In recent days, a viral social media post has stirred confusion and debate among tech enthusiasts, students, and IT professionals across India. The post claimed that the Karnataka government has banned popular programming languages like Java and Python, and has mandated coding exclusively in the Kannada language. The image accompanying the claim showed a typical code editor and a bold headline suggesting that even global tech giants like Microsoft and Google had started using Kannada for coding due to this new directive.
Naturally, this claim raised eyebrows and even drew criticism from a section of the public. But is there any truth to this story? Has the Karnataka government really enforced Kannada as the only language for coding?
Tracing the Origins of the Viral Post
The viral image appears to have been shared on Instagram and other social platforms under the handle “ncert.gyan,” and it rapidly gained attention. The post stated that the Karnataka government had “b@nned” Java, Python, and other programming languages, and that all coding must now be done in Kannada.
No official government source or media house had published any such directive. Furthermore, no notification, circular, or press conference had ever mentioned anything remotely similar. The image seems to be a fabricated post, most likely intended as satire or a meme, which some users mistook for genuine news.
What Has the Karnataka Government Actually Done?
While the claim about banning coding languages is baseless, it is true that the Karnataka government has been actively promoting the Kannada language in recent years. Several policies and initiatives have been rolled out to strengthen the presence of Kannada in education, business, and public communication.
Let’s take a look at some real initiatives:
Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill (2022):
- Passed in the Karnataka Assembly, this bill makes it mandatory for all state government communication, documentation, and notifications to be in Kannada.
- It also promotes the use of Kannada in education and encourages official communication in the language.
60% Kannada on Business Signboards:
- An amendment requires all business establishments in Karnataka to display at least 60% of their signboard content in Kannada, and it must appear in the top half.
- This is aimed at ensuring linguistic representation in public spaces, especially in Bengaluru, which has a significant migrant population.
Product Labelling in Kannada:
- The government has instructed manufacturers to include Kannada labels and usage instructions for all industrial and consumer products made in the state.
Integration of Kannada in E-Governance:
- Efforts have been made to ensure that all government digital services and portals are accessible in Kannada.
- This includes providing templates and interfaces in the language so that native speakers can engage with online public services more easily.
Promotion of Kannada in Education and Private Sector:
- There is encouragement (not a mandate) for IT companies to offer Kannada language learning and use it in internal communication, wherever possible.
- However, this has always been positioned as a cultural encouragement and not a legal enforcement.
Expert Reactions and Public Sentiment
Many experts and industry professionals quickly dismissed the viral claim as a hoax. Senior software engineers pointed out that programming languages like Java, Python, C++, or JavaScript are universal in nature and are based on English syntax.
Dr. Meera Patil, a linguist and software localization expert, explained:
Where Did This Misinformation Come From?
Such rumors often originate from satirical pages or meme accounts and are taken out of context. In this case, the post might have been a sarcastic take on the increasing Kannada signage requirements or a jab at the growing linguistic debates in Karnataka.
Recently, a few public figures and politicians have encouraged greater use of Kannada in professional environments. Singer Sonu Nigam, in a recent interaction, emphasized the importance of respecting the state language and encouraged IT companies in Karnataka to include Kannada in their internal culture.
While these sentiments are aimed at cultural preservation and pride, they are far from calling for a ban on English-based coding languages.
Coding Languages Are Safe, Misinformation Isn’t
To conclude, there is no policy or directive from the Karnataka government that bans Java, Python, or any programming language. Nor is there any mandate to use Kannada for writing code. The viral post appears to be a misleading or satirical creation, not based on any factual information.
While Karnataka continues to promote Kannada in administrative and public life, it respects the global nature of the IT industry and its reliance on universally accepted programming languages.
As always, the best response to such viral claims is critical thinking and fact-checking. Before believing or sharing such posts, it’s important to verify them through reliable news sources or government channels.
