'No evidence that English is destroying culture'

New Delhi, Dec 12: Dismissing a contention that English as medium of education was spoiling the lifestyle and traditions of tribals, Minister for Culture Ambika Soni today told the Rajya Sabha there was no research evidence to prove that a particular medium of instruction had any such effect.

''Culture and traditions are promoted in schools through extra-curricular activities and teaching of additional related subjects. In my Ministry's view medium of instruction does not have any adverse effect on this objective,'' she said during question hour.

The fear about the ''undesirable'' impact of English was expressed by two BJP members.

The issue gave the House some interesting moments when senior Congress member Satyavrat Chaturvedi rose up to say that if the BJP member thought English was having such a bad effect on the country's culture, the language should be banned from the House itself.

When one of the members asked for Chairman Bharon Singh Shekahwat's comments on that, he said he would have no objection if the House unanimously passed a resolution to that effect.

Ms Soni said one acquires cultural and traditional values at home. It all depends on what kind of atmosphere parents give to children, she added.

The Minister said that though the question would have been better directed to the HRD Ministry, she had tried to obtain some information and come to know that no study had been undertaken by the National Council of Educational Research and Training(NCERT), Central Board of Secondary Education or the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on the impact of English on tribals.

She also said the question of allowing instruction in a particular medium fell under states' jurisdiction as education was a concurrent subject.

Ms Soni said the country had adopted a three-language formula under which children study their mother tongue in schools. And special care has been taken to include enough material in the text books to familiarise students with the life of the great personalities of the country and its culture and traditions ''When you are talking of bad impact of English, you should do that in reference to the areas concerned, as for example in the whole of north-east, the medium of instruction is English,'' she added.

UNI