Introduction of English


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Introduction of English

The Introduction of English: Before the arrival of the British, Indian literature consisted of works composed in the classical court language (Sanskrit, Persian) and in the vernacular languages (Regional or Local). It was found that neither the languages of the elite nor the vernacular language had a vocabulary rich enough to express the new western thoughts. Soon, educated Indians developed a deep interest in English literature, modern science and political ideas. By the 19th century, English became the language spoken by the elite in India. Influence by western ideas of rational thought, Indian writers started raising their voice against superstition and the ill- treatment of women in Indian society.

Throughout its history, the literature of the Indian sub-continent has been characterized by an exuberant diversity of languages and has been enriched by ever-shifting dialogues among these languages and the regions and cultures they represent. The development of modern Indian literature in the second half of the nineteenth century was the result of such dialogues—between the English language a colonial import that replaced Sanskrit and Persian as the medium of education, and the more than twenty regional languages of India, many with literary traditions stretching back a thousand years or more.

In the nineteenth century, some Indian writers wrote in English, but the majority adapted European genres, such as the novel and the Short story, to the "vernacular," regional languages, writing on modern themes and forging new literary languages and styles. The second half of the twentieth century saw the adoption of English as a major language for Indian fiction, and from the 1980s onward, Indian and South Asian writers in English have been leading figures on the global literary scene. Modern Indian literature mirrors the diversity and vibrancy of modern India. From its very beginnings, Indian fiction has offered—often more discerningly and more reliably than documentary sources—imaginative commentary on India's social and political realities, and on the negotiations of India's traditional cultures with the West and with the modern world.

 

 
 


Students / Parents Reviews [20]