Why did the Indians learn English?

Answer 1

Those who didn't (in older times) were murdered, in more modern times they were called heathens and had their children taken away by the US Government. As of today (or over the last few months) those that refuse are arrested, held without bail for as long as they want (Habeas is denied), have their property taken, are disallowed to walk or drive down the street, cannot get a bank account, cannot be employed. Those who resist these unlawful practices (treason) are shot and killed.

Answer 2

The British first arrived in India in the early 1600s and soon established trading posts in a number of cities under the control of The East India Company. By 1765 the Company's influence had grown to such an extent that the British were effectively controlling most parts of the country. This date is often taken as the start of what is referred to as The Raj - a period of British rule in India that lasted until Independence in 1947.

Initially English was only taught to the local population through the work of Christian missionaries - there were no official attempts to force the language on the masses. But by the 1700s, English had firmly established itself as the language of administration and many educated Indians were demanding instruction in English as a means of social advancement. By 1857 universities had opened in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. English was increasingly accepted as the language of government, of the social elite, and of the national press.

Answer 3

The native Americans and those from India learned English to deal with the English speaking people that first came to trade and later to take over. There are many different native American languages and there are many different languages in India. So it was often easiest to speak English.

Answer 4

For the most part, they didn't have any choice. When the colonizers came to the "New World," the native peoples (then called "Indians") learned some English to be able to communicate with them, do business, trade items, etc. Unfortunately, many of the colonizers wanted more than that from the native peoples: they wanted to possess Indian lands. They also insisted that the Indians accept the Christian religion, dress like Europeans, give up their customs entirely, and only speak English. For far too long, Indian children were forced to go to schools where they were punished for speaking their native language. Granted, living in an English-speaking country, it is best to speak the language. But the attitude back then was that all traces of Indian culture should be erased, and as a result, large numbers of Indians were denied access to their own heritage.

In fairness, it should be noted that the colonizers genuinely believed that European culture was superior, and that Christianity was the only true religion. As they saw it, they were doing the native peoples a favor by exposing them to European manners, dress, and language, which were considered "civilized," as well as the Christian religion, which was supposed to help them to learn ethics and morals. Today, there is more of an understanding of, and a respect for, the cultural traditions of "the other," but in the 1700s and 1800s, there was little tolerance and even less acceptance of Indian traditions.