From Gokak agitation to ‘quota for locals’ Bill: A long history of language and quota movements in Karnataka Premium

The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government found itself in the eye of the storm recently as the “quota for local” bill snowballed into a huge controversy. 

The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government found itself in the eye of the storm recently as the “quota for local” bill snowballed into a huge controversy. 

The bill that was cleared by the cabinet on July 15 proposed that industries, factories and other establishments appoint local candidates in 50% of management positions and 70% in non-management positions. 

Owing to strong adverse reactions from company heads and industry leaders the bill has been paused now for further deliberations. 

In Karnataka, the demand for reservations for locals has not been a very loud or consistent one. Sudden and in isolated spurts at best, it, however, has a history that dates back to the 1980s.  

After the collapse of the Devaraj Urs-led government, R. Gundu Rao became the chief minister of the State in 1980. His three-year term was mired in controversies and among them was the Gokak agitations, the biggest language-centric movement in Karnataka till date. 

Rao set off a storm by imposing Sanskrit as the first language in schools and removing Kannada and Hindi from the first language groups. Strong protests followed and a committee chaired by Jnanpith awardee Prof V.K. Gokak was formed.

In 1981, the committee recommended Kannada as the sole first language at the high school level and made it compulsory at the primary levels.