Is Bangalore for Kannadigas alone?   Is the number plate in a vehicle, a means to show our regional farce?   These are the questions hunted me, in the aftermath of my recent visit of Bangalore city.   I am a citizen of India and a permanent resident of Kerala. I had visited the Bangalore city, recently. I feel that the regionalist approach is utmost in Bangalore.   I do share an observation. It is regarding the number plates affixed with many of the vehicles, seen in the Bangalore city. Contrary to the universally accepted practice, many of the vehicles bearing Registration number in Kannada numerical. This is absurd and ridiculous. The number plate in a vehicle is not a means to show our regional farce. It is a reference, by which one can identify all particulars of a vehicle. The rule prescribes that the number plates should be exhibited in the prescribed format, which is quite visible to every one. The intention of the law makers is to let others aware of the Registration Number. But, it is a common phenomenon in Bangalore that the number plates of several vehicles possess Registration number in Kannada and Kannada alone. Here 2 questions are necessary. What is the purpose of a number plate? Is it a means to show our regional farce?   The purpose, as I understood, is to make others know the details of a vehicle, when there is dispute or complaints. Hence it is a sensible issue as how a person, who does not know the Kannada numerical, can understand the content of this regional number plate? I am so glad, if all Kannadigas are able to read the Kannada numerical. But still it's a sensible issue, because of its patent illegality. The regionalism is everywhere in the country and even our Politicians and intelligentia has acknowledged it as a social reality. It may be a moot question whether genuinely we have 'unity in diversity' or not. But when we come to this specific issue, I am sad, because, it may not happen in a Federal Republic Country. It is an invasion to the individual right. Right to do an act ought to be subjected to the rights of others to know. Then only the act can be called as a reasonable one. In absence of said reasonableness, the same shall be mere absurdity. If a vehicle bearing Kannada Registration No. may hit and run, then no one can identify that number, unless he knows Kannada Numerical. So, before entering Bangalore, it cast a duty on all foreigners, (Foreigner includes all those do not Kannada) to by heart Kannada Numerical. I do not know, why the law enforcing authority is not addressing this sensitive issue.  I do not know why the intelligentia of our group is silent on this issue. Yours truly, Manuvilsan

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