India, June 27 -- At a time when online debates around Bengaluru's treatment of outsiders continue to surface, a city-based co-founder's personal account has struck a chord with many. Sharing his lived experiences on X, Srijan R Shetty opened up about how language plays a crucial role in shaping interpersonal warmth in the city, and how locals respond with unexpected joy when they hear outsiders making an effort to speak Kannada.

Shetty, who was raised in North India and speaks with a noticeable Hindi accent, said that people often assume he is a North Indian, partly due to his upbringing and skin tone. But the moment he switches to Kannada, particularly with his Mangalorean-style diction, it transforms the interaction completely.

"Ever...