TV Mohandas Pai criticized an SBI branch manager for not using Kannada.
He argued that businesses should communicate in local languages for respect.
Pai emphasized learning basic Kannada is not too difficult for bank staff.
Former Infosys director TV Mohandas Pai slammed an SBI branch manager in Karnataka for refusing to communicate in Kannada with local customers. Mr Pai called the manager’s behaviour “very, very wrong”, arguing that businesses should serve local customers in a language they understand. He further emphasised that learning basic Kannada phrases is a matter of respect. He further emphasised that the expectation wasn’t for bank staff to become fluent in Kannada, but rather to learn basic phrases to communicate respectfully with local customers.
Mr Pai’s comments sparked a debate online, with some agreeing that service providers should make an effort to communicate in local languages.
“You are very, very wrong. Every business must serve its local customers in a language they understand. This is not the British Raj again. This is a service business. Learning to say 200 words to converse is difficult? Nobody is asking anyone to read and write, but to converse, learn a few words to show respect to your customers. They are customers, not your captives or subjects. Thus arrogance is very,y very wrong, ” Mr Pai wrote on X in response to a user.
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