• Hey there! Welcome to TFC! View fewer ads on the website just by signing up on TF Community.

A small, silly thing that earned SBI My Respect!

Apply For Lifetime Free IDFC First Credit Card
Finchamp! said:
Hey everyone,

So, I recently stumbled upon something that might seem trivial, but it made me think—and actually earned SBI some respect from me.

Like most of us, my banking is spread across several banks, and every time I call, the IVR starts with the usual fancy lines: "Press 1 for English, Hindi ke liye 2 dabayein."
But guess what? SBI’s IVR does it differently. They ask you to press 1 for Hindi and 2 for English.

Now, I know this sounds like a small thing—almost silly—but this little tweak shows the level of thought SBI has put into infusing a sense of Bhartiyata into their services. They could have easily followed the same old routine as other banks, but instead, they flipped the script.

This is something that other banks could easily implement, as we see them constantly changing their IVR instructions anyway. But most don't seem to care about this small yet meaningful gesture. Maybe it’s the aftertaste of 76th Republic Day still lingering, but I genuinely appreciate the intent behind SBI’s decision here.

In a small but significant way, they’re promoting our culture and language, and I think that’s something worth acknowledging. Other banks should take a page from SBI’s playbook, at least in this area, and show a bit more pride in endorsing our "Indianess" in the services they provide.

Garv se Bhartiya
Click to expand...
हिंदी में बयां करते तो ज्यादे अच्छा लगता।
 
Apply For LTF AU LIT Credit Card
Finchamp! said:
Hey everyone,

So, I recently stumbled upon something that might seem trivial, but it made me think—and actually earned SBI some respect from me.

Like most of us, my banking is spread across several banks, and every time I call, the IVR starts with the usual fancy lines: "Press 1 for English, Hindi ke liye 2 dabayein."
But guess what? SBI’s IVR does it differently. They ask you to press 1 for Hindi and 2 for English.

Now, I know this sounds like a small thing—almost silly—but this little tweak shows the level of thought SBI has put into infusing a sense of Bhartiyata into their services. They could have easily followed the same old routine as other banks, but instead, they flipped the script.

This is something that other banks could easily implement, as we see them constantly changing their IVR instructions anyway. But most don't seem to care about this small yet meaningful gesture. Maybe it’s the aftertaste of 76th Republic Day still lingering, but I genuinely appreciate the intent behind SBI’s decision here.

In a small but significant way, they’re promoting our culture and language, and I think that’s something worth acknowledging. Other banks should take a page from SBI’s playbook, at least in this area, and show a bit more pride in endorsing our "Indianess" in the services they provide.

Garv se Bhartiya!
Click to expand...
well said .
 
Lobogris said:
English should remain the preferred language. Nothing wrong in having it first. Otherwise, why Hindi? Why not Tamil or Bengali?
Click to expand...
Which state speaks Hindi? I am not a Hindi speaker but the level of scorn Hindi gets from non-Hindi speakers is another level. Shows the level of unity we have in our nation.

I wouldn’t have asked why even if it were Tamil or Assamese. We need one language for “unity in diversity.”

Ps: I am no scholar in Hindi but desperate to see India united with common causes worh fighting for.
 
Last edited:
Apply For LTF HDFC Swiggy Credit Card
Obviously English is a language which helps us all communicate irrespective of our mother tongue. Its a language without which, we would be severly crippled in understanding various subjects ranging from science to international affairs to finance. There are many more points. But just saying a few.
No language is superior or inferior.

As someone said previously, it doesn’t matter if English comes at position 1 or 2.

But insisting that everyone follows the same language is not democratic.
 
I think this thread is going in another direction than what the OP wanted to convey.

I think in language debate in India, nobody can win everyone's heart.

According to me banks should place the language preference based on what their customers have opted previously. If new, then only ask for language preference according to its overall customer base.

Most importantly, bank should give first option like this: Press 1 if you want to talk to our customer care executive, Press 2 if you want to continue in IVR.
 
Last edited:
TCxBlade said:
I don't know why people support English, it's your choice but for your information in India 45% of people speaks Hindi and lot of people understand Hindi. We are not ignoring other languages.
Click to expand...
Then why ask for Hindi and not say local language?
 
palen said:
Sounds silly, English is the bridge language for all of us.

I don't understand 70% of the conversation in this forum, as most of it is in Hindi. I don't want to sound like complaining but it would be better if we all spoke in English.
Click to expand...
Absolutely. I have time and again, suggested this as well but to no avail.
 
RadTheCrab said:
I agree with you. Our native languages should take precedence. English is not even in the top 10 most spoken languages in India, yet it is the default for most IVR calls.

1. Hindi – 43.6% (~57 crore speakers)
2. Bengali – 8.0% (~10.7 crore speakers)
3. Marathi – 6.9% (~9.2 crore speakers)
4. Telugu – 6.7% (~8.7 crore speakers)
5. Tamil – 5.7% (~7.7 crore speakers)
6. Urdu – 5.2% (~6.9 crore speakers)
7. Gujarati – 4.6% (~6.1 crore speakers)
8. Malayalam – 3.6% (~4.8 crore speakers)
9. Odia – 3.1% (~4.1 crore speakers)
10. Punjabi – 2.8% (~3.7 crore speakers)
Click to expand...
It’s because we import everything related to science and technology including banking systems and IVR. Nothing surprising. No one goes around speaking to people in English in a village in UP, Bihar or Tamilnadu. English is normal for usage in technical and modern scenarios. Until recently, mostly educated, English speaking people used the internet, online banking etc. As more rural people start using it, banks have started providing options for other languages. There is no need to debate. Businesses will themselves adapt.
 
harsh_ujjwal said:
हिंदी में बयां करते तो ज्यादे अच्छा लगता।
Click to expand...

SonyTom said:
Obviously English is a language which helps us all communicate irrespective of our mother tongue. Its a language without which, we would be severly crippled in understanding various subjects ranging from science to international affairs to finance. There are many more points. But just saying a few.
No language is superior or inferior.

As someone said previously, it doesn’t matter if English comes at position 1 or 2.

But insisting that everyone follows the same language is not democratic.
Click to expand...
This is an unnecessary extrapolation. My intent was never to compel everyone to speak Hindi. I know 3 Indian languages myself - Hindi, Tamil and Bengali. I just want our languages to take precedence over a foreign language which our schools have taught as being as the only common media of communication. A proud German, Japanese or Korean speaks his native at all national and international forums and those willing to understand him seek the assistance of interpreters.
 
Lobogris said:
English is normal for usage in technical and modern scenarios.
Click to expand...
That's because we've accepted it that way (which is completely fine). There are many nations far ahead of India in terms of growth that don’t care about English. For them, their native language is the norm for technical and modern scenarios.
Lobogris said:
There is no need to debate.
Click to expand...
Sure. This isn’t a debate but an opportunity to explore different perspectives. As long as it remains respectful, I’m all for it.
 
Lobogris said:
English should remain the preferred language. Nothing wrong in having it first. Otherwise, why Hindi? Why not Tamil or Bengali?
Click to expand...
For reference

45z13b0qdjra1.jpg
 
The moment I saw the post I knew it will turn political. Any change that benefit a certain section of society, they'll applaud it. And who gets affected adversely would condemn it.

As people have already made up their mind, there is no point in discussing it, especially on these type of forums.

Members are expected to recognize that others might have different opinions especially on topics like language, religion, politics. So let's just agree to disagree. ( And focus on how to earn more cb & rps.😅 )
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top