Tuesday 5 August 2014

The Language Question

I do not wish to comment on the present C-SAT controversy in the UPSC examination.

However, I wish to say that we in India cannot do without English. That is because all scientific knowledge today is in English. If one goes to any engineering college he will find all the books are in English. So also in Medical Colleges or scientific institutes. For progress of our country knowledge of modern science is absolutely essential.

Moreover it is not only for learning science that knowledge of English is necessary. If one goes to a lawyer's office he will find all the books in his library are in English. Most of the history and biography books are in English.

The Allahabad High Court celebrates Hindi Diwas every year. When I was a Judge there the office bearers of the High Court Bar Association would come to meet me and request me to attend. I would tell them that it is better I do not attend because I will say things which some people may not like, and then there will be a controversy. But they would press me to come. When I went to the function I heard some speakers say " Angrezi dasi hai " ( English is a slave girl ), or Angrezi hatao ( abolish English ). When my turn came to speak I said that English is a window to much of modern knowledge, so how can we do without it ? I would also say that in fact English should be spread further, and your children's future depends on learning English. Don't you care for your childrens' future ? I would add that Hindi is my mother tongue too, and I love it, but that does mean that I should behave like a fool.

Those who say that in Germany, France, Russia, etc scientific books are in the mother tongues forget that in those countries there have been scientific books in those languages for a very long time, often over a century. On the other hand in India they are all in English. Translating even one book may take several years. So it is better to learn English and read them in English.


For more on the subject, read my articles:

27 comments:

  1. What is you view on judge being accused of rape claims???

    I have a punishment for rape/eve-teaser tell me if possible legally
    1) Make Zoo in which eve-teasers are kept for 1 years in bikini and people treat them like animal
    2) Keep people who do rape for life time in above zoo

    Government will earn revenue and it will discourage rapiest and eve-teasers due to humiliation??

    What is your opinion?

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    Replies
    1. Come to civilization world. Just because Rapists behaved cruelly, you don't loose your composure to adopt animal behaviors. Law has ample provisions already in the Republic of India. Your private views cannot become rules for a society to co-exist.

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    2. No Law efficient may be civilization for you? Rapists are animal only so I don't feel wrong in treating them like animal.

      I feel you are like Mulayam Singh who is Mulayam on Rapist???

      Mr. Katju waiting for your direct reply if you are concerned about eve-teasing and rape

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    3. The filthiest system in India is, not to put up your name in front of your idea. This is he greatest benefit politicians makings use of from Citizens. Demand your rights with a name. Not under anonymous. Such highly esteemed Judge Mr. Katju is not even .001% obligated to answer your questions in society with 1 billion people, and many of them are willing to ask Mr. Katju questions openly.

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    4. You are like Mulayam Singh who support rapist??

      You must have yourself done something wrong that's why you are against the law that I suggested

      Anonymous does not mean fake person, your blog profile appears to be fake and most of the time you reply on behalf of Mr.Katju ? I wonded whether its Mr. Katju replying as Sengaiyan?

      Hope now anonymous won't be a problem and Mr.Katju will reply if he is serious about women security?

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  2. u r 100% right katju sir , ab may apni baat kahna chahta hu aur wah ye ki civil may hindi madhyam samapt kia jana chahiye,jo english bahut bhali bhanti nahi janta ho wah is yogya nahi ki ias,ifs,ips ki kursi par baithay, yahi chalta raha to ek din in kursion par wah moorkh aaseen ho jainge jo patwari honay ki yogyata rakhtay hai,english ko aur kathin upsc may kia jana chahiye taki yogya pratibhaon ka chayan desh ki mahttawa purna post par ho sakay, gyan bina english k aa he nahi sakta,sabhi stareeya books english may hai,aisay nalayak ladko ki maang kharij kar deni hogi jo padhtay likhtay kuch nahi in badi kursion par baith apni agyaanta say in kursion ko ganda karna chahtay hain,jab say hindi upsc may madhyam bana bahut he jahil type k loag ias ips banay jinko kuch nahi aata,hindi may to sathi knowledge hai,gyaan to english may he hai, may hindi ka kattar samarthak hu lekin civil seva may isko madhyam tak nahi hona chahiye, jo dhongi hoga wah virodh karega,jo rashtra bhakt hoga aur bharat ko vishva may sabsay mahaan desh banana chahta hoga wah katju sir aur meray sujhaav ka samarthan karega, hindi la kar upsc may ponga logo ko kursi par nahi baithana hai, hindi upsc say hataao

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  3. I want to ask one question ARE BHARAT RATNA FIXED????

