Articles by Jean-Baptiste Roca, student at Avignon Université.
English Through Ages of Indian Subcontinent
English Through Ages of Indian Subcontinent
From the time when an Englishman Sighelm set foot on the subcontinent in 883 C.E, sent there on a pilgrimage almost a thousand years ago by King Alfred the Great, to the time Sir Thomas Roe (who secured trading rights and privileges for English merchants in 1617 C.E), the role of the English language and its legacy on this land was cemented. It would go on to transform this part of Asia and undergo changes in perception from being viewed as the language of English diplomats from distant lands to that of oppressors during colonial times, to an agent of social mobility and a symbol of status and wealth today.
Colonial Period
The success of any colonial power over a long period of time often depends on the successful administration of their native subjects, as violent oppression can only go so far to keep the masses pacified. For example, the East India Company administered areas under its control first through local languages, used to negotiate with local power brokers and then shifted to English as its grip over subcontinent solidified. The control of the E.I.C’s administrative machinery – which was designed to extract revenue from the natives in the form of taxes, exploitation of local labour and resources – was then transferred into the hands of the English Parliament and Crown. A few Indian elites were allowed in as civil servants to help administer their native land by the end of nineteenth century, a reality which slowly changed through various movements demanding self-reliance and sovereignty.
Modern Day
By the time the British departed from the Indian sub-continent, English as a language of administration and it’s significance as a vehicle of upward mobility was fairly entrenched: today, English has retained its place in Indian constitution as an official language alongside Hindi and managed to fend off various attempts over time to dislodge it from this position. Even though it used to be a foreign language spoken by colonial oppressors, it has undergone visible change in its perception where private schools have sprung up throughout India, promising to impart education using English as a language medium. Furthermore, apart from its value as a Lingua Franca, an increasing number of students from middle-class background benefit from the opportunity to study abroad through the passing of an I.E.L.T.S Exam (International English Language Testing System). One has to look no further than the English Language Booster Clubs that have been formed in Government run schools in the state of Punjab to understand the prominence English has attained as a mean to help local students access opportunities that used to be unavailable to their parents, but now lay await for anyone with knowledge of English language to reach out and seize it.
Conclusion
It is no wonder, given its transformation over the centuries after its arrival, that India now boasts world’s second largest English-speaking population (125 million speakers) only behind the U.S. This figure will undoubtedly grow as the internet unlocks even more opportunities of learning this language and help India reclaim it from its colonial legacy of oppression. English is here to stay, for it is no longer the language of foreigners but of educated Indian masses whose number will no doubt continue to grow in the future.