Resisting linguistic chauvinism

Otherwise, it may breed destructive and violent nationalism in India

It seems especially bizarre in London where I am writing this. Those few British who think of India at all are convinced that popularising English was the Raj’s greatest achievement. Language is Britain’s proudest export and an Evening Standard headline screamed the other day, “Berlin may be German but the English language rules.” Mastery of another language is always an accomplishment. Yet, a young man was reportedly beaten up in New Delhi for daring to speak in English!

Actually, the incident didn’t surprise me. It’s been coming a long time as the envious underprivileged took their cue from their political leaders.