A hostel warden at AMC Engineering College in Bengaluru found himself in police custody and out of a job after a video of him reprimanding a student for speaking Kannada went viral, triggering widespread condemnation.
Viral Video Sparks Language Firestorm
The controversy erupted when a video recorded by students on New Year's Day began circulating widely on social media. The footage showed the warden, identified as 48-year-old Suresh PV, a native of Kerala, sternly instructing students at the Bannerghatta Road campus not to speak in Kannada.
In the clip, Suresh is heard asserting that Kannada was not permitted on the college premises. "It is an institution. If you want to speak in Kannada, you better speak at your house, not in the institution," he declared. He further claimed exclusive authority over language use on campus, insisting that students needed his permission to converse in the local language.
Public Outrage and Legal Action
The video quickly fueled public anger, with many viewing the warden's directives as an insult to the local language and culture. The incident prompted pro-Kannada organisations to stage protests demanding immediate action against Suresh.
Following a formal complaint lodged by protester Mahesh Hatti, the Bengaluru police registered a case against the warden on Sunday. The legal process moved swiftly, leading to his arrest the same day. By Monday, Suresh was remanded to judicial custody.
College's Swift Response and Dismissal
Facing intense backlash from the community and student bodies, the college administration took decisive action. In direct response to the escalating protests and the serious nature of the allegations, the college dismissed Suresh PV from his duties on the very day the case was registered.
This incident has reignited discussions about linguistic pride and the imposition of language in educational spaces within Karnataka's capital, a city known for its cosmopolitan yet culturally rooted identity.