    Indian Sports Ministry - Dhyanchand name will be send for Bharat Ratna

    Congress - Sachin Tendulkar joins Congress

    PMO - Replace Dhyanchand name with Sachin Tendulkar since he has joined Congress

    Great - SACHIN GETS BHARAT RATNA?????????????????

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    Replies
    1. Of course it is Mr. Anonymous. MMS let loose the genie out-of-bottle. The Republic of India will need 2-3 decades to bring harmony, merit in governance, merit in various institutions like Lok Sabha, Courts and peaceful Media.

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    2. Appointment of Judges itself is fixed then why not anything? In india i have a little doubt whether the elections are fixed?

      Really there are grounds for this doubt, currently the delhi election is being delayed is one among them.

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    3. If you want to make the system work better, don't be coward. That makes the politicians east to cheat you. Put your name in front of you to make a revolution. There is not history in the world where any anonymous made it in to any history books!

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  4. anonymous sir is speaking bitter truth on upsc,and justice katju is speaking salty truth,if hindi as medium y not tamil n lelgu,no hindi is needed in upsc,

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  5. a kaun agyat aadmi angreji ki pairvi karta jee,hum lalu k bihar ka hu,jaisay angrez bhagaya des say waisahi angreji bhagauga,e kaun angreji bardha katju bhaiya ki adalat may ghus raha jee,a bikanu tani ponkia k bhagao,dekho koi bardha aa k angreji man pagur karay ta usko london k jahaj man baithao,e sab angreji bardha wahi kalaktar banega, yaha angreji ka kauna jaroorat nai hai upsc may,dekho ponkia k bhaga dena usko jo angreji may ponkay,sab hindi man karo kitaab,puri dunia ki kitab har bhasa ki hindi may anuwad may du teen saal me karwata hu,sab ladka logo ko rojgar milega,videsi log bhi aao,jo jada phudakta hai angreji ko le ke usko angrej ki tatti saaph karnay huan bhejo,hiya ab sirf hindi chalega

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  6. Sir, please write about the Jury system. Why was it abolished? Would it help India develop more soft skills to its citizens by way of Jury system? I agree with for the Crores of case pending, one of the most important factors are Lawyers. Both side Lawyer do not study the case deeper, keep asking more time and eventually Judges gave in to offer lengthy times of trial. I remember a incident in USA. One time Michael Jackson presented himself in a Court in Pajamas. Because he tried excuse to present at the Court and Lawyers made argument. The US district court Judge didn't buy lawyer arguments and ordered MJ present in court within 1 hour. He arrived at the court in Pajamas directly from bedroom to court within an hour. Why such things are not possible in India? I believe if Judges are given amendments to Cr.Pr code, of tougher rules of running court, would it help reduce the backlogs of Crores of cases?

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  7. This government falling in line to the Students will be a scar for the meritorious decisions in governance of present government. Our society has become largely driven with selfish aspirations damaging the long-term prosperity of the nation, by the way of succumbing the ruling politicians with protests and agitations. The politicians give-in to them fearing Law and Order, casually violating other Laws!

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. We are following a colonial system which was devised by the British; it was good for them as they were able to control every thing while sitting on the top. As they were ruling the colonial India, they made all the rules favorable to British and those rich people who could afford send their children to England for studies. I think those rich Indians also face the racial difference, M K Gandhi was the example of that.

