India and EnglishOfficially English has a status of assistant language, but in fact it is the most important language of India. After Hindi it is the most commonly spoken language in India and probably the most read and written language in India. Indians who know English will always try to show that they know English. English symbolizes in Indians minds better education, better culture and higher intellect. Indians who know English often mingle it with Indian languages in their conversations.
English is very important in some systems legal, financial, educational, business in India. Until the beginning of 1990s, foreign movies in India weren't translated or dubbed in Indian languages, but were broadcast in English and were meant for English speakers only. The reason Indians give such importance to English is related to the fact that India was a British colony.
When the British started ruling India, they searched for Indian mediators who could help them to administer India. The British turned to high caste Indians to work for them. Many high caste Indians, especially the Brahmans worked for them.
The English Christian missionaries came to India from 1813 and they also built schools at primary level for Indians in which the language of instruction was local language. Later on the missionaries built high schools with English as the language of instruction which obliged the Indians who wanted to study to have a good knowledge of English. The British rulers began building their universities in India from 1857. English became the first language in Indian education. The 'modern' leaders of that era in India also supported English language and claimed it to be the main key towards success.
Even after India's independence, English remained the main language of India. It still remains the important language of India.
Just like the Americans, Australians or even the British who have their unique English words and phrases, the Indians also have their own unique English. The Indians and the Indian English language press uses many words derived from Indian languages, especially from Hindi. Other than that, the Indian accent is sometimes difficult for non-Indians to understand. There are some Indian pronunciations that don't exist in non Indian languages. The British also had problems with that and they caused some changes in Indian words so that they could pronounce them. This gave birth to Indian English which is called Inglish.
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Tony Greig versus BCCI
Former England skipper Tony Greig has created a controversy. He has shown his opposition to 'Indian domination' in the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) enjoys a prominent position in the ICC. This has happened over a period of time and due to massive viewership in India, where the sport is often compared to a religion. The BCCI represents the aspirations of a vast section of global cricket fans. Indian Cricket Board is accused of possessing monopolizing tendencies. In earlier days, the English and Australian cricket boards, who were the heavyweights in the ICC, were doing the same thing. At that time, few saw this as a problem. So, why single out BCCI?
BCCI has done excellent contribution to the game of cricket. If successful new cricket formats such as the IPL have turned out to be huge money-spinners attracting international talent, the credit goes to the BCCI for thinking out of the box. The cricket fans all over the world appreciate this move by BCCI. BCCI has indeed done an excellent job in promoting the game of cricket.
But yet there are people who support Tony Greig for condemning BCCI's hegemonic attitude. They say that Greig's frank comment echoes the feelings of many cricket fans and nations that feel that the BCCI has been unnecessarily arm-twisting the ICC and other boards into toeing its line. According to them the BCCI has formed unilateral arrangements to allow more series between a few select nations like Australia and England. Such arrangements, they say, work against the mandate of the ICC, which must focus on expansion of cricket across the world. They further say that the BCCI's behaviour has merely damaged its reputation. India had fought for democratising the ICC's decision-making process. India's critics say that this spirit is missing in BCCI's own dealings with the ICC and its treatment of other boards. They don't want Cricket's future to be reduced to one country's or region's sporting dominance. They are against the idea of the BCCI flexing its financial muscle.
But the general feeling in India is that BCCI is doing its very best to make Cricket a truly global sport.
English is very important in some systems legal, financial, educational, business in India. Until the beginning of 1990s, foreign movies in India weren't translated or dubbed in Indian languages, but were broadcast in English and were meant for English speakers only. The reason Indians give such importance to English is related to the fact that India was a British colony.
When the British started ruling India, they searched for Indian mediators who could help them to administer India. The British turned to high caste Indians to work for them. Many high caste Indians, especially the Brahmans worked for them.
The English Christian missionaries came to India from 1813 and they also built schools at primary level for Indians in which the language of instruction was local language. Later on the missionaries built high schools with English as the language of instruction which obliged the Indians who wanted to study to have a good knowledge of English. The British rulers began building their universities in India from 1857. English became the first language in Indian education. The 'modern' leaders of that era in India also supported English language and claimed it to be the main key towards success.
Even after India's independence, English remained the main language of India. It still remains the important language of India.
Just like the Americans, Australians or even the British who have their unique English words and phrases, the Indians also have their own unique English. The Indians and the Indian English language press uses many words derived from Indian languages, especially from Hindi. Other than that, the Indian accent is sometimes difficult for non-Indians to understand. There are some Indian pronunciations that don't exist in non Indian languages. The British also had problems with that and they caused some changes in Indian words so that they could pronounce them. This gave birth to Indian English which is called Inglish.
Anchor
Tony Greig versus BCCI
Former England skipper Tony Greig has created a controversy. He has shown his opposition to 'Indian domination' in the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) enjoys a prominent position in the ICC. This has happened over a period of time and due to massive viewership in India, where the sport is often compared to a religion. The BCCI represents the aspirations of a vast section of global cricket fans. Indian Cricket Board is accused of possessing monopolizing tendencies. In earlier days, the English and Australian cricket boards, who were the heavyweights in the ICC, were doing the same thing. At that time, few saw this as a problem. So, why single out BCCI?
BCCI has done excellent contribution to the game of cricket. If successful new cricket formats such as the IPL have turned out to be huge money-spinners attracting international talent, the credit goes to the BCCI for thinking out of the box. The cricket fans all over the world appreciate this move by BCCI. BCCI has indeed done an excellent job in promoting the game of cricket.
But yet there are people who support Tony Greig for condemning BCCI's hegemonic attitude. They say that Greig's frank comment echoes the feelings of many cricket fans and nations that feel that the BCCI has been unnecessarily arm-twisting the ICC and other boards into toeing its line. According to them the BCCI has formed unilateral arrangements to allow more series between a few select nations like Australia and England. Such arrangements, they say, work against the mandate of the ICC, which must focus on expansion of cricket across the world. They further say that the BCCI's behaviour has merely damaged its reputation. India had fought for democratising the ICC's decision-making process. India's critics say that this spirit is missing in BCCI's own dealings with the ICC and its treatment of other boards. They don't want Cricket's future to be reduced to one country's or region's sporting dominance. They are against the idea of the BCCI flexing its financial muscle.
But the general feeling in India is that BCCI is doing its very best to make Cricket a truly global sport.
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