Yesterday, I visited Delhi Public School, Varanasi branch, with a friend whose nephew attends the school. There was a music festival taking place. I enjoyed the event but was puzzled by why all the students and teachers were speaking English to one another. Although all the parents were expected to meet with the warden, my friend was reluctant to do so because his English is not strong. He mentioned that even though he speaks Hindi to the school staff, they always respond in English. My friend asked me to speak with them. I tried speaking English, but they continued to respond in Hindi.
Eventually, I had to switch to Hindi. This was the second time I had experienced this situation; I had previously spoken with the same staff member about four to five months ago, and he had spoken to me in Hindi then. My friend was curious as to why they seemed to speak English only with him. It seems that the warden only speaks English to those who do not speak it fluently. English has become quite fashionable in India. Many people use English as their primary language, especially in major cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
About 80% of the upper class and 50% of the upper-middle class in these cities have adopted English as their first language and rarely speak Hindi. On some television shows where viewers call in with questions, big-city residents often speak English, even though the shows are in Hindi. When the host requests questions in Hindi, some callers claim they don’t know the language. I’ve noticed that even in smaller cities like Varanasi, people are increasingly using English and are reluctant to speak Hindi. While learning English is essential for job prospects in India, I find it troubling that English is being adopted as the first language.
Foreigners come to India to learn Hindi, yet Indians are increasingly embracing English and Western culture. This shift seems unnecessary to me. I once worked with Krista, a research scholar from the University of California, in Mehndiganj. We went to interview a worker at a Coke factory, but an American researcher was already conducting an interview. We had to wait for her to finish. She had a translator from Delhi working for an NGO called ASHA. The translator was gathering information for a book that the NGO was publishing. During the interview, the translator often spoke English to a local villager who didn’t understand the language. Despite knowing the interviewee could not speak English, she kept asking questions in English.
The interviewee could only respond by shaking his head, which seemed ineffective. I found it puzzling why the translator was insisting on speaking English. Most government and private sector offices have printed their letterheads stating a preference for communication in Hindi. However, they predominantly use English for correspondence. A letter written in English tends to receive quicker attention. It seems that Hindi is only used on Hindi Day, with 364 days dedicated to English. Raj Thackeray, the chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), protests against Hindi-speaking people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar living in Maharashtra.
Raj Thakrey, Chief of MNS Party
His supporters have been known to assault people who speak Hindi and damage shops with Hindi signage. They want everyone to speak Marathi. This has led to riots and numerous fatalities, yet the government has taken little action. While promoting Marathi is within their rights, it’s unacceptable to prevent people from speaking Hindi in India. Hindi is our national language, and it’s shameful that a group would attempt to suppress it within our own country. It would be more constructive to protest against the dominance of English rather than Hindi.
MNS workers beating a person from UP/Bihar
The MNS was supported by Congress to split the Marathi vote, which benefits Congress politically. Raj Thackeray has been arrested a few times but never stayed in jail long, which seems to be a political maneuver by Congress to maintain support among the Hindi-speaking populace. I learned English to secure a job, but I don’t use it with Hindi speakers. Many people believe that speaking English makes them appear more intelligent. However, language is crucial for preserving culture. If we lose Hindi, we lose a significant part of our cultural identity.
The growing trend of adopting English as the primary language is concerning. If this continues, it could mean the erosion of our cultural heritage and national identity. I believe that some people, especially young women, seek to appear modern and impressive by using English in conversations. It often seems like they are trying too hard to show off. I find it more authentic to communicate in one’s native language, as it fosters clearer understanding and connection. Losing Hindi would be a profound loss for India. If English becomes the dominant language, it might signify a loss of our unique cultural identity and heritage.