An American researcher's heartfelt effort to learn Kannada in Bengaluru has sparked a community movement, leading to free language classes for residents. Vickie Belcher, a lake researcher from Austin, Texas, found that embracing the local language opened doors to unexpected warmth and deeper connections during her work in the city.
From Texas to Bengaluru: A Researcher's Linguistic Leap
Vickie Belcher arrived in India on a scholarship while pursuing her Master’s in Community and City Planning. Assigned to study Benniganahalli Lake, the 30-year-old started with no knowledge of Kannada. Determined to connect with the community, she enrolled in classes at the NILE Institute of Languages and Education. Within about three months, she grasped basic spoken Kannada and continued her lessons for ten months, supplementing them with online sessions on the platform Italki.
Her persistence paid off in everyday life. A memorable moment occurred at a post office. "My mom sent me a parcel, and I had to go to the India Post Office to pick it up," Vickie recalls. The staff were delighted and amazed when she spoke to them in Kannada. Their response—offering her chai and sweets—made her realize the profound joy and goodwill that learning the local language could bring. This experience became a key motivation for her to expand her vocabulary.
Vickie emphasizes that overcoming the fear of making mistakes was crucial. She found Kannadigas to be immensely encouraging when she erred. Her Kannada improved to the point where she could have meaningful conversations with auto-rickshaw drivers in Bengaluru. "There is a lot of indigenous local knowledge in Karnataka related to water," she notes, highlighting how language was key to her research. Although she has graduated and now works for a non-profit in the US, she continues to revise her lessons and looks forward to returning to Bengaluru.
Inspiring a Community: The Birth of Free Kannada Classes
Vickie's story did not end with her personal achievement. It directly inspired action within the community. NH Subramanian, a lake activist with the Benniganahalli Kere Community Development Trust (BKCDT) and secretary of the Pai Layout Residents Welfare Association (RWA), met Vickie and was moved by her journey.
Inspired, Subramanian decided to address a common gap. Many residents in the layout, having lived in Bengaluru for years, managed with other Indian languages but missed opportunities to learn Kannada. He launched free spoken-Kannada classes open to all, specifically targeting non-Kannadigas.
Every Sunday, the Pai Layout RWA office transforms into a lively learning hub from 4 PM to 6 PM. The sessions attract a diverse group of learners, from children to senior citizens. Students actively take notes, ask questions, and practice speaking, driven by the practical need to use Kannada in daily interactions and government offices.
The Volunteer Teacher Making Kannada Accessible
The classes are taught by S Bala, a non-Kannadiga instructor who studied Kannada in school from classes 1 to 10 and now volunteers his time. Learners praise his teaching approach for making Kannada easier and more enjoyable to pick up.
Geetha Ramachandran, a retired bank employee living in Bengaluru since 2001, underscores the class's value. She points out that knowing Kannada is particularly helpful in government offices and earns significant goodwill from local residents. Subramanian reaffirms that the classes remain completely free of cost and open to everyone, embodying the inclusive spirit Vickie's story inspired.
What began as one American researcher's quest to connect with a city has thus blossomed into a sustainable community initiative, proving that learning a local language is more than a skill—it's a bridge to shared understanding and joy.
