English a bridge, not a wall

Language is among the most profound gifts that human civilization has nurtured over millennia. It is through language that we think, remember, express, dream, and interact with the world around us. It is the invisible thread that ties together individuals into communities and civilizations. In the modern age, where humanity finds itself in an intricately interconnected world, where nations are no longer islands unto themselves but are part of a vast global system, one language has come to acquire special significance. That language is English.

- BY NARAYANAN KIZHUMUNDAYUR

Whether one likes it or not, English today occupies a preeminent place in the linguistic hierarchy of the world. It has become the key to participation in the global economy, the medium of international diplomacy, the voice of science and innovation, and the language of access to vast pools of knowledge across disciplines. In recent times, the Union Home Minister, in a speech that evoked both cultural pride and linguistic introspection, commented on the overdependence on the English language in Indian official, educational, and social domains. His observation was rooted in the idea that India's native languages - rich in heritage and expressive power - deserve greater prominence in our national discourse and identity.

He argued that English, a language imposed during colonial rule, continues to dominate even in independent India, thereby alienating a large section of the population from administrative and intellectual processes. This statement, while stirring a chorus of support from cultural nationalists, has also opened up deeper debates among linguists, educators, economists, and common citizens alike. The question is not whether Indian languages should be promoted - they must be - but whether this promotion should come at the cost of diminishing the role of English in our lives. The answer, when viewed through the lens of modern realities, is not a simple either-or, but calls for a nuanced and inclusive approach.

English, in the context of modern life, is not merely a colonial residue or a fashionable tool of the elite.