country.
Similarly, metro cities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, especially their capitals, Chennai and Bengaluru, respectively continue to attract a large number of migrants, both from within India and abroad. Immigrants are believed to constitute as much as 42 pc of the population of Bengaluru, often called the ‘Silicon Valley of India’ due to its high concentration of Information Technology and technology companies. Many of these individuals do not speak Kannada, the local language.
While these cities offer better job opportunities, education and improved living standards, the high influx of migrants has led to social tension.
Many locals feel that the growing influx of migrants into their cities and states, combined with Federal Government’s policies such as the push to mandate Hindi in public schools, poses a threat to their linguistic and cultural identity. In states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, where local languages such as Kannada and Tamil are deeply tied to regional pride and heritage, such changes can feel like an erosion of their identity.
Some locals say they feel increasingly marginalised in their own homeland, while migrants may feel unwelcome or blamed for cultural dilution.
“Honestly, it really upsets me when I see people around me avoiding Tamil, even though they clearly understand it. Many prefer to speak in English or their own mother tongue like Hindi, especially in public spaces. It feels like Tamil is being pushed aside, and that genuinely worries me,” R Madhumitha, a journalist living in Chennai, tells Media India Group.
“I always try to speak in Tamil, especially in local places, but sometimes I am forced to switch to English or Hindi just to be understood. And this ‘sometimes’ is slowly turning into ‘most times’. That shift hurts. It makes me question how our own language is being treated in its own home. If this continues, I fear what the future holds for Tamil,” she adds.
“There have been a few moments when I have felt a bit uncomfortable. Like sometimes people would stare and once someone even record a video of us in public. So, because I am not familiar, like I am not fluent in the language or fully familiar with the city, I did not feel safe enough to approach those people or like to confront them,” Yashaswani Chauhan, Data Analyst, with a business newspaper, The Hindu Businessline, who moved to Chennai for work, tells Media India Group.
Some of the migrants say that if do not speak the local language may also feel unwelcome or unsafe, particularly if they face discrimination or are excluded from local services and community life. Such experiences can create a sense of isolation and insecurity, they add.
“I have not encountered any such situation as of now but the way I have seen videos on social media just scares me because I am in this city to work and build something for myself and not deal with such issues. There is a constant fear what if something like this happens with me,” Vansh Jairath, Account Executive, Collective Artists Network, a talent management company in Mumbai, tells Media India Group.
These issues are deepening beyond language alone, reflecting broader concerns about identity, representation and access to resources.
“The rise of Hindi speakers does make me feel that Tamil and our culture are at risk, especially in cities. These days, more people speak in Hindi or English in public places, and Tamil slowly takes a backseat. Even during public speaking events in local areas of Chennai or other parts of Tamil Nadu, some speakers choose to talk in English or even Hindi. But my question is who are you talking to? You are reaching local people, and many of them only know Tamil. Why not speak in a way they truly understand? Language is not just about showing what you know, it is about connecting with the people in front of you,” says Madhumitha.
Meanwhile, many believe that a simple effort by migrants to learn the local language could help ease tensions. They feel that those moving into their cities should try to adapt to the local culture and way of life, including language, as a gesture of respect and integration.
“Honestly, it is perfectly okay if someone does not speak the local language. If other states start doing the same, we are only moving backwards in terms of progress. We should give people time to adjust and adapt to the new place that they have chosen to call home. Adapting takes time and anyways eventually people pick up on the dialect,” Raajit Shinde, Management Trainee, PivotRoots, a digital marketing and advertising agency in Mumbai, tells Media India Group.
“I do believe that if you move to a new city, you should try to learn at least a little bit of the local language to help you communicate and at the same time, I hope the locals also make an effort to be welcoming and helpful to the newcomers,” says Chauhan.
“Knowing the basics of the local language can make your life here easier. It helps you connect better with the local community, understand the culture, and feel more at home. Even a little effort to speak Tamil is appreciated by the people here,” adds Madhumitha from Chennai.
While the roots of these incidents may lie in political agendas, their effects are increasingly visible in everyday public life. Incidents such as the refusal of auto-rickshaw rides to non-Kannada speakers in Karnataka and the defacement of signboards in Maharashtra highlight growing tensions. As the issues continue to unfold, how communities and policymakers navigate these dynamics may ultimately shape whether linguistic diversity is preserved as a unifying feature or becomes a point of division.