English in India, a language that has earned its place
The article explores the debate over whether English should be considered an indigenous Indian language, arguing for a move away from binary thinking. It suggests that English has been transformed by Indian speakers and should be nurtured alongside other regional languages.
Why it matters
It addresses the cultural and political identity of language in India, challenging colonial-era perceptions of English.
What makes a language Indian? A recent observation by the Supreme Court of India has revived the debate over whether English can be considered an indigenous language of India. The debate over the place of English in India has often been framed as a contest between English and Indian languages. Such a binary is both historically misleading and politically unhelpful. The promotion of Indian languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, Kannada, or Marathi need not — and should not — be predicated upon denying recognition or patronage to English. The future of India’s linguistic diversity lies not in choosing one language over another but in nurturing multilingualism. English may not be an indigenous language in the same historical sense as Sanskrit or Tamil, yet, over two centuries, has acquired a legitimate claim to belong to India.
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