Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Dec 31: Recently the Kannada word ‘Yerili theru’ for elevator in the international airport in the city had made waves on social media. Many people had appreciated the same. However, a new controversy is created by the tweet made by renowned journalist and Karnataka Sahitya academy award winner Sugata Srinivasaraju that ‘Yerili Theru’, the word used for elevator is not the right one.

Sugata Srinivasaraju, in his tweet made on December 14 said that elevator in English is translated at Yerili Theru in Kannada. The literal meaning of Yerili Theru is that the chariot moves up and down. However, chariot is moved only forward and never moved backward. So more accurate word needs to be found. He also said that the word Lift that is used in Kannada can also been written in simple manner.

Bengaluru International Airport Limited changed the word Yerili Theru back to elevator on December 27 and tweeted “Thanks for highlighting the word issue. Our operation team has verified and necessary changes are done.” However, Srinivasaraju tweeted, “Thanks for the change. But we have to find a new, good and more acceptable Kannada word for elevator.”

Now many netizens have commented on the tweet of Sugata Srinivasaraju. Many have said that the word Yerili Theru is wrong. Some others have given word that is similar in meaning. One netizen said that this is an insult to the Kannada language, so the same needs to be corrected. Another person wrote that the word is comical and wrong guess.

One more netizen said that there was no need to change the word Yerili Theru as all understand the word. What is the point in writing elevator in Kannada?