Should English Be the Primary Medium of Instruction in India?

Amaravati, July 16 (NationPress) In light of the ongoing controversy regarding the perceived enforcement of Hindi, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has proposed that English should be adopted as the primary medium of education throughout India. He emphasized that for India's progress, it's essential for all educational institutions to operate in English.

He stated, “The transformation needed is not to prioritize Hindi, which can be learned as a language. Instead, the medium of instruction must be English. This shift is crucial for India to advance and make significant strides,” he remarked while addressing the media concerning the controversy over Hindi.

“English is the global lingua franca. Unless government schools evolve and students acquire proficiency in English, they will struggle to remain competitive,” asserted the YSRCP leader.

He noted, “Once English becomes the medium, students can select their first, second, and third languages based on their preferences.” However, he stressed that the mother tongue must be the first language.

“Choosing Hindi as a second language is perfectly acceptable,” Jagan added, recalling that Hindi was the primary language in his school.

Regarding the discussions between the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in Delhi, particularly about the Godavari-Banakacherla project proposed by Andhra Pradesh, Jagan expressed concerns. He remarked that diverting surplus water from Godavari to Banakacherla could be jeopardized if Chhattisgarh proceeds with the Indravati project, especially if the height of the Polavaram dam is limited to 41.72 meters.

Jagan mentioned that the Chhattisgarh government is advancing plans to utilize the Indravati, a tributary of the Godavari. This project has been designated a national initiative, with approximately Rs 50,000 crore allocated from central funding.

He voiced concerns that Chhattisgarh's undertaking could obstruct the Indravati, potentially affecting the surplus water availability for Andhra Pradesh.

Jagan also criticized Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for agreeing to restrict the Polavaram dam's height to 41.72 meters rather than the necessary 45.72 meters. He clarified that without water storage at 45.72 meters, diverting surplus water to the Krishna River remains uncertain. “If this isn’t addressed, the Banakacherla project is at risk,” he warned.

Jagan Mohan Reddy urged the government to secure Rs 15,000 crore to raise the Polavaram project's height to 45.72 meters, should the Centre halt funding beyond the 41.72-meter mark.