India yet to liberate itself from English language even after 80 years of independence: Justice Gautam Chowdhary

Allahabad High Court Justice Gautam Chowdhary on Monday said that India has not been able to liberate itself from the English language even after 80 years of independence from the British.

Justice Chowdhary, who superannuates on November 8, made the comment in his retirement speech today. The speech was delivered in Hindi.

"I want to underline that while we may have become free from the British constitutionally and geographically, nearly 80 years have passed, yet we have still not liberated ourselves from the English language. This is a matter every Indian must reflect upon: why, after 80 years, do we remain subservient to the language of those who ruled over us for 300 years?" the judge said.

Justice Chowdhary added that his advocacy for Hindi may give the impression that he is opposed to other languages. However, he clarified that he harbours no animosity towards any language.

"However, all these languages can be our maternal aunts (mausiyan); English can be our aunt from abroad. Let the aunts be accorded the utmost respect, I have no objection to that whatsoever. But seeing an Indian language, our own mother, being diminished inflicts deep pain and injury upon me," he added.

Justice Chowdhury further said it would be wonderful if judgements in West Bengal were rendered in Bengali and in Gujarati in Gujarat.

"And in the Hindi-speaking states, we can foster the widespread use of Hindi," he added.

While addressing the judges, who have been elevated from the district judiciary, Justice Chowdhary said,

"If you could write in Hindi there, it is my earnest request to all of you to uphold Hindi here as well. Why feel that upon entering the High Court, judgments and decisions must strictly be authored in English? There is no inherent impediment to doing otherwise. It is merely a minds that judgments somehow look far more elegant in English. That is simply not true. We can articulate our thoughts just as effectively in Hindi." 

Justice Chowdhary was elevated as a judge of the High Court in 2019. He had contested the Lok Sabha elections from Kaushambi in 2009 on the ticket of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

His grandfather Shyam Lal was awarded the title of ‘Rai Sahab Chowdhary’ during the British period and after Independence, he was twice elected as a member of the State legislative assembly.

His father Chaudhary Chunni Lal, a practicing advocate, was a member of the Rajya Sabha.