    We must understand that system made by British was good to control a colony but it is not good for an independent progressive nation. The present system of appointing IAS or IPS at higher places in hierarchy is absolutely wrong because they start their career from such a high level that they never come to know about the ground realities. That’s why most of the policies made by them fail on ground. Our present system of appointing IAS and IPS keep them away from ground realties and common man.


    The entry level should be from Tehsildar level in Administrative Services and Sub Inspector level in Police so they can understand the problem faced at ground level and the functioning of the system. Similar types of changes are also required in other domains.

    The present system of selection in civil services, test only the bookish knowledge or so called mental ability. Why don’t we test the physical ability and the coordination of mind and body? Why are we ignoring health and hygiene?


    The good and positive personality require all above mentioned elements in right proportion.



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    Replies
    1. Well said. The simple following write up on imaginary ground will reveal the present system of governance:

      How to Recruit Right Person for Right Job?

      Put about 100 bricks in no particular order in a closed room with an open window
      Then send 2 or 3 candidates in the room and close the door
      Leave them alone and come back after 6 hours and then analyse the situation.

      If they are counting the bricks – put them in the Accounts Department
      If they are recounting them – put them in Auditing
      If they have messed up the whole place with the bricks – put them in Engineering
      If they are arranging the bricks in some strange order – put them in Planning
      If they are throwing the bricks at each other – put them in Operation
      If they are sleeping – put them in Reception
      If they have broken the bricks into pieces – put them in Information Technology
      If they are sitting idle – put them in Human Resources.
      If they say they have tried different combinations, yet no brick has been moved – put them in Sales
      If they already left for the day – put them in Marketing
      If they are starting out of the window – put them in Strategic Planning

      And then last but not least
      If they are talking to each other and not a single brick has been moved
      …… Congratulate and put them in Top Management !


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    2. havent come across such "comment" since i unofficially became a NETIZEN...........................EPIC......................i hope u wont mind being this copy pasted @ other places on net etc.
      any way kind regards
      i cannot stop laughing

      Delete
  10. सिकंदर हयात9 August 2014 at 13:55

    नंदन नीलकेणी साहब अरबपति आदमी हे ये अंग्रेजी के इतने सनकी सपोटर हे की इन्होने नेहरू जी तक को अपनी किताब में हिंदी सपोटर और अंग्रेजी की रह में रोड़े डालने वाला बता दिया हे कोई तुक ? ( जबकि गांधी जी का अमर वाक्य हे '' आज़ादी तो में भी चाता जवाहर भी चाता पर जवाहर चाता की अँगरेज़ चले जाए अंग्रेज़ियत यही रहे और में चाता की इस देश से अंग्रेज़ियत चली जाए अँगरेज़ भले ही हमारे मित्र बनकर यही रहे ) अफ़सोस की ये नीलकेणी साहब लोकसभा चुनाव हार गए में दिल से चाह रहा था की नीलकेणी साहब जीत जाए ताकि फिर ये बात साबित हो जाए की अंग्रेज़ियत से भरे लोग इस देश की समस्याएं सुलझाने में बिलकुल विफल हे ये उनके बस का नहीं हे लेकिन हां अगर नीलकेणी साहब मुझे गलत साबित कर देते अपने चुनाव शहर को सवर्ग बना देते तो भी मुझे बहुत ख़ुशी होती हालांकि मुझे पूरा विश्वास हे की में गलत साबित नहीं होता क्योकि मेने जीवन की पाठशाला से इन शुद्ध अंग्रज़ी वालो का भी काफी अध्ययन किया हे और पाया हे की ये लोग इस देश की कोई समस्या सुलझा ही नहीं सकते अपने लिए चाहे जो कर ले और वो भी कोई बड़ी बात नहीं हे भारत में हमेशा ही एक वर्ग हमेशा ही बेहद खुशहाल तो रहा ही हे कभी संस्कृत कभी अरबी कभी फ़ारसी कभी अंग्रेजी वाला इसमें कोई नयी बात नहीं हे

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  11. सिकंदर हयात9 August 2014 at 16:54

