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Date sent: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 14:04:43 +0100
From: "S.N. CHEVLI" <CCDSNCH@leeds.ac.uk>
Subject: Language Issue!
This is one of the very good articles I have read so far. The thing I
liked most about this article is the aggressive nature of the argument
and the use of statistics to convey the point.
Samit Chevli
England
Date sent: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 18:36:10 -0700
From: Murali Reddy <mreddy@antivirals.com>
Subject: Don't throw English out of India!
A few years ago while he was chief minister of UP, Mr Mulayam Singh
Yadav issued a decree to stop the usage of English in his state. The next
morning the local press found out that Mr Yadav sends his children to the
best English medium schools in Lucknow. It appears from his latest outburst
against English, Mr Yadav hasn't quite come of age or come to realise the
linguistic diversity of the Indian nation and the futility of foisting a
language as a national language. Or perhaps this is yet another case of
posturing on his part to appear as though he is governing or doing something.
At the risk of looking repetitive, let me say how ridiculous is the notion
of imposing a language on the rest of the India that has tremendous
linguistic diversity. I wonder what's the next asinine scheme Mr Yadav is
up to?
Date sent: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 13:06:43 -0700
From: Praful Pillay <P.Pillay@uws.edu.au>
Subject: English versus Hindi
If only Mulayam Singh
would focus on what he is supposed to do (namely, take necessary steps to
enhance the nation's security), then he would have justified his
existence in the government. In today's world knowledge and information
is what makes a man (nation) succeed, and it is indeed deplorable that we
have people like Mulayam Singh, who under the guise of being leaders,
actually perpetuate a culture based on NOT KNOWING.
I have been working abroad for so many years, and I have noticed how
successful we Indians have become because of our command over a global
language like English. I have seen and experienced the respect that we
command as a nation.
Please remember that it is educated people (never
mind the language) that provide some hope for India, not illiterate,
narrow minded politicians. I shudder with fear, convulse with beads of
perspiration thinking what havoc Mulayamji must be wrecking on the
defence ministry. Maybe he has already instructed that all missile
related-software MUST BE WRITTEN IN HINDI. On second thought, I do not
think he has the intelligence to even do that.
Rakesh Sinha
Date sent: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 20:37:19 -0400
From: sandeep gupta <sandeep.z.gupta@lmco.com>
Subject: Good and bad Diwanji
I agree with Diwanji that English is not a just a language but a
historic cause for Indian integration. Moreover, it is a tool to connect
India with the world. The best example of this fact is India's success in
the global corporate world. Of course, the true value of any language is
to create a solid local economy, arts, science, and a sense of
responsible individuality.
Unfortunately, at this point in time English
seems to be the only language that has had any impact in that direction.
The failure of Indian languages in creating an intellectual base upon
themselves is sorely missing. Multiply that with the imposition of an
inferiority complex on the people who do not speak English, and one will
see the reason why English in India is not just seen as a communication
tool but a ticket to elitist behaviour.
No wonder people like Mulayam
who have attained power without being great orators in English are not
kind to the language. But promoting any one Indian language as a
national language will be a mistake and cause unnecessary harm to the
national spirit. Remember China and Pakistan sitting on our borders.
We are fighting envy, hate, and competition here. We must
remain united. The tone of Diwanji towards the Indians from the north --
in his language -- clearly does not take that need into
account. He forgot that in the North people live better, cities are far
more clean, 55% of Indian agricultural output comes from Haryana and
Punjab, the two wealthiest states in the nation. So much for literacy
and upliftment.
If English produces the national elite, it also produces the army of
Babus. In long-run pursuit of prosperity, it still matters who you are
than what language you speak. Selectively choosing Bihar and UP and
bashing the culture in the North would not solve any purpose. Every
region in India has something to offer. Diwanji, stick to the point and
welcome to Delhi.
Date sent: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 05:22:13 -0700
From: Madhav <vkp@unlinfo.unl.edu>
Subject: Importance of English language in India!
This is an excellent article. It would serve better if you sent this as
a hard copy to Mulayam Singh. These idiotic politicians should realise
how shallow their thinking is. So in all earnest, I would urge you to
send these thought provoking articles to appropriate politicians.
At least we can hope if something like this causes a spark in their rusted
brains.
My vehemence towards Mulayam and other worthless politicians is not
about the philosophy of a particular language, or having Indian version
of name for cities or towns. It is about the significance of them. At
a time when more important issues are warranted, these hypocrites run
around raising worthless issues. Since they can't address the real world
problems of Indians, they raise some crappy issues such as this.
Venkat
Date sent: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 00:34:24 -0400 (EDT)
From: <ManShri@aol.com>
Subject: Don't throw English out of India!
I was surprised to read such an article on the Internet, where you are abusing
your own language for a foreign language.
If anyone has problem with Hindi as a national language, there are lot
of ways of saying that, not calling it a bazaar language without any
proof of past records.
On top of that you call it a language of worst part of the country, with-
out realising the past history of states like UP and Bihar.
These are the
places which has contributed a lot in the freedom struggle of the
country. UP and Bihar is the land of Ram, Krishna and Buddha. It is the land
of Rajendra Prasad, Nehru, Maulana Azad etc. These are the people who
are the heroes of many Indians.
Bihar is the richest state
in India for mineral resources. These states are behind other states of
India because of a lot of other factors not just Hindi. These are the
states which produce maximum number of bureaucrats, who are running
this country.
