I Need Information To Write A Report On The Growth Of The English Language Before Indian Independence. Can Anyone Help Me?

Presently, the languages of India are Hindi, English and 21 other official languages spoken throughout India. Much of India was under British control in 1856, eventually all of India fell under British rule when they became a British colony following the nationwide insurrection against Britain in 1857. English was a required language at this time; the business of the government was handled in English, which is still considered their official second language.

When India finally, attained independence, they desired to become a global leader of the world, rather than a global power. The India people craved for their traditional way of life, the age-old values of the past: peace, happiness and universal tolerance. As India sought to settle back to the old ways, other nations marginalised them, in the post-war days. Nations who sought to become super powers held little regard for India. Only, those nations seeking to become super powers had the attention, respect or fear of other nations.

As some of the leadership, became more familiar with Western ways, they began to convince others to let go, of the past, the old ways and accept the modern Anglo-Saxon way of life. In time the leadership succeeded, in convincing others and the old ways began to be replaced by the new ways. They began to let go of the philosophy of Gandhi, Aurobindo and Tilak, as western ideas and customs, secularism and socialism broke down the last threads of attachment to the old ways. English language was part of the westernization of India advocated by those who wanted India to become a super power among nations.

The Left Socialist parties, and intellectuals no longer held to the past and India with its strong economy, history, education and polity turned to the Anglo-Saxon values, many in direct contradiction to their past beliefs. The history of India seems to be moving from one extreme to the other and never reaching a "happy medium." Amolng the Anglo-Saxon ways was greater use of the English language.

In the 1940' their way of life had become exactly what the War of Independence fault against. Secular, socialist leadership systematically broke down their value system. The belief in universal tolerance, peace, harmony and happiness no longer theirs, they lost pride in their past and became miserable in the present. Some recognized they were worse off than they had ever been under British law.

By the close of socialist rule, politically and economically weak the confidence waned. The literacy rate which was 30% in 1830 was now in 1947 only 17%. In India the pendulum swung from success to failure then to greater failure as they moved from socialism to market capitalism. They sought to become more Western; this meant English remained an official language, as globalization became their new ideology.

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