Why do we need so many languages?

As you know, in the modern Indian nation the states were created on the basis of languages and indeed language plays a very important part in maintaining the diversity of our Indianness. Almost all the languages are centuries old, they are treasure troves of creativity and have often shaped the destiny of the people who speak them. So in a way, its good that the Indian state gives due recognition and respect to all these languages and does something at least to maintain their continuance. However, to rise above partiality, I feel that English should have been made the sole official and national language of India. It would have had many benefits. Being a colonial country, English was always very much here, yet being a foreign language, its above the petty politics of regional chauvinism. People all over India, irrespective of north, south, east, west, are comfortable with this language. It’s a global language and so would have helped more Indians in their pursuit of global careers than only those whose parents could afford to send them to English medium schools. Private English medium schools would not have become a rage and hapless parents would not have to pay thru their noses if all Govt schools taught English as the medium of communication. Apart from Bollywood, I don’t think Hindi as a language has been a great unifying force.

I am happy Ravi that you know at least one important fact about Sanskrit, that it is world's most scientific language. It is quite unfortunate that among our founding fathers there was none so knowledgeable in Sanskrit, that they could not place it properly before the constituent assempby to give it the pride of palce making it the National Language. Being the root of almost all Indian Languages with the possible exception(even here I have doubts) of Tamil, it qualifies(d) the best. All languages of India are equally close to Sanskrit. Further, Sanskrit is what we call, a "constructible" language in that there are precise rules for the coining of New Words from within itself, a very desired property for a language that needs to adapt itself with the galloping advancement of the frontiers of knowledge. If only Engineers, Technologists, Doctors and Lawyers to name a few professionals as a sample learn th8s language, the technical vocabulary,can get automatically flooded with the needed words. I had begun my Sanskrit study somewhere in my school struggling on my own for, in AP where I was educated from had no way of having Sanskrt included in school curriculum, so I learnt Hindi instead. The first available opportunity i.e at Inter level I began my Sanskrit learning journey which continues even to this day, I am sure with go till breathe my last. This langauge has enchanted me none other has.For that matter I am also a Tamil speaking South Indian! Well, it is a different thing that I am as comfortable in Hindi. I have written even technical articles in Hindi and Sanskrit.

Me too is a south Indian from Kerala. But i strongly disagree. Our states are mainly divided by languages because each state has its own great culture, and the native language is one of the central pillars of any culture.. I will never give up my mother-tongue whatever happens, above all i think our language defines us.. About communication ,we are not fluent in Hindi as long as we don't use it or any other language, I am now fluent as i went to UAE for sometime and used it there. Now its easy as breeze..so don't worry about it Ravi..

ravi!We,in India have various states with their own mother tongue.We cannot force anybody to learn a particular language.As you have told,you can't speak Hindi fluently because you don't have the need to speak.Anybody will learn a new language if it is a must for his survival.Until then,we have English to unite us.

I think that gives an indication of the diversity India is having. No where it is seen in the world. Every state almost has its own regional language. And in every state there are many sub regional languages. All this is a very old development. Now it cannot be changes. One can make a rule but one cannot make people to stop using their language and follow only Hindi or Sanskrit or any other official language. South Indians are not so fluent in Hindi but they can understand it well and also write it well. South Indian languages have very old history and are given classical status. Now, it is very difficult to give them up. But slowly the literature is going downhill. These days very few are taking up Literature as their career. And the English is dominating. May be in future India might have only a few languages but I don't think it is easy to achieve that. Kannada is known as 99.9% scientifically correct language. And Tamil and Telugu also have very rich tradition and literature. Bengal and other north Indian languages too are well established ones. So I think India can never have the liberty of having just one or two languages. But it can make better effort to make Hindi as conversational language through out India. Happy Mylotting!