“English as Crucial and Global Language in India”

Name : Gausvami Surbhi A.

Assignment Topic : “English as Crucial and Global Language in India”

Paper no: 12, English Language Teaching-1

Email id: gausvamisurbhi17@gmail.com

Roll No. : 23

Submitted to :  Dr. Dilip Barad, Department of      English MKBU University.

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“English as Crucial and Global Language in India”

# Introduction:

English is the language of modernization and globalization. It is an international language that connects various country. It is the ‘Link Language’.  India can have wide range of global opportunity by making English as official language. It’s impossible to imagine the world without the two ‘e’s : Electronic Communication and English. English plays an important role in our everyday life. There is great utility of English in modern world. So, the use of English should be continued along with Hindi and other regional languages.

English has it’s unique importance in India. It has played an important role in building new and modern India. English is one of the most important Global language. Most of the international transactions of recent times were concluded in English. The language has contributed significantly in narrowing the gap between the geographical boundaries.

The study of English language in this age of globalization is essential. English language is the most important language of communication between different countries.  In India, people of different states have their own language. English Language has come to us as a connecting link among various states of India.

U.N. has recognized five languages as its official languages and of them English takes the first position because of its background, international acclaim of easy access to the people. If we go back to historical facts, we see that half of the globe was under the British imperialism. Those countries coming directly under British rule had by necessity or under compulsion to learn English and the rest either being influenced by the English culture or to keep pace with modern trend had but to opt for learning it.

French, German, Greek and definitely Sanskrit are not inferior to English, yet the fact is, English had stood the test of time. From the pragmatic point of view, it should receive a great boost. Inflict, English serves as a window to the world. It is known to all that the legacy of English language has left an indelible imprint on the Indian psyche. Hence we can’t deal with English just as foreign language. Secondly, the entire spectrum of education and philosophy, science and technology can be better understood through this language.

The common practice all over the world in the modern age is to learn English language to facilitate easy understanding political, social, cultural and religious issues because this language is easier than French, German, Greek and Sanskrit. It is with the help of this language that we are gaining knowledge of modern science and technology and are keeping ourselves in touch with the most progressive ideas and current thoughts.

English has emerged as the most important global language. It is a wrong view to hold that it is a language of the British alone. English has evolved be a language of science and technology. Majority of all important books for higher studies are written in English. The Indians must not keep their eyes closed in this adventurous period of globalization. (Roy)

 India is a large country containing diverse states and all have their different languages, thus English plays role of link language in India.  For longer period of time we were colonized by British people and directly came into contact with their language.

When India attained freedom in 1947, the British symbol were replaced but the institutions and instruments were retained. This is true of the English language also, which had symbolic as well as institutional and instrumental functions. As there was a new national flag symbolizing the emergence of new society with new values, pride and power there ought to be new national language. Recognizing multinational character of the country, English remains the official language of the India.

After second world war the stature and power of English increased internationally in the political and commercial sphere. It was perceived that India will have some natural advantage in world politics and commerce by officially remaining an English using country. There was also an enormous leap in the growth of science and technology much of which was done in English. There was a growing awesome fear that the knowledge gap cannot be caught up by the Indian languages in content and vocabulary by interaction. The increased international mobility and possibilities of higher education abroad, which gave new and handsome returns to the already advantaged, underscored the importance of English education. The language despised as the language of Satans by the freedom fighters. Came to be praised as the boon of Sarasvati, the goddess of learning. In the words of Rajaji in his later years, who was the first Governor General of independent India.

 English had become more and more Indianised grammatically and functionally due to it’s use by large number of Indians thanks to increased education, commerce and journalism and the Indian English was no more foreign. The increased preference and use of English in the country can be seen from several facts such as Those who take Indian language medium for their higher education are a small minority and are poor students scholastically and economically. The college level text books and references books written in or translated into Indian languages spending crores of rupees remain unsold. Therefore learning English is important in India. (E.ANNAMALAI)

English is taught as ‘Second Language” In India. The term second language is understood in two different ways-

(1)   English is second language after one or more Indian languages, which are primary and more significantly.

(2)   In school education, the second language is what is introduced by primary stage and has pedagogical as well as a functional definition particularly in the context of the three language formula.

