Category Archives: demographics
English Spoken Here
I have been under a total misconception of the facts when it comes to English speaking Indians. Based on the British colonial legacy of this country, I have always been under the impression that the English speaking skills in this country run broad and deep, or at least broader and deeper than would have been otherwise. I have also believed that this has contributed to the growth of trade over the past few decades (I still believe this). Think of the $70 billion IT industry that exists in India today. Surely one of the key growth factors had to do with language and communication? This, despite the complaints I hear from American friends about the trouble they have understanding (and vice versa, I’m sure) their customer support representative for American Express (substitute this for pretty much anything else) – based in Bangalore.
Having gone to a “convent” school myself, I learned to speak some close form of the Queen’s English; this has become slightly tarnished during my years of living in the US, despite my best efforts. 😉 As far as written English goes, I believe America actually improved it. Now, I use “color” instead of “colour” removing an unnecessary letter in the process, and lightening my load, so to speak.
In any case, as many other immigrants from India have experienced, people in the US are surprised when I say I am from India and it’s all based on this: “My, but your English is so good!” And it takes me very little time to reply – “That’s because the British left a legacy behind in India and I was one of millions that grew up with it”.
So, it really surprised me to read some new statistics on the English language. These were based on an English proficiency study that was conducted by an educational organization called Education First who ranked forty countries according to their English language skills. Here is what I learned in a nutshell:
- The proficiency level for India is defined as “Very Low” – this at least is understandable given its large population and the relatively low percentage of fluent English speakers. But, here’s what really surprised me:
- India ranks lower than China (also rated as “very low”) in English proficiency!
- Due to the inconsistent meaning of “proficiency”, the British council stated that there was a very wide range of between 50 and 350 million English-proficient people in India in 2010.
- What is even more surprising is that in the same year, China had between 250-350 million English “learners”.
- According to this organization, China is poised to surpass India in the number of English speakers in the coming years, if it has not done so already!
Aside from being surprised by these numbers, I was fascinated by how quickly China has caught up. I believe that is what happens when a nation has a vision and a grand plan.
The other surprises for me were that Malaysia was the only Asian country rated as having High Proficiency (it also was the top ranked Asian country) and that both Japan and Korea (rated Moderate) surpassed India. That really surprised me probably because I was thinking about Japanese and Korean immigrants in the U.S. But, apparently, back in their home countries, the government has placed a strong emphasis on English study. Why? To benefit from the global economy that increasingly relies on English as the language of trade. Take a look:
Another aspect that I have noticed in India is that the English that is taught and learned in school today has less of a feel of the Queen’s English, and more of a feel of something that is uniquely Indian. The accent certainly is less British and more Indian. I would guess that this is just a natural transition, as the generational gap increases since the year that British left India. Would it be unpatriotic of me to say, I prefer the language my generation was taught? So be it, but I do.
What I still can’t get over is the map above! I believe that I was (along with others?) just a bit too smug in my assumptions. Time to correct them, no?
India: Overwhelmingly young.
When I think of youth, the words that pop in my mind are energy, vitality, potential and future. In India, when I look around, I see a predominance of youth. I see many more young people and children than I do the middle-aged or older folks. I see them in the city and in normal day-to-day places that I visit. Whether it is the office, the supermarket, the mall, the cinema or yes, on the streets of Mumbai (or any other city in India).
It seems strange to describe one of the most ancient cultures in the world as young. But, that’s just what India is today. Most of the people of today’s India are young. It’s a great competitive advantage for the country. And it speaks volumes for the potential of the country and its future, as you can imagine.
Now for some dry stats. According to the latest demographic profile of India, the median age is 26 years and over 29% of the country is below the age of 14 years. Incredibly, 50% of the country is under the age of 25 and 65% under the age of 35 – this has to be the youngest country in the world! In sheer numbers if not in percentages, it has to be. By 2020, it is expected that the average age in India will be 29, compared to 37 for China and 48 for Japan. Here’s more – the median age in the United States today is already 36.5. For such a young country, it’s definitely an older nation!
Doing a quick calculation and using the rounded population of 1.2 billion, the number of people under 25 in India is approaching 600 million people. That’s not only a staggering number, it’s TWICE the population of the United States!
And so much has changed in the years that I have been away! When I was growing up in India, I was definitely living in a different world. The third world. I knew it and I felt it, and so did everyone around me. The grass not only looked greener on the other side, it was.
Random Street Scene - Do you see any older folks?
But the youth in India today appear to have a different perspective. There is not this sense of being disadvantaged. Instead, there appears to be a reflection of hope and progress and growth. A feeling that whatever economic level they find themselves in, they believe that they can persevere, and that with hard work or with sheer smarts they can move to that next level and then the next after that. In addition, they seem to feel that in order to do that, they don’t need to ship themselves out of the country to some foreign land of opportunity. That’s because, their perspective is that the land of opportunity is right here.
I am generalizing a bit, but even so, that is the overall feeling that I get when I see and listen to these young people. Many feel that this is the happening place, that this is the land of opportunity, and that they are young and hopeful enough to get a piece of it for themselves.
So, that’s the rosy side of the equation. There is this tough veneer of progress and growth.
What I am unable to find or identify is the leadership that is ensuring that this critical and strategic advantage of India is being harnessed, positioned and developed like it should. Whether in education or sports or arts or science or business, are all the young people being given that platform from which they can launch themselves to create a better tomorrow for themselves and the country? Or are they simply, selectively offered opportunities based on the accident of their birth family and situation?
You may say, why, that’s what the government is doing. But, you’ve got to do better than that to make me a believer! Name an individual or two – who are excited and concerned, and are proactively working to have a 5, 10, 15 year plan that is focused on harnessing the power of youth. A vision, a bit like the Green Revolution of old times, that resonates, and that citizens recognize and work towards…
Okay, I’ll stop now. Today is the day to to simply reflect on and celebrate the preponderance of youth in India today, and what this could mean for the country.
Reflecting on what realistically could happen to them and their potential is a rant for another day.
Photo: vishalphotography.com
The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 