A battle for language dominance between English and Hindi is unfolding in India, a country with a population of 1.4 billion. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has emphasized the use of Hindi for over a decade under the banner of 'Hindu nationalism,' putting English, which has enjoyed the status of an official language for over 300 years, under fierce challenge. The controversy escalated particularly after Amit Shah, the Home Minister and a close aide to Modi, stated that 'Those who speak English in India will soon be ashamed.'
According to reports from foreign media such as CNN on the 27th (local time), Minister Shah recently said at an official function, 'The language of our country is soon to be the jewel of our culture,' and that 'a society where speaking English is shameful is not far off.' While he used the justification of 'eliminating colonial remnants,' it seems Indian society is once again engulfed in long-standing conflicts surrounding national identity.
Since the British East India Company landed in the 17th century, English has reigned as the language of the ruling class for over three centuries in India. In the 19th century, British politician Thomas Macaulay declared that 'Indians are of Indian blood and color, but their tastes and intellects are British.' Subsequently, he introduced British-style English education for the Indian elite.
This policy paradoxically became a driving force behind India's independence and subsequent economic growth. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister, was a notable example of someone fluent in English. In modern times, Indian-origin chief executives like Sundar Pichai from Google and Satya Nadella from Microsoft have benefitted from their English proficiency as they lead global big tech.
However, the notion that 'all Indians speak English well' is misleading. According to the 2011 census, surprisingly, the percentage of English speakers in India is only about 10% of the total population. There are over 780 languages coexisting in India, including regional dialects. Experts noted that English has contributed to national consolidation in India as a link language that does not favor specific regions.
In contrast, Hindi is the first language used by 44% of the total population, primarily in the northern regions. The Modi government has seized upon this point. With 9 out of 10 Indians unable to use English, it criticized English for serving as a social ladder that exacerbates severe social inequality.
Since the early days of his administration in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has pushed for strengthening national identity, stating that 'India has suffered from a slave mentality for over 1,200 years.' He thereafter encouraged the use of Hindi in official government documents and social media. The invitation to the G20 Leaders Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy held in New Delhi in 2023 named the country in Sanskrit as 'Bharat' instead of 'India.' CNN analyzed this as a political calculation to consolidate the northern 'Hindi Belt' support base by rallying Hindu citizens, who make up 80% of India's population.
Opposition to the Hindi-first policy is strong in non-Hindi regions. They argue that emphasizing Hindi is akin to 'Hindu imperialism.' Following Minister Shah's remarks, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized on social media platform X, stating that 'English is not a barrier, but a bridge, and not a shame, but a strength.'
Language conflict is escalating into actual violence. Recently, a video circulated showing a passenger in Mumbai, a financial hub, being assaulted for speaking Hindi instead of the local dialect, Marathi. In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, intense protests erupted against a policy making Hindi compulsory as a third language in elementary schools. In this region, which is closest to Sri Lanka in the southernmost part of India, 88% of the population uses Tamil as their first language.
Experts warn that Hindi-first policies could undermine the cultural diversity India embodies. Rita Kothari, a professor of English literature at Ashoka University, said in a CNN interview that 'The government cannot directly touch the linguistic pride of the southern regions, so it has made English a scapegoat.'
According to academic sources, amidst the confrontation between English and Hindi, numerous indigenous languages in India are disappearing. UNESCO has designated approximately 200 languages within India as endangered languages. The People's Linguistic Survey of India reported that over 220 regional dialects have vanished over the past 50 years. Alok Kujur, a writer from the eastern state of Jharkhand, stated, 'As English and Hindi spread, our tribal language, Kurukh, is losing its place.'
Despite the Modi government's strong will exhibited over the past decade, English remains a vital link to the global economy and is seen as 'the language of opportunity' for numerous young people. English continues to be a key variable that creates a significant income gap in India's labor market. According to research by the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Indian males who speak English fluently earn approximately 34% more per hour than those who cannot speak English at all. Women also enjoy a 22% higher English premium.
The British Council recently analyzed in a report that 'For young people in India, English is not just a foreign language but is recognized as the most certain investment for upward mobility.' It further stated, 'Unless the disconnect between top-down government policies and the bottom-up economic aspirations of the citizens is bridged, the status of English will not easily waver.'