Tuesday, 21 October 2008

Unfortunately True

LORD MACAULAY`S ADDRESS TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, 2 FEBRUARY, 1835


“ I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation”

How true Macaulay was!! He understood what we failed to, regarding our culture, education system, our backbone. No surprise that how British successfully managed to rule India for so many years and change the Face of India like a slow killing poison..

India, from urban to village, is in such a state where it’s neither completely western nor Indian.

Today, command on English Language is a Prestige Issue in India. Then whether u know your mother tongue or not is an secondary issue. That time isn’t too far when most of the schools in India will be replaced with English Medium

Courtesy: total insecurity of parents about the future of their kid if he/she doesn’t know English.

No doubt that for development of individual, family, village and country global expansion/exchange is very necessary. But not at the cost of our own culture, certainly.

Take example of recent Ads from Idea about educating Indian children. They are endorsing great cause, no doubt, but have you noticed that they show children learning only English, in each of their advertisement? Is learning English only education?? We take it lightly, but villagers etc. have huge influence of such advertisements on them and get carried away with such messages.

Children should be made aware of Indian values as they are introduced to western ones. They should be freed from the concept that every western thing is great or good. We need to learn everybody’s language and culture, but not by forgetting ours.

Alas!! See their influence, I am writing even this Blog in English!!

3 comments:

soham said...

so true apeksha!!! and even i am posting my comment in ENGLISH... a serious effort from evry young person is needed to gaurd his/her culture and traditions... remember sun sets at west..why follow the sunset?????

Anonymous said...

Sadly, its very much true Apps!!!....presently none of us really understands the value of our culture....neither did I, before I went to UK....One of the thing that I observed over there is that....people from different nation come to study and work in UK/USA.....but they really do value their culture and language a lot....and this is what I learnt from them - to value my nation's culture....and this further really helped me feel proud to represent my Country in such a diverse environment.....As said in the post...."This is the period of Globalization, but not at the cost of our own Culture!"

Apeksha said...

yes soham, we really need to sustain our culture or else one day it will be limited only to school history books!!
and shruti..
i can understand how we get to realize importance of our own Country once we leave it..whichever it may be..we cannot leave with complete satisfaction with someone else's values..and fortunately, we do have great values of our own..we just need to follow them..