Everyone knows that India was a British colony for around 100 years, but actually the British people came to India much earlier (in 1600). So practically British people remained in India for around 400 years!.
Although British rule ended in 1947 with partition of the country into two separate nations (India and Pakistan), but the British left a very significant impact on Indian society. This was their culture, their living styles, but the most significant of all was their language, the English language. Even today, English is considered superior to all local languages, and so the people speaking this language. I think there is a historical reason behind this thing.
During British rule local Indian people were treated very poorly by the British people. They were compared to dogs by the rulers. Their sign boards frequently read, "Dogs and Indians are not allowed". So as time passed by, the society started considering British as superior to them since they were rich and more advanced. British went back in 1947, but the social mentality remained in India.
In present time, English is given too much respect by Indians for no reason. Anyone who speaks English is respected and believed by others, no matter what he is speaking is right or not. When people go to places like an expensive restaurant, they try to order the food in English!!. Yes, this is somewhat strange as you are going to a local place to eat where everyone understands the local language. But people feel that they will get a better service if they speak English there, as they feel proud of speaking English. Not only do the customers feel this, they are correct also. The restaurant people (waiters, manager, chefs etc.) usually consider the English speaking people as superior, and they try to serve them quickly and in a better way.
Even you might have noticed when you purchase an Indian made product. All the manufacturer information is written in only English. They never use even their national language Hindi. On the other hand developed nations like Japan always use their local language along with English.
This was just one example. This happens everywhere in India. The reason is that people have a mindset like this. They keep English above all languages and feel proud of speaking this language.
According to me, any language, not just English, is only meant for communication with others so that we can express ourselves in an efficient way. The more the people understand us the more efficient the language is. Language selection should not be a prestige issue, instead it should be according to the audience or the person to whom we are communicating to. There is no harm in speaking your local language, and there is no shame if you don't know any language as long as you are able to express yourself.
Indian people really need to understand this thing. I am myself an Indian, and I grown up seeing all these things here. I understand English is an international language and I am myself writing in this language. But this is just to let more and more people understand me. I never feel superior or proud that I know this language. Perhaps India needs to take a lesson from china and Japan who give equal respect to their local languages everywhere.
In present time, English is given too much respect by Indians for no reason. Anyone who speaks English is respected and believed by others, no matter what he is speaking is right or not. When people go to places like an expensive restaurant, they try to order the food in English!!. Yes, this is somewhat strange as you are going to a local place to eat where everyone understands the local language. But people feel that they will get a better service if they speak English there, as they feel proud of speaking English. Not only do the customers feel this, they are correct also. The restaurant people (waiters, manager, chefs etc.) usually consider the English speaking people as superior, and they try to serve them quickly and in a better way.
Even you might have noticed when you purchase an Indian made product. All the manufacturer information is written in only English. They never use even their national language Hindi. On the other hand developed nations like Japan always use their local language along with English.
This was just one example. This happens everywhere in India. The reason is that people have a mindset like this. They keep English above all languages and feel proud of speaking this language.
According to me, any language, not just English, is only meant for communication with others so that we can express ourselves in an efficient way. The more the people understand us the more efficient the language is. Language selection should not be a prestige issue, instead it should be according to the audience or the person to whom we are communicating to. There is no harm in speaking your local language, and there is no shame if you don't know any language as long as you are able to express yourself.
Indian people really need to understand this thing. I am myself an Indian, and I grown up seeing all these things here. I understand English is an international language and I am myself writing in this language. But this is just to let more and more people understand me. I never feel superior or proud that I know this language. Perhaps India needs to take a lesson from china and Japan who give equal respect to their local languages everywhere.