    काटजू सर सबसे पहले आपको कुछ साल पहले हिंदी आउटलुक में ही पढ़ा था जहा आपने हिंदी में एक बेहतरीन लेख लिखा था'' सामाजिक उद्धशेय के लिए हो कला '' ( विनती हे की वो लेख भी आप यहाँ लगाय ) उसमे आपने हिंदी लेखन पत्रकारिता साहित्य के गिरते स्तर की भी चर्चा की थी अब गौर करे तो पिछले सालो में हिंदी पत्रकारिता लेखन साहित्य में भी अंग्रेजी के प्रति भक्तिभाव बेहद बढ़ा हे और स्तर बेहद गिरा हे ? देखा जाए तो जब तक हिंदी अखबार पत्रिकाय पत्रकार लेखक लेखन साहित्य अंग्रेजी के साथ एक टकराव की मुद्रा में रहा तब तक उनका एक स्तर था उनमे कुछ बात थी जब से हिंदी वालो ने अंग्रेजी के सामने घुटने टेके हे तब से आप देखे की हिंदी में हर एक अखबार पत्रिकाओ लेखको का स्तर किस कदर गिर चूका हे अगर आपको सबको इन्साफ और समानता में देखने में दिलचस्पी हे तो फिर आपको -अंग्रेजी एक महान भाषा हे इससे कोई टकराव या दुराव नहीं हे मगर फिर अंग्रेजी के वर्चस्व और अंग्रेज़ियत और अंग्रेजी पिशाचों की बदमिजाजी और बद दिमागी से टकराव मोल लेना ही होगा मज़बूरी हे

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  12. एक जापानी अपनी भाषा में डाक्टर या इंजीनीयर बनता है. एक कोरियन अपनी भाषा में डाक्टर या इंजीनीयर बनता है. एक चीनी अपनी भाषा में उच्चतम शिक्षा हासिल करता है. क्या आपको विकास और भाषा के बीच का अन्तर्सम्बन्ध नहीं दिखता? हम अंगरेजी भाषा में डाक्टर, इंजीनीयर और वकील बना रहे है. और नतीजा यह होता है की हमारे सबसे उत्कृष्ट दिमाग कालेज से निकलने से पहले ही देश छोड़ विदेश जाने की तैयारी कर लेते है. इन बातो पर अगर आप गौर फरमाएंगे तो आपको लगेगा की हमें भारतीय भाषाओं में उच्चतम शिक्षा देने की शुरुवात अवश्य करनी चाहिए. और यह शुरुआत हिन्दी से हो सकती है. अगर हम ऐसा कर सके तो ५० वर्ष बाद हमारे पास हमारी भाषा में सभी पाठ्य पुस्तके होंगी. और अगर हम ऐसा नहीं कर सके तो भारत के उत्कृष्ट दिमाग विदेशो की सेवा करते रहेंगे. हमारे भारत के गावों के उत्कृष्ट दिमाग इस लिए ऊपर नहीं आ सकेंगे क्योंकी उनके परिवेश में अंगरेजी में प्रवीन (प्रोफिसिएँट) होना सम्भव नहीं है.

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  13. In Indian culture, the term "Macaulay's Children" is sometimes used to refer to people born of Indian ancestry who adopt Western culture as a lifestyle, or display attitudes influenced by colonisers ("Macaulayism")[14] – expressions used disparagingly, and with the implication of disloyalty to one's country and one's heritage.

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  15. In the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny of 1857, Macaulay's criminal law proposal was enacted. The Indian Penal Code in 1860 was followed by the Criminal Procedure Code in 1872 and the Civil Procedure Code in 1909. The Indian Penal Code inspired counterparts in most other British colonies, and to date many of these laws are still in effect in places as far apart as Pakistan, Singapore, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, as well as in India itself.

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  16. Macaulay introduced English-medium education in India through his famous Minute on Indian Education of February 1835.
    Macaulay called for an educational system to create a class of anglicised Indians who would serve as cultural intermediaries between the British and the Indians.

    Many so called freedom fighters or great leaders of India are from this class of Anglicised Indians.

    They were actually intermediaries between the British and the Indians.

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