This is hard to estimate but the numbers that float around, are 3-4% of the population, which is not a small number by any means. English has been both a uniting factor (in a national sense) but also one that sets the rural-urban and class divide more forcefully. Indians want their children to go to English medium schools, irrespective of social, regional, religious, class background. But few can afford to and not all are good in terms of substance. But there is severe competitition severe from the demand side. The CPM (Communist Party of India (Marxist) in West Bengal, which has ruled the state for nearly quarter century, initially did away with teaching English in government schools. It was a bad decision from the very beginning, which made the students, who were otherwise very bright, disadvantaged compared to those with English abilities. They rescinded that policy not too long ago.
But speaking English in India does not necessarily translate into being more "westernized." It is one of several languages that Indians come to learn. cheers, anthony xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Anthony P. D'Costa, Associate Professor Comparative International Development University of Washington Campus Box 358436 1900 Commerce Street Tacoma, WA 98402, USA Phone: (253) 692-4462 Fax : (253) 692-5718 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx On Thu, 22 Jul 2004, Doug Henwood wrote: > Anthony D'Costa wrote: > > >There are other splits, which have been better handled, for example language. > >Thus far 20 languages or so have been recognized by the government. > > How widely used is English? > > Doug >