Whatever progress India has made till now is because of efforts
of each Indian national, not by certain sections of people.
This article has not only hurt my feelings, but all Hindi-speaking
people. This article has insulted the Hindi language and people of Hindi
speaking states.
Manish
Date sent: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 08:48:21 -0400
From: rajendran <raje@ny.citoh.com>
Subject: Keep it up Diwanji and Rediff
It's nice to read a wonderful and well imagined article like this.
The author has stated the importance of the English language very
appropriately and his views are greatly appreciable. Congrats Rediff for
publishing such a nice article which will open the eyes of our blinded
politicians. It would be nice if Rediff could publish a lot more stories like
this to create awareness among Indians in a global way.
Sam
Date sent: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 11:11:28 -0400 (EDT)
From: Desai Paarth <desai@ncat.edu>
Subject: Diwanji on English
The article was interesting, but I would like him to know that language
brings in culture. Stopping the use of English will harm us more than
bringing any benefit, but ignoring our native languages like Hindi and Tamil would
have grave consequences in the long term. English should only be a business
language, and its use in social and personal situation should be strictly
restricted.
Paarth
Date sent: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 18:07:44 +0530
From: "Manoj M.V.[M]" <manu@miel.mot.com>
Subject: English in India
The article was really good. I agree with your points.
I am a software engineer, working for Motorola, Bangalore
I just can read and understand Hindi.
But I can't speak Hindi.
I believe English can integrate India
in a much better and faster way than Hindi can do.
In fact, on coming to Bangalore, after doing my education
in Kerala, I am managing here with English,
not with Kannada, Hindi or Malyalam.
Moreover when technology evolves from different
parts of the world, and most of the books related to
technology are available only in English,
it is better to learn English.
Let the people from the Hindi-speaking areas speak Hindi.
Let them not learn English if they don't want to.
But they don't have the right to impose Hindi on everybody.
Manoj MV
Date sent: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 08:12:57 -0400
From: Atul Chowdhry <atulc@ms.com>
Subject: Amberish K Diwanji
This is probably the only article to date in Rediff that has been a
complete waste of my time. The author is just caught up in his own
intellectual ramblings, making no convincing point or argument -- what
did I just read?
Please keep up the excellent work and try to eliminate articles like
these.
Atul
Date sent: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 11:09:33 +0200
From: Siva Rama Kumar Somayajula <siva@danet.de>
Subject: Hindi Vs English
That was a thought provoking article by Amberish K Diwanji. Even though
I don't agree word by word with him, the essence of the article makes
a whole lot of sense.
To throw English out of India is the single most irrecoverable way of
damaging its future and progress. As he rightly pointed out that
English looks like the only way to unite the otherwise diverse cultures
of India. There is no shame in accepting something foreign into our
system if it does more good than harm! Otherwise, we would have to
throw away our political system, our Constitution and a lot of other
things too as they were based on the English systems.
In this age of information technology, look at what English has done
to India. Why does India have the world's largest (or the second?)
number of software programmers? China has more population than us.
Or why have all the MNCs worth their salt opened up
development (software) centres in India?
Some people may argue that
Indians have brains for software which the Westerns lack, this is not correct.
India owes its rapid development in the area of information
technology to its English speaking population. This is not to say that
non-English speaking nations are not developing, but not at the rate
of India!
People like Mulayam Singh and Laloo who survive on the widespread
illiteracy in their states might be
justified in their own selfish ways to throw out English out of India.
Yaji
Date sent: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 10:42:37 +0800
From: "Dr.K.Murali" <cvekm@nus.edu.sg>
Subject: Don't throw English out of India!
What to say?.....It's the truth.
K Murali
Date sent: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 10:30:58 +0800
From: Dr M Arul <mpeam@nus.edu.sg>
Subject: English out of India
The article gives the present situation of India in an excellent way.
Today India's strength lies in our highly educated, disciplined manpower
for which, English the language we studied, helped in many ways. Not
only uniting India, but connecting India to the rest of the world.
Today we are leading in the software field by just having PCs of
486 and Pentium processors.
Actually
the problem with our politicians is double talk according to time and
situations, that's the major drawback for the progress of our mother
land.
Date sent: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 17:12:25 -0700
From: Brian Trick <marya2@earthlink.net>
Subject: Regarding English language
I really liked this article "Please don't throw away English out of
India." It should, if possible be published in the national newspapers
of India, so that people understand what their ignorant, foolish and
selfish leaders (??) are up to. Maybe a translated copy could be sent
to Shri Mulayam Singh!
Date sent: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 12:10:24 +0800
From: Anurag <anurag@cs.ust.hk>
Subject: Do not throw English
The article is biased, poor in taste and not required. Today the question
is not to throw English out, but how to develop Indian language and make
people literate. Here the author is biased and has made remarks
not required at all. According to him Hindi-speaking people are foolish
and selfish, and do not understand issues related to India.
It seems
the author has a highly distorted view of India, and does not understand what
India is. He is afraid that if Hindi is made the national language some Indians
will benefit and have an advantage over others. Whether Hindi is
the national language or not those who wants to learn it will learn it, and
if they want to 'open their eyes' to the world they will open
it. But few wants to take advantage of others and rule, and keep others
out of power.
Anurag
Date sent: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 15:37:10 -0700
From: <vketan@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Don't throw English out
Mail this article to Mulayam Singh Yadav.
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