A file photo of an artist dressed as the Kannada letter ‘ಕ’ (Ka) to promote the Kannada language among non-Kannada speakers.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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. The KDA chairperson also called for renewed efforts to teach Kannada to non-Kannada-speaking residents living in Bengaluru’s apartment complexes. Bilimale suggested that the govt issue a circular making Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations mandatory in all residential and apartment complexes across Bengaluru.