Overview
The Supreme Court is hearing challenges to the CBSE's three‑language formula. The formula requires two of the three languages studied in schools to be "native Indian languages" and treats English as a foreign language. The Court is questioning whether English, after more than three centuries of use, can still be called non‑indigenous.
Key Developments
- Experts Apoorvanand and Ganesh Devy argue that English has been Indianised and functions as a link language in governance and higher education.
- Devy notes that both Hindi and English belong to the Indo‑European family, arriving in India at different historical moments.
- The discussion highlights the dominance of Hindi in many states and the marginalisation of smaller languages such as Maithili, Braj, and Adivasi tongues.
- Data from the 2011 Census shows that about 10% of Indians speak English, a figure that is rising.
- Historical references to Macaulay and Elphinstone illustrate the colonial shift from Persian to English.
Important Facts
English entered India as a language of trade and missionaries in the 17th century, later becoming the language of administration, education, and nationalist discourse. The creation of an English‑speaking elite parallels the earlier Sanskrit elite that reinforced the varna system. Today, English is linked to social and geographical mobility; a good job often requires proficiency in English, especially when moving across state borders.
Hindi, while an official language, is expanding its reach by being recorded as a subset for many smaller languages in the Census, a practice that masks linguistic diversity. For example, the Pawri language of the Pawra Adivasi community is listed under Hindi despite having no mutual intelligibility.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the language debate is crucial for three‑language formula questions in GS2 (Polity) and GS1 (History). The role of English in education touches upon GS3 (Economy) topics like human capital and employment. The marginalisation of regional languages relates to GS4 (Ethics) discussions on cultural rights and social justice.
Way Forward
- Re‑evaluate the definition of "native" language in the formula to reflect India’s multilingual reality.
- Strengthen state investment in smaller languages to prevent their erosion.
- Encourage functional multilingualism where English, Hindi, and regional languages coexist without one being imposed.
- Monitor language data beyond the Census to capture the true extent of English proficiency and its impact on employment.
In sum, the Court’s deliberations underscore that language policy in India is a complex interplay of history, identity, and development. Aspirants must grasp these nuances to answer questions on federalism, education, and cultural diversity.