Need to learn Kannada? Bengaluru auto driver's quick, on the go hacks might be the answer

An autorickshaw driver in Bengaluru, Ajmal Sultan, is gaining attention on social media for his initiative to address language barriers in his city. Sultan has placed a poster inside his auto with basic Kannada phrases and words translated into English, aiding non-Kannada speakers in communicating better. Titled " Learn Kannada with Auto Kannadiga," the pamphlet includes useful phrases for ride-specific interactions and features a QR code linking to pronunciation videos.

Sultan shared a video about his initiative on social media, which drew widespread attention after being shared by an X user named Vatsalya Tandon, who referred to it as “very handy.” The post garnered various reactions. One user appreciated the polite encouragement to learn a new language, stating, "Good way to politely ask people to learn a new language." Another user, who called the initiative “brilliant,” expressed a newfound interest in learning Kannada before visiting Karnataka.


Some feedback highlighted specific content in the pamphlet, such as repeated mentions of “Sir.” One commenter remarked, “Everything else is fine, but wth is this ‘Sir Sir Sir Sir Sir Sir’? It feels like talking to a big office boss rather than an auto driver.”

very handy pic.twitter.com/RqC6lTpwuq

— Vatsalya (@vatsalyatandon) October 21, 2024

Despite mixed feedback, social media users largely praised Sultan's innovative approach to easing language interactions between drivers and passengers in Bengaluru.