The Bengalooru - Maisooru state highway (not BMIC, mind you - that requires a special blog) has improved quite a bit after long years of putting up with crappy work and uncaring governments. However, the current government has made a four huge mistakes w.r.t. the signboards on the highway.
Mistake #1
Do you understand what "TRUCK LAY BYE" means? It's a signboard which appears 4-5 times on the highway. Now, I've been around the world - travelled in four continents (two of which have quite a few english speaking countries) on this planet, and never found this sign anywhere else. People of Pandavapura, Srirangapattana, Melukote are supposed to understand this goddamned sign. It doesn't even have a translation in Kannada! It's a huge mistake that this sign is in ENGLISH. When the govt. itself has rules which dictate every signboard to be displayed in Kannada with Kannada being more prominent than English, it's a pity that it doesn't follow the rule itself.
Mistake #2
The signboards indicating names of places have both Kannada and English names written on them, but the English sign is on top and Kannada is at the bottom. For e.g., "Pandavapura" is written in English on the top and in Kannada script at the bottom. This is the second huge mistake. What is the explanation for having English on top? Fools may argue that it doesn't matter which is on top, but it does matter - the Kannadiga eye scans a write-up from top to bottom, and it's imperialistic to make the eye encounter English instead of Kannada. It's a continuation of British imperialism.
Mistake #3
The signboards referred to above not only have English names on top, but the English writing is in a bolder, bigger font compared to Kannada. One has to be near striking distance of a "Pandavapura" board to be able to read the Kannada script. It is clear that the govt. doesn't want people to read the Kannada name from a distance. This is the third huge mistake.
Mistake #4
The English translations of the names stink of British imperialism, and are tailored for pronunciation by foreigners rather than Kannadigas. For instance, "Sirangapatam" is the name given to Srirangapattana. Why be so slavish as to change the name of Srirangapattana so that it can be better pronounced by a British "dore"? This is the fourth huge mistake.
Verdict by Q&A
Mistake #1
Do you understand what "TRUCK LAY BYE" means? It's a signboard which appears 4-5 times on the highway. Now, I've been around the world - travelled in four continents (two of which have quite a few english speaking countries) on this planet, and never found this sign anywhere else. People of Pandavapura, Srirangapattana, Melukote are supposed to understand this goddamned sign. It doesn't even have a translation in Kannada! It's a huge mistake that this sign is in ENGLISH. When the govt. itself has rules which dictate every signboard to be displayed in Kannada with Kannada being more prominent than English, it's a pity that it doesn't follow the rule itself.
Mistake #2
The signboards indicating names of places have both Kannada and English names written on them, but the English sign is on top and Kannada is at the bottom. For e.g., "Pandavapura" is written in English on the top and in Kannada script at the bottom. This is the second huge mistake. What is the explanation for having English on top? Fools may argue that it doesn't matter which is on top, but it does matter - the Kannadiga eye scans a write-up from top to bottom, and it's imperialistic to make the eye encounter English instead of Kannada. It's a continuation of British imperialism.
Mistake #3
The signboards referred to above not only have English names on top, but the English writing is in a bolder, bigger font compared to Kannada. One has to be near striking distance of a "Pandavapura" board to be able to read the Kannada script. It is clear that the govt. doesn't want people to read the Kannada name from a distance. This is the third huge mistake.
Mistake #4
The English translations of the names stink of British imperialism, and are tailored for pronunciation by foreigners rather than Kannadigas. For instance, "Sirangapatam" is the name given to Srirangapattana. Why be so slavish as to change the name of Srirangapattana so that it can be better pronounced by a British "dore"? This is the fourth huge mistake.
Verdict by Q&A
- Who is the govt trying to impress by putting up these cryptic english signboards? The answer is - everybody who is not a Kannadiga.
- Is it trying to lick American asses? Yes.
- Is it trying to lick British asses? Yes.
- Is it trying to lick non-Kannadiga asses? Yes.
- Why does the govt. not understand that Kannada must reign on state highways? Because it lacks self confidence. First of all the govt. doesn't believe that Kannada (an instance of "anything our own") can be used for anything "high tech" like a good road. Secondly, it doesn't care for Kannadigas. Thirdly, it thinks people who use the road are English speakers.
