Topic Guide
English in India:
"The importance of learning English in India is overstated"
Since the early 1600s, the English language has had a foothold on the Indian subcontinent, with the East
India Company establishing settlements and taking over power. English soon became the premier language
in Indian education through missionary schools and subsequently the colleges and universities started by the
colonisers. On independence the Indian constitution declared Hindi to be the official language of the union.
The use of English for official purposes was to cease 15 years after the constitution came into effect - on 26
January 1965. The prospect of the changeover, however, caused much alarm in the non Hindi-speaking
areas of India, leading to violent protests from several states. As a result, Parliament enacted the Official
Languages Act, 1963, which provided for the continued use of English for official purposes along with Hindi.
The current position is that the Union government may continue to use English in addition to Hindi for its
official purposes as a ‘subsidiary official language’, but the issue remains controversial.
In the twenty-first century India arguably stands poised as a future superpower. Discussions proliferate about
its development as a knowledge-based economy, based on its progress in diverse areas over recent years.
Among the factors in India’s favour is its demographical advantage; among all the superpower probables,
India has the youngest population. Debates around education and skills are therefore timely, with one of the
most contentious areas in this debate being the role of English in India today.
The debate in context:
No English, no job?
It is easy to see how knowledge of English offers benefits for the Indian citizen, particularly in areas of
employment. Some argue that employability now largely depends on one’s ability to use English, particularly
as much of the nation’s administrative processes are conducted in it. Certainly the call-centre phenomenon
in the last two decades has highlighted the direct role of English in determining many a young Indian’s
career. India’s Information Technology and business process outsourcing sector employs more people than
any other sector of the private-sector economy, for which English is pivotal. India’s cornering of the
outsourcing market in a competitive global economy hinges primarily on the fact that India claims one of the
largest workforces of key professionals comfortable with English.
But others suggest that this case is overstated, and that it is deceptive to suggest that speaking English is a
panacea of economic development. In the words of one commentator ‘one billion people aren’t going to be
uplifted through call centres.’ In this sense the emphasis currently placed on the speaking of English
distracts Indians from the real imperative to create productive and educated members of society. A study
conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in February 2010 would appear to bear this out. It
found that a large proportion of Indian youth were unemployable, because they lacked either basic education
or vocational skills, not English. Again, the indispensability of English comes into question when one
considers the progress of countries like Japan, China, Russia and Brazil, where the language is not
prevalent. Far from resting on a familiarity of the English language, productive growth in these countries has
depended on the application of science, technology and commerce to the challenges of development.
Classroom concerns
“We have an English language economy, but our education policy has denied people access to it. It is not
an intelligent law, it’s a political one” says Dalit writer and activist Chandrabhan Prasad, underlining the
social and economic opportunities afforded to speakers of the English language. This has formed the basis
of a Dalit-led campaign for the teaching of the English language in state schools, one where English is
depicted it as the language of modernity and empowerment. Dalit activists in Uttar Pradesh have even
unveiled a 'Goddess of English', symbolising what they see as the liberatory power of the language. Prasad
cites BR Ambedkar, who said, 'English was the milk of a lioness, he said only those who drink it will roar'.
Until recently many state education policies made a point of eschewing English as an assertion of regional
pride, but many have now reconsidered. Indeed, in David Graddol’s 2010 report there is strong evidence that
Topic Guide
English is being introduced at an earlier age, and is serving widely as a medium of instruction across India.
But policy-makers have been more circumspect. While the National Curriculum Framework of 2005
recognises the importance of learning English, it also underlines multilingualism as one of India’s strengths
and thus supports the implementation of the three-language formula, where English finds a place alongside,
and not above, other Indian languages in educational policy. But, say critics, education is more than a driver
of the world economy. Some have spoken pointedly of the dangers of a dry ‘economism’ in education, where
the demands of the global economic system override the higher imperative of imparting history, culture,
abstract philosophical concepts and a rich sense of heritage. By privileging English over regional dialects
and local languages, they suggest, a death knell sounds for “our languages, our poetry, our ideas and
knowledge.”
Languages of division
Many see English functioning as a force of national integration and some say social transformation. The
sheer diversity of India posits English as a link language. It is the first language for many well-educated
Indians and the second language for many who are multi-lingual in India. Travelling to other states,
especially in the non-Hindi speaking South, many experience the difficulty of not speaking English. Certainly,
minority activists describe English as offering a chance at inclusion, and an escape from the ancient caste
system of India. But is English giving rise to a new caste? Critics of English accuse it of generating a feeling
of exclusiveness, a sense of alienation, an attitude of social superiority totally out of sync with the ethos of
democratic culture. They complain that English has created one of the greatest social rifts in a complex
society already divided on many fronts, unearthing a huge schism in Indian society between those who
speak it and those who don’t.
Language and identity
English is a foreign language, specifically of the country that colonised India for two centuries. Furious
opinion is often voiced against a country as rich in cultural heritage as India still having to fall back on the
use of English. But thinkers in the opposite camp assert that it is ludicrous to argue that in speaking English
Indians are bowing before their colonial oppressors; times have changed and Indians have made the English
language their own.
