English is not a foreign language in India

Dr. Tejinder Singh Rawal

In a discussion among a group of people coming from Kohima, Ludhiana,
Thiruvananthapuram, and Mumbai, the language that everybody is likely to
speak is the English language. No other language- Hindi included- comes closer
to English in handling multi-regional situations. English serves as the link
language between people coming from diverse backgrounds. While, it may be
the first language of a small population, it is the second language of a large
number of people. The penetration of English is increasing in the rest of the
population also, thanks to Internet and smartphones. To say that English is a
foreign language not relevant for India is closing the eyes to the ground reality.
Administration of a vast country would not have been possible but for the
common language, English, and that is the reason why the Imperial language
continues to be the language of the Government, and of the Courts, and of
business in India. In a country with 23 official languages and more than 4000
dialects, it would be foolish to deny the importance of English. English has a
special status in the Parliament, broadcasting, journalism and education
system in India. Even in the Hindi heartland, the conversation between two
natives is likely to have a profuse use of English words. English is the language
of social empowerment. For the young India it is the expressway to success-
you dont need to wander through the narrow lanes of regionalism and may
reach your destination faster taking the English expressway.
International importance of English is undeniable. India could never have
become the back office hub and the IT service provider for the world if we
were not proficient in English. Macaulays purpose of introducing English in
India was we must at present do our best to form a class of persons Indian in
blood and colour and English in taste, opinions, in morals and in intellect,
English would have served the interest of the masters in the Raj days, but has
over the years more so after the independence- made English a part of
cultural heritage of our country. Interestingly, the very language that was
supposed to create obedient babus, opened the floodgates of Western
education in India, exposing Indians to French Revolution, and the idea of
liberty, equality and fraternity. Slogans like Simon go back and Quit India
were at the core of Indias freedom struggle.
Countries like China and Japan lost in the IT race to India, because of the
language edge that India has over them. I was surprised to find during my visit
to a university in Shanghai that the faculties were brought in from UK and
USA, who did not know Mandarin or Cantonese. This was done to take the
students to a situation where they were left with no alternative to speaking
English. China pays handsome salaries to English teachers, Japanese, tired of
facing scarcity of English speakers have introduced English as a compulsory
language in primary schools, and Russia is already using English as a working
language. They realise the importance of English for international business.
India seems to treat it as ghar ki murgi.
A positive attitude towards the English is essential for integrating India to the
world, and in integrating Indians together. Let mother tongue continue to be
the language of expression, but do not neglect the language of opportunities,
language of globalisation and the language required for the young India to
succeed. English should not be considered as a threat to regional languages. In
fact, it should be learnt the professional way, the way other skills are learnt. A
multi-lingual person has better logical and analytical abilities and is more likely
to succeed in a competitive world.