Give the English language its due

I am generally one with Swami Ramdeo in most of his views.
However, his views on the English language does not agree with mine.
I have therefore sent him my views.
Let us see.

Radheshyam

To
Swami Ramdeoji,
Patalnjali Yogpeeth,
Hardwar

Respected Swamiji,

I have been following your movement since 2001, practising pranayam by just watching Aastha Channel.
I am pleased to inform you that I am keeping good health and have had no recurrence of Angina pains since taking up pranayam.
I have also watched you take up cudgels against corruption and appreciate your efforts to root out corruption from public life.
I have been supporting your movement and all it stands for since the last seven years and have been writing about your movement in our blog http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/2007/11/swami-ramdeo-and-pranayam-synonymos.html and also http://siliconindia.com/blogs/blogs_new.php?rC2UDW6t5mNP16Bp312tHJ3qBFqZ9c4z+eP3Ax4H03536795

If I can be of any assistance to you in your fight against corruption, please feel free to let me know.
I support all your statements except your effort to belittle the English language.
You propose to introduce all higher education courses in the regional language of the state.
India has 22 languages recognized by our constitution.
One of the languages is Urdu.
Urdu is a foreign language brought in to India by the Muslim invaders.
If you can recognize Urdu as an Indian language, why can't you recognize English as an Indian language.
English is the only language understood in all states of India.
It is the language understood by the maximum number of people in India after Hindi.
In such a case, how can it be considered a foreign language when it is spoken by so many people?
It is because of English that India has become a global power in the BPO and software industry.
All higher education text books are already there in the English language but will have to be translated into 22 different languages to please all the states.
Do you realize the cost involved?
Because of low volumes and translation charges, the price of these translated books would be prohibitive.
Do you realize the difficulty a Bengali faces in Gujarat or Tamil nadu where he does not understand the language or the script. However, if he know English, he faces no problems.
No Swamiji, this is one point I disagree with you.
Let us not again start the language war.
Let us be broad minded and give honour to English that is due to it.
Let us have the three language formula.
Hindi, English and regional language.
The Hindi Speaking states should be made to learn one other regional language, preferably of South India.
I hope you will see reason and refrain from once again starting a language disturbance.

Yours sincerely,

Radheshyam Sharma

188, bangur Avenue,
B-Block,
Kolkata - 700055
Cell_ 9331259878