Passage 2
How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.
Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.
The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.
This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.
Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture?
- a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in English
- b)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of society
- c)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's culture
- d)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their culture
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Verified Answer
Passage 2How is India's ...
The last paragraph provides an answer to this question. Option a is incorrect as it does not help explain why there is an erosion of the Indian culture. Option b is incorrect as it is vague- the passage makes a reference to the half-literate Americans. This option does not link with the mother tongue and the Indian culture. Option c is the answer as it provides a reason as to why the loss of language has also resulted in the erosion of India's culture. Option d is incorrect as it only restates the question and does not answer it.
Most Upvoted Answer
Passage 2How is India's ...
Understanding the Erosion of India's Culture
The author argues that the shift towards English and the consequent neglect of mother tongues have profound implications for India's cultural identity. Option 'C' encapsulates this argument effectively. Here’s why:
Link Between Language and Culture
- Language is a vessel for culture, carrying traditions, values, and historical narratives.
- Mastery of one’s mother tongue fosters a deeper connection with cultural heritage, including literature, music, and art.
Impact of Language Loss
- As India's middle class increasingly opts for English, there is a diminishing engagement with their native languages.
- This shift leads to a superficial understanding of both English and mother tongues, as individuals may communicate in a mix of languages without grasping their full nuances.
Consequences on Cultural Appreciation
- The erosion of native languages results in a loss of access to classical literature and traditional art forms.
- Without a robust connection to their linguistic roots, individuals may struggle to appreciate and preserve their cultural heritage.
Conclusion
In summary, the author highlights that as Indians embrace English, they risk losing touch with the rich tapestry of their cultural identity. Option 'C' succinctly articulates this relationship, emphasizing that a strong affiliation with one's mother tongue is crucial for the appreciation and preservation of culture. Thus, the decline in native language usage is directly linked to the erosion of India's cultural heritage.
The author argues that the shift towards English and the consequent neglect of mother tongues have profound implications for India's cultural identity. Option 'C' encapsulates this argument effectively. Here’s why:
Link Between Language and Culture
- Language is a vessel for culture, carrying traditions, values, and historical narratives.
- Mastery of one’s mother tongue fosters a deeper connection with cultural heritage, including literature, music, and art.
Impact of Language Loss
- As India's middle class increasingly opts for English, there is a diminishing engagement with their native languages.
- This shift leads to a superficial understanding of both English and mother tongues, as individuals may communicate in a mix of languages without grasping their full nuances.
Consequences on Cultural Appreciation
- The erosion of native languages results in a loss of access to classical literature and traditional art forms.
- Without a robust connection to their linguistic roots, individuals may struggle to appreciate and preserve their cultural heritage.
Conclusion
In summary, the author highlights that as Indians embrace English, they risk losing touch with the rich tapestry of their cultural identity. Option 'C' succinctly articulates this relationship, emphasizing that a strong affiliation with one's mother tongue is crucial for the appreciation and preservation of culture. Thus, the decline in native language usage is directly linked to the erosion of India's cultural heritage.
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Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for UPSC.
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Here you can find the meaning of Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of
Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an
ample number of questions to practice Passage 2How is India's middle class culture being changed and affected? Let us have a look at what is happening. First the numbers, independent India did not count its population along the lines of caste, and it required special surveys, like that of the Mandal Commission, to identify the size of peasant groupings. The number was revealed to be over 50% of the population. The British census before independence told us that the Brahmin population was about 6%, though the community's power and projection in urban India was disproportionate.Three small castes, all put together about 10% of the population, dominated the urban middle classes. Brahmin, Baniya and Kayastha. What most urban Indians know as middle class culture is actually the culture of these 3 communities.The second most important thing we must consider is the quality and texture of literacy. India was only 5% literate at the turn of the 20th century, and in the last 20 years the direction of urban middle class literacy is towards English. Increasingly, families speak English even at home and most middle class Indians do not read in their mother tongue. We are not referring here to the ability to read, which they have picked up at school. They can speak in the mother tongue, if it is peppered with the English words which have become indispensable. We mean regular reading of literature or entertainment in the mother tongue.This has produced a unique community. There is no parallel to India of a nation whose middle class is trained to think and approach life in a foreign language, one they have not mastered. India's elite occupy a minimal space; it is emotionally Hindi and intellectually English. One reason India produces so little literature is that India's middle class does not own any language properly. The knowledge of English has come to them through stock phrases because the quality of teaching is poor. Even half literate Americans speak better, cleaner and more precise English than educated Indians. And on the mother-tongue side, the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's high culture, its classical inheritance.Q. Which of the following options would help one understand the author's argument that the loss of language has resulted in the erosion of India's culture? a)Indians are unable to speak well in either their mother tongue or in Englishb)the knowledge of English that Indians have is lower that of an illiterate section of societyc)affiliation and knowledge of one's mother tongue is linked with an appreciation of one's cultured)India's middle class are moving towards English and hence they are forgetting the roots of their cultureCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
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