India: A Tower of Babel?
Courseloka was founded to get Indians talking in local Indian languages again, and to integrate a fragmented as well as a migratory society
Bengaluru is a good case in point; Kannadigas form only 25% of Bengaluru's 11 m population, and the IT and MNC employees constitute 10%.
People want to learn Kannada to make their life easier, reduce misunderstandings, have effective and efficient transactions, save time and effort, seek help, gain acceptance and respect, and to make friends.
Courseloka says, “Learn Kannada to get the Kannada advantage”.
Courseloka was founded in 2016 in Bangalore the IT city, and Silicon Valley of India. Currently, the company offers Spoken Kannada and Hindi courses.
Language courses
Courseloka surveyed and observed various difficulties faced by North Indians new to Bangalore as they went about their daily activities while settling in their job and the city. While they could 'just manage' with 'tuta-futa' broken Hindi or English, they had faced language issues at some time or the other, and wanted to learn 'at least some Kannada'.
When we offered a solution, their most requested topics were how to make inquiries, socialising, directions/travel, shopping, food and restaurant, accommodation, medical and emergencies.
Lessons are conversational, customised and localised to a city, in current times around the year 2016-17.
Courseloka's Specialty
Hindi speakers said they want to learn Kannada but find learning a South Indian script daunting. Hence, courseloka has created spoken language courses, without the script, transliterated in your language, supported with audio and images.
In addition, you can learn from your own language, for example, you can learn Kannada from English, or Hindi from Tamil, and so on.
Technology - Mobile App and Desktop
Courseloka's language courses are online, on Mobile App and desktop. This suits India's busy and mobile populace which is increasingly on smartphones and online. Given today's milieu of a busy working population, dispersed people in an expanded city, traffic, and pollution, our technology saves time and effort whilst providing easy learning solutions. They can download Courseloka's lessons in the Mobile App, and refer offline on the spot, have 24x7 access, anytime, anywhere, and learn at their own convenience.
Viola, now you can learn an Indian language, easily and quickly.
Founder Stories
Rekha's story
I was just a 3-year old kid when I migrated to Bangalore from Delhi, in the 1970s, with my parents and brothers. I left behind my early formative years, filled with memories, abruptly and unwillingly parted with many cousins and relatives, with whom I spoke fluent Hindi, my mother tongue.
As I grew up in Karnataka, mostly Bangalore, I picked up Kannada and English, playing with school friends and social interactions, and called myself a 'South Indian'. Further education and work took me to more cities, but, I returned 'home' to the city I call home, my 'ooru', and 'Nanna Bangalore'.
Over the last 10 years, slowly and unknowingly, I became disconnected with a changing city.
Recently, I have resumed speaking in Kannada, and find it easier to connect to the city's citizens. Speaking in Kannada signals 'she is one of us' and works as a key which opens doors.
Chando’s story
I left my hometown, Delhi, and my life with my 'kundla' of 100 relatives and moved to Bangalore with my family in the 1970s. I did not know anybody in Bangalore and knew not one word of Kannada, or Karnataka's culture and customs.
In those times, everybody spoke in Kannada, everywhere, for everything. They also spoke more languages, but Kannada was the 'must know' 'language currency'.
I learned Kannada, one word at a time। Every new domestic help and cook had to be taught cooking and housework in Kannada. But, in return, I taught them Hindi, and we got along well
As the years went by, we integrated with the society, established our reputations, and became well known in Karnataka.
Bangalore was then a small city, compared to today, but there was no fear when going anywhere alone. Bangalore has become a big city now, as people came from other states for work and they spoke many languages.
Team
Founder | Rekha Chandulal
Rekha is an entrepreneur in the e-commerce sector in India. She has worked in investment research and management areas. She did her schooling in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Karnataka, mostly Bengaluru. She graduated from I.I.T. Delhi with a B.Tech (Electrical) and has a P.G.D.M. from I.I.M. Ahmedabad. She lives in Bengaluru, India
She is the author of her book 'Ecommerce Unmasked: Hidden secrets to fight online battles', an essential handbook for e-commerce practitioners and entrepreneurs, with 40 real cases.
Buy the book on Amazon's Kindle
Buy the book on www.amazon.in
Download and read the Free Sample on Goodline
She can be contacted on:
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/rekha.chandulal.fanpage
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rekhachandulal
Blog: http://www.rekhachandulal.in/
@rekhachandulal, @ecommerceunmask
Rekha's Story
Rekha arrived in Bangalore in the 1970s as just a 3-year old kid. Her mother tongue is Hindi and she picked up Kannada growing up and schooling in Karnataka, mostly Bangalore. She went to other states for education and work, but returned 'home' to the city she adopted as 'Nanna Bangalore'. She is speaking in Kannada again to connect with the city's citizens and its pathos.
News & Timeline
Timeline
31 Mar 2016: 'Learn Kannada via English' courses live
14 July 2016: Incorporated 'Courseloka Learning Pvt. Ltd.'
7 Oct 2016: Indian Institute of Bangalore's NSRCEL selected for Launchpad @Nasscom Change Makers Summit for WomeninTech - http://www.nsrcel.org
7 Nov 2016: 'Learn Kannada with Hindi' courses live.
8 Jan 2017: 'Learn Hindi with English' courses live.
10 May 2017: FbStart, Facebook's SheLeadsTech selected for Bootstrap Program
1 Aug 2017: 'Learn German with English' courses live
1 Feb 2018: 'Learn English' courses live.
20 Jan 2018: Courseloka 'Certified' as a 'Startup' by Karnataka's Startup Cell
21 Jan 2018: Government of Karnataka's 'ELEVATE 2' Winner - http://www.elevate.bengaluruite.biz/elevate/index.php
1 Feb 2018: 'Learn English' courses live.
12 March 2018: iOS App live on App store.
16 April 2018: Learn Kannada with Telugu/ Tamil courses live.
19 September 2018: Learn Kannada for Classes 1-3 courses live.
12 February 2019: Courseloka certified as a Startup with a DIPP certificate, Startup India.
Media
1 March 2018: Priyank Kharge funds startups that promote Kannada
By K R Balasubramanyam, ET Bureau
Click to View/ Download the PDF
21 Jan 2018: Government of Karnataka, GOK, Winner of Elevate 2 (Kannada & Culture) at Bangalore Palace 
19 Sept 2016: Deccan Herald, Metro Life, page 3 (DHNS) - Language Matters 'On the right course'
Anushree Agarwal, DHNS
Click to View/ Download the PDF
Contact us
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 | Office Addresses 1) Registered: Indiranagar (Landmark-150 metres from Indiranagar Metro station), Bangalore, India. |