Beyond Colonial Roots: Is English Now an Indigenous Indian Language?

As the Supreme Court of India deliberates on challenges to the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) three-language formula, a fundamental linguistic debate has been reignited: Can English, a language brought to the subcontinent by colonial powers, still be classified as “foreign” in the modern Indian context?

The ongoing judicial scrutiny centers on the CBSE mandate, which requires students to study three languages, two of which must be native Indian languages. Because English is excluded from this “indigenous” category, the Court has questioned the rationale behind such a classification, citing the language’s centuries-long history in India and its indispensable role as a “link language” in governance, higher education, and the legal system.

A Complicated Heritage

The debate surrounding the status of English is far from black and white. According to noted scholar and linguist Ganesh Devy, the history of English in India is deeply intertwined with broader historical migrations.

“Hindi and English are born of the same Indo-European language family,” Devy explains, noting that while the ancestors of Hindi (via Sanskrit) arrived in India some 3,500 years ago, English roots arrived via Europe roughly four centuries ago. For Devy, the binary of “foreign vs. indigenous” is a flawed framework, as no language—with the notable exception of Tamil—is truly autochthonous to the entire Indian landmass.

Professor Apoorvanand, who teaches at the University of Delhi, argues that English has been thoroughly “Indianised.” He posits that India has domesticated the language, transforming it from a tool of the East India Company into a vehicle for liberation. “Indians adopted it and then used it against those who had colonized India,” Apoorvanand notes, highlighting how English became a bridge for communities previously excluded from education and power.

The Dynamics of Power and Elitism

The rise of English as a language of aspiration and social mobility remains a point of contention. While critics often frame the dominance of English as a neo-colonial imposition, experts point to a more nuanced reality.

“The creation of an English-speaking elite has to be seen in the historical context of an earlier experience, where Sanskrit had formed an elite which brought in the varna system,” says Devy. By contrast, the English-educated class has frequently been the demographic pushing for modern, democratic reforms.

However, both scholars express concern regarding the state’s role in linguistic “imperialism.” Apoorvanand observes that within the “Hindi belt,” the state’s failure to nurture regional tongues like Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Avadhi has allowed Hindi to act as a colonizing force, pushing smaller languages to the margins. Devy supports this view, noting that the Census of India often masks reality by subsuming dozens of distinct mother tongues under the umbrella of “Hindi” to manufacture a sense of linguistic unity.

A Future Built on Multilingualism

When discussing the future of Indian identity, the conversation shifts to how modern generations interact with global media and literature. While some fret over the “cultural uprooting” of youth who prefer English-language music or literature, others see it as a natural evolution of a pluralistic society.

“I don’t see any problem in that and I don’t see them as culturally uprooted,” Apoorvanand says, arguing that the anxiety over preserving “nativity” is often a smokescreen used by policymakers who criticize English in public while exclusively enrolling their own children in English-medium schools.

Ultimately, the consensus among these experts is that India’s strength lies in its functional multilingualism. Whether or not it is labeled “foreign,” English has undeniably woven itself into the fabric of Indian life. As the Supreme Court continues to examine the three-language formula, the discourse serves as a reminder that in a country as diverse as India, language is less about rigid origin stories and more about the lived, functional realities of its people.