Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu ignited a fiery debate on social media by urging people who have made Bengaluru their home to learn Kannada, as not doing so is "disrespectful".His comments followed an X post featuring two men wearing T-shirts with the slogan "Hindi National Language" and captioned "Perfect T-shirt for Bangalore trip".

Vembu, CEO of Zoho, advocates for Kannada learning among Bengaluru residents, highlighting respect for local culture. His comments drew mixed reactions online.

Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu has urged Bengaluru residents to learn Kannada, calling it essential for respecting the local culture.

Reacting to Vembu's post, Karnataka Development Authority Chairman Purushottama Bilimale said that his request is the 'best guidance' for any Indian language.

Sridhar Vembu said that he encourages his Chennai employees from other states to learn Tamil as a way to respect their surroundings and foster community integration.

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu triggers online outrage, says Bengaluru residents not learning Kannada is ‘disrespectful’

Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu sparked debate by urging Bengaluru residents to learn Kannada, deeming it disrespectful not to. While some supported his emphasis on cultural integration, others raised concerns about potential exclusion and practicality for transient residents.

Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu’s Kannada-related post for people in Bengaluru didn’t sit well with social media users.