Role
of English in India
English has been playing an important role
in our educational system as well as in our national life. It is through
English that we have shared the wisdom of the West and that the West has shared
with us our intellectual and spiritual heritage.
Views
of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan:
“English is the only means of preventing our isolation from the world. If we
give up English because of sentimental urges, we would cut ourselves from the
living stream of ever growing knowledge”
Views
of Nehru: “one hundred
and fifty years of intimate contact has made English an integral part of our
educational system and this cannot be removed without injury to the cause of
Indian education”
The official
Language:
English
has been the official language of the country for more than 200 years. It has
been declared as the associate Official Language of the union for an indefinite
period by an Act of Parliament in 1963. as such it dominates the administrative
work throughout the country.
World Language:
Emphasizing
the importance of the knowledge of English, the Radhakrishnan University
Education Commission observed, “English is a language which is rich in
literature- humanistic, scientific and technical”. Over 50% of world’s
newspapers, over 50% of world’s scientific and technical periodicals and more
than 60 % of world’s radio stations use English as medium of communication.
Language of
International Trade and Commerce:
Business
and Trade across the country are carried on through English. Even semi
literates on travel and trade promoted to use English for conversing people of
other states and to exchange ideas and views. For bringing about revolutionary
changes in various fields such as agriculture, medicine, industry, transport,
telecommunication, etc., we have to be in touch with the outside world. It is
possible only with the knowledge of English.
Scientific and
Technical language:
English is a rich store house of knowledge.
Discarding English will amount to closing a window on the world of technology.
If English is not given due consideration, we will fall back hundreds years and
never will be able to catch up economically with the developed countries.
In Social Life:
English
plays an important role in the social life of the country. The highly educated
and sophisticated sections of our society find it prestigious to talk in
English, they write letters in English. Ceremonials like marriages and other
parties’ invitations are mostly in English. Most of the educated people put
their signatures in English.
Window on the Modern
World:
Jawaharlal
Nehru has rightly said, “English is our major window through which we can see
the scientific, technological, agricultural and commercial development taking
place in the world. English si the only language through which we have
distilled essence of modern knowledge in all fields of human activity.
Link language :
English
is our national link language, as India is a multilingual country. It
is the only language which is understood in all states. In the other states, without
the knowledge of English, one will become an Alien in our own country. It is
only through English that we have established the social, economic, cultural
and political relations with other countries of the world.
Library Language:
Largest
numbers of reference books on subjects like science, technology, language,
medicine, engineering, agriculture etc. are available in English language.
Kothari Commission said, “English should be the most useful library language in
higher education.
Court Language:
English
still continues to be the language of the courts. So far there is no other
suitable language for legal business, not only at the Supreme Court but also at
the High courts and District courts. Cases are presented and judgements given
are in English.
Being in Education:
English
plays an important role in the field of education. It is taught compulsorily in
most of the states in the country. It is the medium of instruction in the public schools, technical, medical, law
and other institutions.
Conclusion:
Keeping in view the role of English, we
cannot dispense with the study of English. Indians can neglect its study at
their own risk.
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