The Hindu : All for English

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 17, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

All for English

Sir, — Your Editorial `All for English' (Feb. 14) deserves to be translated in all our regional languages for the very important message it conveys on the need to teach English in schools and institutions of higher learning. Rajaji campaigned for the retention of English by touring in all regions of India. When he came to Kolkata, the Congress veteran and Chief Minister, B.C. Roy called on him and then got a resolution in favour of English passed by the West Bengal Assembly.

The successor to Jyoti Basu is trying to let English take its rightful place in the life of the people. The last two sentences of the Editorial have summed up the history of the English language in India most admirably. Will we be wise enough not to ``let some stupid bias come in the way of what seems like a victory in this era of the Internet''?

K. Vedamurthy,

Chennai

* * *

Sir, — That a rule still exists in France that prohibits newspapers and periodicals from using English words is really surprising. Lord Macaulay, if alive, would be surprised to note that 70 million Indians speak English. Further, countries such as China, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia are beginning to give importance to English because they are afraid that unless they master English they will not be able to compete with other developed countries.

A.G. Sreekumar,

Kochi

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