But many remain concerned that a proliferation of English amongst the Indian population will spell the end of
regional languages that have a rich, millennia-old tradition. In UNESCO’s latest ‘Atlas of Worlds Languages
in Danger of Disappearing’, 196 Indian languages are listed as ‘endangered’. Such stark figures don’t just
refer to the loss of a means-of-communication, but relate to something deeply intertwined with the cultural
ethos and identity of India. But others suggest that such an outlook is profoundly conservative. Languages
are not static museum pieces, but mediums that develop under their own momentum. Rather than mourn
their ‘extinction’, we should interpret the constantly-changing dynamic of language as a symbol of the
progress of civilization. Should one regard languages as cultural repositories that are threatened by
economic considerations, or should the aspiration to speak in a common tongue be celebrated? Implanted in
colonial times and argued over ever since, labelled both a liberating force as well as a burden, the
importance of English for today’s young Indian will be determined only by engaging with complex questions.
Essential Reading
English or Hinglish - which will India choose?, by Zareer Masani, BBC News, 27 November 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20500312
‘English language learning must go hand in hand with multilingualism', by Sachidanda Mohanty, The Hindu,
13 October 2012
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/english-language-learning-must-go-hand-in-hand-withmultilingualism/article3992238.ece
Learning with the Times: India doesn’t have any ‘national language’ The Times of India November 16 2009
Topic Guide
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Learning-with-the-Times-India-doesnt-have-any-nationallanguage/articleshow/5234047.cms
The state of our English Bhaskar Ghose Frontline Volume 22 - Issue 15, Jul 16 - 29, 2005
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2215/stories/20050729005411600.htm
A suitable language? Andrew Robinson Times Higher Education 21 Nov 1997
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=104742
For
Bemoaning the loss of bilingualism, by The Hindu, 9 November 2012
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/bemoaning-the-loss-of-bilingualism/article4078293.ece
Let a hundred tongues be heard, by Sumanyu Satpathy, The Hindu, 27 September 2012
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/let-a-hundred-tongues-be-heard/article3939291.ece
Hindi an endangered language? T.K. Arun The Economic Times 19 November 2009
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/columnists/t-k-arun/Hindi-an-endangeredlanguage/articleshow/5245146.cms
Myths about English Prashant Agrawal The Times of India 17 November 2007
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2547029.cms
‘Self-respect should be known through language’ Sowmya Aji Mehu The Times of India
27 December 2005
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1347012.cms
English, and our Indian identity Bhaskar Ghose Frontline Volume 22 - Issue 11, May 21 - Jun. 03, 2005
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2211/stories/20050603005211800.htm
Who needs English? Sudhanshu Ranjan The Times of India 12 May 2005
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/SUBVERSE-Who-needsEnglish/articleshow/4510769.cms
Against
An 'English goddess' for India's down-trodden, by Geeta Pandey, BBC News, 15 February 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12355740
English is much more than the language of England Vir Sanghvi Vir Sanghvi 9 October 2009
http://www.virsanghvi.com/vir-world-ArticleDetail.aspx?ID=368
No. It’s (English) is now the language of liberation Uday Prakash Economic Times 27 April 2009
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Opinion/ET-Debate/No-Its-now-the-language-ofliberation/articleshow/4452768.cms
The importance of knowing English Ravi Vyas The Telegraph 17 April 2009
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090417/jsp/opinion/story_10825515.jsp
Yes we can! Nandan Nilekan The Times of India 16 November 2008
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Yes-we-can/articleshow/3717942.cms
Topic Guide
Passage to English The Times of India Editorial 20 May 2008
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/TODAYS-EDITORIAL-Passage-toEnglish/articleshow/3054522.cms
Watching your langauge Bhaskar Ghose Frontline Volume 21 - Issue 23, Nov. 06 - 19, 2004
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2123/stories/20041119001408100.htm
Further reading
Learn English online: How the internet is changing language, by Jane O'Brien, BBC News, 14 December
2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20332763
Recalling Thomas Macaulay's English legacy, by Soutik Biswas, BBC News, 12 December 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20637124
Where trends parade as culture Hams Afif Siddiqi The Telegraph 2 July 2010
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100702/jsp/opinion/story_12628168.jsp
The Tragedy of dying cultures K David Harrison BBC News 5 February 2010
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/8500108.stm
English Next India David Graddol British Council 2010
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-english-next-india-2010-book.pdf
War of the words Manu Chakravarthy Deccan Herald 7 August 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/35837/war-words.html
Yes, the have-nots will feel more equal Harish Trivedi The Economic Times 27 April 2009
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Opinion/ET-Debate/Yes-the-have-nots-will-feel-moreequal/articleshow/4452772.cms
Is English the language of India ’s future? Peggy Mohan Alter Ego 26 September 2009
http://www.indiaseminar.com/2005/545/545%20peggy%20mohan1.htmRandom blog
Compulsory English language may affect studies in Hindi, Gujarati Amrita Didyala Indian Express.com 18
May 2009
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/compulsory-english-language-may-affect-furth/461451/
Imperial Tongue: English as the Dominating Academic Language Philip Altbach International Educator
Sept/Oct 2008
