Strengths and limits of limitless English in India: a critical reflection on the relationship of English to a backward community

Abstract

ABSTRACT English, initially being a language of imperial leaders and later of upper caste elites after independence, continues to remain an elitist language in India. Over the course of time and for various reasons, the need for English language learning has rapidly increased. English is also believed to promote social mobility for the people of backward communities. However, the history of social disparity in India has problematized the position of English in the country. On one hand English produces varied possibilities for economic growth and social change. On the other hand, its elitist and exclusively selective nature negatively impacts Indian society by alarming the public education sector which the most backward communities rely on even today. Even though someone from a backward community succeeds in learning English they would inevitably step into a more complex/hierarchical zone by positioning themselves in the complexity of a class structure.