31, July 2025

The Politics Of English: Debates on Language Policy in Independent India

VOLUME-8; ISSUE-7; JULY-2025

Author(s): Dr. Abusina Biswas

Authors Affiliations:

Faculty, Department Of English

Rani Dhanya Kumari college

Jiaganj, Murshidabad, West-Bengal

Email: abusinab@gmail.com

Contact No: 9733656342

 

DOIs:10.2018/SS/202507019     |     Paper ID: SS202507019


Abstract
Keywords
Cite this Article/Paper as
References

This paper explores the contentious role of English in shaping language policy in independent India, a nation characterized by extraordinary linguistic diversity. Since 1947, English has been a focal point of political, cultural, and social debates, reflecting tensions between national unity, regional identity, and global aspirations. Rooted in its colonial legacy, English was retained as an associate official language under the Indian Constitution, sparking debates over Hindi imposition, regional language rights, and socio-economic inequities. The paper examines key milestones, including the Official Languages Act of 1963, anti-Hindi agitations in southern states, and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, to analyze how English has served as both a unifying force and a symbol of elitism. Drawing on constitutional debates, policy documents, and scholarly literature, the study argues that English’s role in India reflects broader struggles over power, identity, and access to resources in a multilingual society. It highlights the paradox of English as a tool of empowerment and exclusion, offering insights into crafting equitable language policies in a postcolonial context.

Language Policy,English in India,Hindi Imposition,Multilingualism,Postcolonial Identity,Anti-Hindi agitations,Indian Constitution

Dr. Abusina Biswas (2025); The Politics of English: Debates on Language Policy in Independent India,   Shikshan Sanshodhan : Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences,      ISSN(o): 2581-6241,  Volume – 8,   Issue –  7.,  Pp.111-118.        Available on –   https://shikshansanshodhan.researchculturesociety.org/

  1. Agnihotri, R. K. (2017). Indian English: Towards a New Paradigm. New Delhi: Orient Blackswan.
  2. Annamalai, E. (2001). Managing Multilingualism in India: Political and Linguistic Consequences. New Delhi: Sage Publications.
  3. Austin, Granville. (1999). The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
  4. Azam, M., Chin, A., & Prakash, N. (2013). “The Returns to English-Language Skills in India.” Economic Development and Cultural Change, 61(2), 335–367.
  5. Brass, Paul R. (1990). The Politics of India Since Independence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  6. Census of India. (2011). Language Atlas of India. New Delhi: Registrar General of India.
  7. Gandhi, M. K. (1947). Hind Swaraj and Other Writings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  8. Government of India. (1963). Official Languages Act, 1963. New Delhi: Ministry of Law and Justice.
  9. Government of India. (2020). National Education Policy 2020. New Delhi: Ministry of Human Resource Development.
  10. King, Robert D. (1997). Nehru and the Language Politics of India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
  11. Macaulay, T. B. (1835). Minute on Indian Education. London: British Colonial Office.
  12. NASSCOM. (2024). Indian IT Industry Report 2024. New Delhi: National Association of Software and Service Companies.
  13. Phillipson, Robert. (1992). Linguistic Imperialism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  14. Ramanathan, Vaidehi. (2005). The English-Vernacular Divide: Postcolonial Language Politics and Practice. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
  15. Sarangi, Asha (Ed.). (2009). Language and Politics in India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
  16. Sridhar, S. N. (1987). “Language Policy and Planning in India: The Case of English.” International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 63, 85–101

Download Full Paper

Download PDF No. of Downloads:4 | No. of Views: 61