Oxford dictionary errors spark fury in Bangalore

Mistakes about Bangalore in an Oxford dictionary have stirred anger in the hi-tech Indian hub where the government has joined historians in demanding an apology, reports said on Friday.

The 2005 edition of the Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Place Names says Bangalore is a land of Bengalis who took their name from a local chief called Banga, the New Indian Express and Times of India reported on Friday.

Bengali is in fact the language spoken mainly in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, while Kannada is the principal tongue of Karnataka, of which Bangalore is the capital.

The Oxford reference book also says that Kempe Gowda, known as the founder of Bangalore, belonged to the Hoysala dynasty - a chronological error because the dynasty had long ceased to be in power, the Times of India said.

Culture secretary Murthy said his department will write a letter to the British publisher, demanding withdrawal of the 2005 edition and an apology for the mistakes, the newspaper reported.