Mon Sep 01 15:14:31 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

President Droupadi Murmu visited Mysuru for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH). During the event, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah playfully asked the President if she knew Kannada. President Murmu, acknowledging that she didn’t, expressed her respect for all Indian languages and pledged to learn Kannada. The exchange occurred in the context of Siddaramaiah’s previous advocacy for making Kannada the primary language spoken in Karnataka, which had sparked some controversy.

**News Article:**

**President Murmu Vows to Learn Kannada After Lighthearted Exchange with Karnataka CM**

**Mysuru, Karnataka -** A moment of linguistic camaraderie unfolded during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Mysuru today, as she attended the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH). The visit was marked by a lighthearted exchange with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

During his welcome address, delivered partly in Kannada, Mr. Siddaramaiah turned to President Murmu and, with a smile, inquired, “Do you know Kannada?”

President Murmu, in her response, acknowledged that she did not, but expressed her deep respect for all languages, cultures, and traditions of India. “I would like to tell the honorable Chief Minister that although Kannada is not my mother tongue, I deeply cherish all the languages, cultures, and traditions of my country. I hold great respect and regard for each of them,” she stated. “And I will certainly make an effort to learn Kannada, little by little.”

The President’s willingness to embrace the local language comes amidst previous calls from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for all residents of Karnataka to learn Kannada. His earlier statements, emphasizing that “everyone living in this state should learn to speak Kannada,” sparked protests from opposition parties.

The event at AIISH drew the presence of prominent figures, including Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, and BJP MP Yaduveer Wadiyar, the royal scion of Mysuru.

President Murmu’s visit underscores the importance of linguistic diversity and cultural exchange in India.

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