Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Defends Kannadiga Identity While Advocating for Bengaluru Infrastructure Improvements

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been actively highlighting infrastructure challenges in Bengaluru.

In Bengaluru, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has responded firmly to trolls questioning her identity as a Kannadiga. The prominent business leader has faced criticism after raising concerns about infrastructure problems in Bengaluru, India's technology hub. Some trolls have targeted her by referencing her Gujarati ancestry.

Responding to one such parochial attack, Shaw stated clearly that she was born in Bengaluru and doesn't need to prove her loyalty to Karnataka. "I was born in this city and have spent seven decades of loving my city, my Kannada culture and can read write and speak this wonderful language. I don't think I am answerable to anyone who questions my loyalty to Karnataka. I am a proud Kannadiga," she declared in response to a now-deleted post.

This isn't the first time Shaw has addressed such trolling, previously asserting "I am more Kannadiga than you think."

Born and raised in Bengaluru, Shaw attended the city's Bishop Cotton Girls' School and is a graduate of Bangalore University. In 1978, she established the biopharmaceutical company Biocon Limited with its headquarters in Bengaluru.

Shaw became a target for trolls after voicing concerns about Bengaluru's infrastructure issues, particularly the poor condition of roads. When ministers in Karnataka's Congress government questioned why Shaw and other industry leaders hadn't spoken up during the BJP's governance period, the Biocon founder clarified that this was "not true" and that she has consistently criticized Bengaluru's deteriorating infrastructure across different administrations.

In a post on X addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and Minister Priyank Kharge, she expressed her confusion about "why the political leadership is not showing the political urgency to fix our city and make it world-class. It doesn't take more than a focus in terms of budgetary allocation and execution. A billion dollars needs to be ring-fenced to do this."

Recently, Shaw met with Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar to extend an invitation to her nephew's wedding. Following the meeting, Shivakumar posted on X: "It was a pleasure to meet Ms. @kiranshaw, entrepreneur and Founder of Biocon, at my residence today. We had an engaging discussion on Bengaluru's growth, innovation, and the path ahead for Karnataka's growth story."