'Karnatakadalli' was launched in October.
Credit: Special Arrangement
A new book provides insight into Karnataka and Kannadigas from the perspective of a Gen Z migrant. It is titled ‘Karnatakadalli’.
Twenty-one-year-old Zoya Malik started working on the book earlier this year, after spending three years in the state. Originally from Madhya Pradesh, she moved to Bengaluru in 2021 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology and chemistry.
“When I moved to Bengaluru, many told me the city is hostile towards outsiders. I was under the impression that outsiders and locals did not enjoy a peaceful co-existence. But my experience was different. The city and its people accepted me wholeheartedly. I wanted to share this with people, and urge them to look beyond what they see online,” she tells Metrolife.
A common theme found throughout the book is the ‘importance of effort’. “We can’t expect someone to accept us when we don’t reciprocate the effort. During my early days in Bengaluru, I was stubborn and refused to learn Kannada. But the more time I spent with my classmates and professors, I started to see how unfair it was for me to ask them to not speak in Kannada around me. I knew I had to make an effort. Throughout the book, I urge people to swap ‘Kannada gothilla’ with ‘Kannada kalitha iddini’,” she explains.
Today, Zoya speaks Kannada fluently. “It took me some time. Online apps weren’t helpful. I picked up most of what I know by conversing with locals. The smile on an ajji’s or autoricksaw driver’s face when they saw me making an effort, made it worth the effort,” she adds.
In the book, Zoya has documented her travels across Karnataka — covering Mysuru, Mangaluru, Madikeri, and more. She explores the cuisines, languages, and traditions found across the state.
Speaking about the values she picked up from the state and its people, she shares, “Kannadigas value their culture. I find that very special. This is missing in some of the north Indian states. Despite the IT boom and modernisation, people haven’t forgotten their roots.”
‘Karnatakadalli’, Rs 149, is available online.