Bengaluru: Residential and apartment complexes in Bengaluru could see greater use of Kannada on their signboards and in day-to-day administration, with Prof Purushottama Bilimale, chairperson of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA), urging Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda to introduce measures to strengthen the language’s presence in Bengaluru’s apartment communities.In a letter to the minister ahead of the 71st Kannada Rajyotsava, Bilimale called for residential complexes to give Kannada priority on their signboards and make it a key language of communication in their administrative functioning. Pointing out that many apartment complexes in Bengaluru have English names and display signboards entirely in English, Bilimale said this did not align with efforts to promote Kannada. He urged the govt to effectively enforce the provision under the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, which requires signboards to have 60% Kannada and 40% English.The proposed measures would also extend to the internal functioning of apartment communities. Bilimale called for Kannada to be prioritised in meeting notices, circulars, announcements and other communications issued by the residents’ welfare associations (RWAs). He urged the govt to issue a separate notification making the use of Kannada mandatory in such communications.The KDA chairperson also called for renewed efforts to teach Kannada to non-Kannada-speaking residents living in Bengaluru’s apartment complexes. Recalling directions issued to the then commissioner of erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) during a 2025 review meeting on the implementation of Kannada, he said the proposed large-scale campaign should be taken forward to the next stage.Bilimale suggested that the govt issue a circular making Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations mandatory in all residential and apartment complexes across Bengaluru. He said implementing these measures during the 71st Kannada Rajyotsava would be a meaningful gesture of respect for Kannada language and identity and help establish Kannada as a natural part of everyday life in Bengaluru’s residential communities.
