It
is a commonly held notion - by almost every section of our society - that
English is a key to success - at least in Corporate India; that English
education (especially the Public School variety, or the convent variety) is a
pre-requisite. It is thought that English is a basic quality that is the key to
unlocking doors as well as understanding complicated concepts and acquiring
advanced skills. The importance of English, thus, is thought to be both in
unlocking further doors, as well as acquiring skills that enable a person to
succeed in life.
Thus,
from the above we can see that while we need English, a few of us are not
proficient in the language; and secondly, we have only a limited use of
English, which is restricted to only written communication, and basic skills in
understanding what is being said. First, let us attend to the question of why
there is a need for written language skills in English. The answer is
straightforward: English is the only possible script and language that is
common across the land; there can be no other language that can fill the gap
created by English - if it is abandoned.
And
in this, admittedly yes, quite a large number of students are lacking, as
mentioned in the opening of the paragraph. The reason is simple: not many
parents can afford the costly education where you can acquire these skills.
More than 75% of India resides in villages and small towns;and more than 75%
dont earn enough to have their children sent to such schools. Quite simply put,
this is a delivery gap of governmental educational services, which are shoddy
at best, and pitiable at worst.
In
conclusion, it can be seen that English is a most peculiar problem in India :
while at one level, we need it for integrity and continuity; at the other, it
is the lack of proper education that is hindering a good number of our
students. While at one level, it is a mission critical skill, at another level,
it is only a basic skill since verbal communication is in the vernacular. While
at one level, our students cannot afford access to good education, at another
level, Industry bemoans lack of English skills. While at one level, we need
people, at another level we cant hire them as they don’t have the skills! While
at one level, it aids in keeping us one and united, at another level it is a
significant challenge to our culture. While at one level, English speakers
consider themselves a cut above – employing the language at every opportunity,
at another level the local populace both wants to emulate while simultaneously
belittling such anglicized people by the pejorative term “angrez”!
Why
should we have an attitude of superiority if we speak English better, or are
better educated – when this is largely because our parents had access to good
education, and earned enough to put us through the same? And why should those
who did not have this happy chance be left out? Thus, if you cannot afford a
good education, will you be always on the periphery? This is what seems to be
happening, since the consumption trends indicate that consumption of the bottom
income layers has not gone up. This is more so, since in my experience, English
is only a peripheral requirement in the large majority of functional roles, and
that we need only a working knowledge of the same.
None
of the questions I have asked above have easy answers; none of the questions
above has any quick fix. These are hard realities, a fundamental dichotomy that
lies at the core of our national identity. We are, essentially, by-and-large, a
tri-lingual people – English, Mother Tongue, and Hindi. Till such time as this
is resolved, and a local link language emerges, these questions and problems
will remain. What we can do is change our outlook – hire people who are good at
communication, and have the required level of skills in English for the role in
question…
This
is not an article which suggests solutions, or makes grandiose statements, or
suggests a one solution fits all type panacea. I cannot state the impossible;
such is the peculiar nature of the English Problem in India. The same language
that is linking the diverse groups in our country together, is also the
target of much innuendo in the cultural sphere as well as in the skills sphere.
The gaps are vast, and they exist on both sides – while we need to change our
approach, attitude, and drop our superiority complexes towards English on
one side; we also need to improve education! There are no solutions; only
questions. Perhaps, the answers lie in the distant future…
Comments
Post a Comment