Question- Discuss the role of English in India.

Or
Describe the role and importance of English in India.
Or
"English is the major window of the world". Discuss this statement in the light of modern and developing India.
Or
"English is a major window on the modern world." Discuss this statement in the light of importance of English in India.

Ans.

English has come alongwith British for more than 200 years and it will remain with us for time to come. English had a graceful place in India before independence. After independence, there were numerous efforts made to replace English but till today English played an important role in India. The role of English may be analysed in following words :-

(i) English is a Lingua Franca of the world.
(ii) English is one of the most developed languages of the world.
(iii) English has already united Indians. It can help them further in destroying the boundary of provincialism.
(iv) English serves as a common language of Indians.
(v) Almost all our great leaders, scientists, philosophers, authors etc. are the product of English Language.
(vi) Its very long association with life made it a language of many Indians.
(vii) English has influence on Indian Languages.
(viii) English has opened the gates of western science and technology for Indians. If these subjects are taught through regional language Indians will lag behind in scientific knowledge.
(ix) Today, Indians are able to translate medical, scientific and technological terms of English into Hindi and regional languages. But if they give up the study of English, they cannot keep with the scientific progress of the western countries.
(x) English is a language of trade and industry in India. Indian businessman can correspond with foreign businessman only through the medium of English.
(xi) Study of English gives an opportunity to Indians to get employment not only in India but also in other countries.
(xii) Study of English also facilitates the establishment of international contacts between different nations of the world.
(xiii) English gives Indians opportunity to study English literature which is so vast and rich.
(xiv) English is the language through which Indians can exchange their views with the people of other countries.

On the basis of above, we analysed an important role played by English in India. It acts here as a link language, a window on the world and a library language.

(i) Role of English as a Link Language :- English has been a link language in India for the last two decades and will remain so in the time to come. After independence, in our constitution Hindi is declared as a national language, but it has failed to fulfil the basic aspirations of neither speak nor understand. In the absence of a national language, English is continuing and will continue to be a national language of the country.

(ii) Role of English as a Window on the World :- It was said by Pt. Nehru that English is our major window on the world. In fact, English is the only window through which we can see the progress taking place in the scientific, technological, agricultural, cultural, literary, political, social and economical fields. Its knowledge keep Indians alongwith the world which is quite relevent today.

(iii) Role of English as a Library Language :- English has an immense usefulness as library language. Even though several universities have switched over to regional languages as medium of instruction in humanities, it wil] take a lot of time to extend this step to courses in science, law, medicine, engineering and agriculture. In this way, English is also known as language of library. Such an advanced knowledge in these subjects cannot be transferred easily to regional languages. In fact we shall have to retain English as a library language if we want to keep abreast with the latest knowledge in law, science, medicine, engineering and agriculture.

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