The Future of English in India
Many people think that the
teaching of English is playing havoc with our native regional languages. Even
the protagonists of Hindi, our national language, are deadly opposed to it.
They think that English is a foreign language and an average Indian can neither
understand it, nor express himself in it. Moreover, much energy of a child is
being wasted in the learning of English. So English should altogether be
abolished from this land.
Quite opposed to this camp are
the philanglians. They believe that English has been in use in India for the
last about two centuries. As such, English is no longer a foreign language.
Innumerable words of English are being used in our language of daily use.
Particularly in the South, the people prefer English to Hindi.
No doubt, English is an
international language. Most of the research work in science and technology in
the world is being done through the medium of English. English is the window
for western knowledge to India. A very poor country as India is, it is very
difficult to translate all the latest knowledge into national and regional
languages. Even if an effort is made in this respect, till the knowledge
concerned is translated, the theory has since changed meanwhile. That is why
even countries like China and Japan have started giving more attention to the
study of English to get the latest knowledge.
It is also argued that our
freedom fighters like M.K.Gandhi, J.L. Nehru, Gokhle etc. were greatly
influenced by western political thought on freedom through a study of English
philosophers, thinkers and poets. English is said to be a great link between
different Indian languages and a strong bond for national integration.
No doubt, teaching of English
leads to large-scale failures in various examinations. Yet, a formula should be
evolved such that English is taught in schools and colleges but not at the cost
of Indian languages. The teaching of English cannot and should not be dispensed
with.
0 Comments