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7570/is_200809/ai_n32294305/pg_4/?tag=content;col1
Imperial legacy Bhaskar Ghose Frontline Volume 24 - Issue 17: Aug. 25-Sep. 07, 2007
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2417/stories/20070907505908000.htm
State of English Kancha Ilaiah The Times of India 21 February 2007
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1647345,flstry-1.cms
The English language and India’s working population Ila Patnaik Indian Express.com 14 October 2005
http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/79950/
Language and Communication Bhaskar Ghose The Hindu Volume 21 - Issue 15, Jul. 17 - 30, 2004
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2115/stories/20040730001207300.htm
Topic Guide
Outsourcing culture Jeremy Seabrook Countercurrents.org 30 October 2003
http://www.countercurrents.org/glo-seabrook301003.htm
The Vulnerable culture Saumil Gandhi The UWS Online journal of 100-lever writing 2002-3 Essays
http://depts.washington.edu/engl/ewp/eg/03.GandhiS.html
Where words come alive Molly Chandy The Hindu 29 January 2002
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/edu/2002/01/29/stories/2002012900040200.htm \
Speaking in tongues The Times of India Editorial 12 April 2001
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Speaking-in-Tongues--/articleshow/37353943.cms
Writing in English in India, again Rajeswari Sundar Rajan The Hindu 18 February 2001
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/02/18/stories/1318067m.htm
Mastering the snob language Srabani Mukhopadhyaya Deccan Herald
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/16614/mastering-snob-language.html
In the news
Foreign students find English unsurmountable, Times of India, 21 December 2012
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Foreign-students-find-Englishunsurmountable/articleshow/17699012.cms
Malaysia keen to recruit English teachers from India, Borneo Post, 21 December 2012
http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/21/malaysia-keen-to-recruit-english-teachers-fromindia/#ixzz2FftYN5EH
Indian languages losing battle against English, Times of India, 30 November 2012
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-30/ranchi/35484809_1_official-language-regionallanguage-local-language
SCOPE fails to realise Gujarat govt’s English language dream, DNA India, 28 November 2012
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_scope-fails-to-realise-gujarat-govts-english-language-dream_1770583
Majority of Indian students don’t have good enough English’ The Times of India 23 November 2009
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Majority-of-Indian-students-dont-have-goodenough-English/articleshow/5257647.cms
Working English Proyashi Barua The Times of India 23 Nov 2009
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/Working-English/articleshow/5259337.cms
China overtaking India in English usage: Study Deccan Herald 20 November 2009
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/36942/china-overtaking-india-english-usage.html
English starts unstoppable march in city The Times of India 15 November 2009
http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/English-starts-unstoppable-march-incity/articleshow/5231819.cms
Enhancing English-speaking skills of the rural masses The Hindu 13 November 2009
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/13/stories/2009111350850200.htm
Topic Guide
Confucius says a lot Gautam Adhikari The Times of India 7 November 2009
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Confucius-Says-A-Lot/articleshow/5204115.cms
Sibal wants all schools to teach Hindi Exspressindia.com 24 August 2009
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Sibal-wants-all-schools-to-teach-Hindi/506424/
English to be compulsory paper for Class X exam The Telegraph 29 July 2009
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/English-to-be-compulsory-paper-for-Class-Xexam/articleshow/4831283.cms
English for progress Malini Sen The Times of India 20 July 2009
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/English-for-progress/articleshow/4796923.cms
SP vows to abolish English, computers The Times of India 12 Apr 2009
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SP-vows-to-abolish-English-computers/articleshow/4389164.cms
To take English language to rural lands, ESOL to collaborate with state government. Indian Express.com
10 February 2009
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/to-take-english-language-to-rural-lands-eso/421296/
Mind your language V. Kumara Swamy The Telegraph 28 January 2009
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090128/jsp/opinion/story_10448984.jsp
English is need of the hour, says Dy Mayor Indian Express.com 28 January 2009
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/english-is-the-need-of-the-hour-says-dy-may/415945/
No English please, it’s a BMC meeting Sweta Desai Indian Express.com 13 January 2009
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/no-english-please-its-a-bmc-meeting/410081/
Raj men ‘fight’ for Marathi, send own kids to English schools Sweta Desai Indian Express.com
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/raj-men-fight-for-marathi-send-own-kids-to-english-schools/540015/0
Bombay abandons English and Hindi in favour of local language Rahul Bedi Telegraph.co.uk 4 August
2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/2498679/Bombay-abandons-English-and-Hindi-infavour-of-local-language.html
Mumbai, a modern Babel, downgrades English Exspressindia.com 25 July 2008
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Mumbai-a-modern-Babel-downgrades-English/340382/
Campaign to encourage studies in local language Himanshu Kaushik The Times of India 18 April 2006
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Campaign-to-encourage-studies-in-locallanguage/articleshow/1495142.cms
India is the second largest English-speaking nation The Times of India 11 November 2005
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1292536.cms
‘One language is dying every two weeks’ The Times of India 15 October 2004
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-886016,flstry-1.cms