A friendly moment unfolded on Monday during President Droupadi Murmu’s three-day visit to Mysuru when Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah playfully asked her, “Do you know Kannada?” while welcoming her at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH).

Responding with equal warmth, President Murmu said, “I would like to tell the Honourable Chief Minister that although Kannada is not my mother tongue, I deeply cherish all the languages, cultures, and traditions of my country. I hold great respect and regard for each of them. And I will certainly make an effort to learn Kannada, little by little.” Her reply drew loud applause from the audience.

The President also stressed the importance of preserving India’s linguistic and cultural diversity. “I wish that everyone continues to keep their language alive, preserves their traditions and culture, and moves forward in that direction. I extend my best wishes for this,” she added.

The exchange comes at a time when debates around language in Karnataka remain intense. Earlier, Siddaramaiah had declared, “We are all Kannadigas… Everyone living in this state should learn to speak Kannada,” sparking criticism from opposition parties.

Pro-Kannada organisations have been demanding stricter enforcement of the language in administration and education. The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) recently staged protests in Bengaluru, pushing the BBMP to implement its circular requiring that all commercial signboards display at least 60% Kannada text.