A video of a woman claiming “Bengaluru is Bengal because of North Indians” has sparked an online debate about the city's culture and its interactions with immigrants. Shared on X, the clip captures the woman responding to a question about the “culture shock” she faced after moving to Bangalore from northern India.
“I don't know about culture shock, but people here hate North Indians. That's what I've observed,” she shared, sharing her perspective.
The woman further alleged that North Indians in Bengaluru are often treated differently, with some locals referring to them as “these Hindi people”.
“I see people behave differently when they know that we are from North India. The Otowals charge us more, people call us 'these Hindi people'. We have been addressed as Hindi many times,” she explained.
“I love this city, definitely, want to come back, but when they see outsiders, they treat you differently. Especially since North Indians come here in large numbers, that's what Bengaluru is. Still, it's hard for people to accept it,” she added. .
The clip, shared on the microblogging platform on Saturday, has since garnered significant attention, amassing more than 691,000 views and nearly 5,000 likes. The comments section reflected diverse opinions, with some users supporting the woman's perspective while others highlighted the importance of attitude in shaping perceptions.
“I don't see anything wrong with her statement! It should be so! Kannadigas travel to other places – inside and outside the country – they don't face such hatred in the north! They hardly speak Hindi, many adjust to them,” one user said. Written in agreement.
Another commented, “Many well-established companies or start-ups in Bangalore have founders and employees from other parts of India. She is not wrong. This should not be a point of discussion in the first place. Why this unnecessary division? Local Kannadas are victims of this divisive politics after the Karnataka elections. I see that.
A third user echoed similar sentiments, writing, “I mean the amount of North Indians ruling Bangalore is amazing. She's not wrong.”
One user argued, “Attitude! This is the main reason why people treat them differently by calling them outsiders. Ottowalas charge them more, and Bhajiwalas do the same. My Bihari friend is very humble, and interacts with a bit of broken Kannada.” Eater – he gets a lower price than me.”
Another commented, “I totally agree with her until that last sentence. Bengaluru today cannot be credited to North Indians alone. At the same time, there is an undeniable hostility towards non-glasses from the locals.”