The significance of English can only be understood in the larger and historical perspective. It is to be noted that English in India is a symbol of ‘Linguistic centralism’ whereas other Indian languages are seen to represent ‘Linguistic regionalism’. The conceptual structure of English has three parts.

(1)   Modernization
(2)   Mythology
(3)   Language policy

English become the language of modernization and internationalism. English is one “Pan-Indian’ language that would promote National Integration. To further buttress this argument, a whole mythology got built up around the role of English in which the central metaphor is the metaphor of the “Window”. In which Indian language are ‘Walls’ that enclose us in ‘Darkness’ and English is the window that let’s in the ‘Light’ of reason and modernization.

(1)   English is the Language of Knowledge
(2)   English is the language of liberal, modern thinking
(3)   English is our window on the world
(4)   English is the Link language
(5)   English is the language of reason and library language
(6)   English is the Lingua-franca

All above facts evokes the importance of learning English in India. (KAPOOR)

 "The English language in all an advanced and flexible one and its teaching should not be discarded altogether. Indian cannot afford to ignore this language". -Dr. Rajendl'a Prasad

India inherited English from British who ruled over India for longer period of time. At the beginning there was strong argument against English in free India. It was seen as threat for Indian languages and values. Well educated English people can contribute in the development of English Literature. The works of Rabindra Nath Tagore, Jawaharlal Lal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Radha Krishnan were beyond doubt a real contributor for the literature of English language. knowledge of English is necessary at least for acquiring higher education.  The importance of learning of English for the advancement and growth of technical education in the country.

 “In my considered opinion English education in the manner it has given to us has emasculated the English educated Indian, constrained our intellect and endured us effeminate" - Mahatma Gandhi learning of English as language is very important as it is not only necessary for higher scientific and technical education, but it is a linking language, spoken through out a large part of the world. It is one of the most popular international language for all diplomatic, political conferences, treaties and scientific discourses. One can't imagine to arrange any international conference, scientific discourse, without help of English, as medium for communication among the members. English had played very important role in making the Indians enlightened about the many revolutionary ideas during the British rule. We can't forget the role played by Indian scholars and educationist in our freedom struggle. Our freedom could have been a dream even as yet if we lack scholars that they have been able to tell us what is freedom. In present condition when India has attained freedom English is playing very crucial role in the progress of the country. The Indian students are the most favored engineers, technical experts in European countries because they could understand and communicate well in English.

 The name of Indian students in IT Space, is world wide recognized. They could acquire the knowledge and expertise in the respective fields in English. The study of English language is thus very necessary to introduce us into the fast developing world. If India has to keep pace with the. developed nation in the present scenario of globalization and liberalization we must give due importance to the learning of English language. If India has to keep abreast with other fast moving nations of the world, in the field of literature, science,space, computers, economics, we can't ignore the importance of learning English. Imagine, had Kalpana Chawla, Hargovind Khurana, Dr. Amritya Sen,etc. not acquired the knowledge of English, would they have earned the recognition, they possess today? Shakespeare' once said, "Sometimes out of ills cometh the good". Macaulay introduced English in India to produce clerks but the study of English radiated on Indians an exhorting influence that made them confident of wining the freedom. (Mol, Essay on importance of 'Learning English' in India)

# Conclusion:

English is the Language of communication and Business in recent time. Person will have opportunity abroad as well who has mastery over English language. All research and new knowledge are done into English language, those who are unaware about English will remain unaware about the current and future  trends of advancement. India can become developed country through accurate use of English.

Works Cited

E.ANNAMALAI. "Satan and Saraswati: The Double face of English in India." (n.d.).

KAPOOR, KAPIL. "Teaching English as Second Language in India." (n.d.).

Mol, Akhila. Essay on importance of 'Learning English' in India. 24 October 2017 <http://www.preservearticles.com/201103034387/essay-on-importance-of-learning-english-in-india.html>.

—. Essay on Importance of 'learning English' in India'.

Roy, Anurag. ImportantIndia. 5 September 2013. 24 october 2017 <https://www.importantindia.com/2398/essay-on-importance-of-english-language-in-india/>.