Impact of english on india
No one can easily deny the obvious merits of English language. In the time of globalisation, when the world is shrinking, the need of a common language is imperative. English fulfils this need to a great extent. English is spoken and understood in several countries of the world. In a country like India where there is an absence of a common Indian language, English fills the gap. It is difficult for a Tamil to converse with a Punjabi and a Gujarati or with a Bengali, if it were not for English. Hindi is not spoken and understood in the North east and South India. It is only through English that an Indian can express their thoughts, conduct business and unite hearts across the country. The most important merit of English language is that we find no difficulty in living in English speaking countries. Technical education is easily imported through English. If our engineers, doctors and scientists are successful in the west, the large credit goes to their English education. Some of the Indian writers who write in English have been able to bring laurels to the country by the way of international prizes and awards. Thus, English serves as a link among Indians, as well as a link between Indians and foreigners. It is a window to the outside world. But then, as is true in the case of all good things, English language has its demerits also. English language imposes foreign value on the native minds. It takes the learner away from his own culture and civilisation. He who receives education in an English language has it’s demerits also. English language imposes foreign values on the native minds. It takes the learner away from his own culture and civilisation. He who receives education in an English medium school tends to look down upon his own mother tongue. He begins to imitate English men and forgets his own way of life. Some people feel that if Indians have failed to produce a vast body of original literature, or have not made any great discovery or invention over the years, it is due to their English language which makes them only imitators. Original thinking is possible only through the use of one’s mother tongue. Many Indians like Rabindranath Tagore feel that one can become a great writer only in one’s own language. If we are imitative, or if we despire our own culture, our mentality is at fault, and not English.