LANGUAGE IN INDIA

KANNADA BE:KA? ENGLISH BE:KA? YERADU: BE:KU!
DESIRE KANNADA? DESIRE ENGLISH? WANT BOTH!
Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.

1. Introduction

Language is the voice for the expression of our thoughts. The languages we speak, read, or write place us on the power structure of our social standing.

The reason for this presentation is to share the mind-set of people at the grass-roots, who regret not having achieved enough in school, for reasons commonly known to us: for most of who we interviewed, it is the phenomenon of ‘hand-to-mouth’ existence; their children are sent to work rather than to school, so as to add to the family income. Change, however, is happening.

Deep in their being, there is the burning desire for progress, to be a little more educated, to earn a little more money, for a little more comfort, if nothing else, at least, a few steps ahead of what their parents have them achieve, their children need to take just a few more steps ahead…

The socio-political and linguistic scenario, in addition to radio and television, has made these people worldly-wise that language is the vehicle for socio-economic mobility. They perceive what they lack, and they are determined to take into their hands what the system is yet to facilitate.

2. The study

Language in education, as medium and as subject, continues to be the topic of contention. In the Indian context, the situation is marked by the tussle between the regional languages and English. In order to get a bird’s eye view of the people who really matter, a field survey was carried out in December, 2006.

3. Questions

1. Is learning English important?
2. Why is it important?
3. Will learning English be a hindrance to learning Kannada?
4. At which level in school should English be introduced?

Our target group was from the low socio-economic strata living in urban, semi-urban and rural areas, and spread across professions such as:

1. Flower vendors
2. Vegetable vendors
3. Bangle vendors
4. Fruit vendors
5. Buyers in the market who were willing to share their views
6. Workers in a Hardboard Factory and Agarbathi Packing outlet
7. Stone cutters
8. Construction workers
9. Utility service manpower in a Factory in Mysore
10. School teachers
11. School children
12. College children
13. People in villages within a radius of 35 kms. from Mysore (a large city in the state of Karnataka), who are farmers, tailors, daily wagers, small shopkeepers, and mothers and grandmothers at home.

4. Beyond Karnataka

We also took advantage of the socio-cultural setting in urban Mysore and interviewed people from different states, who are either undergoing training in organization, or were in Mysore for the annual Theatre Festival conducted by Rangayana, the local Theatre Repertory.

1. Teacher trainees at the Southern Regional Language Centre, from Orissa, Assam, and UP.
2. Artisans from Gujarat, West Bengal, Orissa who participated at the recently concluded Theatre Festival – “Bahoroopi” at Rangayana, Mysore.

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