In a rare contrast, many foreigners are instead coming to Hindi heartland to learn English. India has had a long exposure to English language. In 1830s, when the British began their colonial rule in India, English was used for administrative purposes but in the following years, it expanded its use for commercial purposes as well.
‘Anglo Arabic College’ now known as ‘Dr. Zakir Hussain College’ was the first institute to start English language course in India. Later on with globalisation, India came up with many English teaching institutes.
The Haryana Institute of Public Administrative (HIPA) is teaching English to auto drivers and rickshaw pullers so that they can easily converse with foreign tourists expected at the Commonwealth Games 2010.
Anderson, 24 year old from Congo, studies computer networking and English from NIIT and Inlingua respectively. He is among the thousands who chose India as a centre for learning English. India is turning to be a hub for English education.
“Minimal fees, quality education and exposure to cultural diversity are the few things which attracted me”, says Jack, a student from France studying English at Inlingua.
Delhi being the capital city has always been the first preference for immigrants. Delhi has become the destination for immigrants who are struggling to get education and employment. This is why people throng to the capital of opportunity.
Amisi, a French citizen who came to Delhi for pursuing a certificate course in English agrees, “The best thing about learning the language in India is you not only get to learn English but also get exposure to various cultures.”
Collections of Indian English vocabulary have been around for over a century.
Roomy Naqvy a faculty at English department, Jamia Millia Islamia echoes, “Availability of large number of trained English trainers and low fees is what attracts foreigners.” In language, numbers count. There are more people speaking English in India than in the rest of the native English-speaking world.
“English in India holds a higher social status, it’s the language of elites and everybody likes to be in that strata.” says Habibullah a student from Afghanistan. Farhat an IAS aspirant feels, that the fast pace of the India’s development is attracting foreigners.
Tanvi Sharma, a tour executive at IBEX expeditions says, “Fees in US, UK or Australia for taking up English education is 4 to 5 times more in comparison to India.” Education tourism is flourishing in India, she added further.
Sir Jonathan Charles Shifley an academician from America says, “One can make lots of money by teaching English in India, and cheaper cost makes it accessible to all.”
India with almost 232 million English speaking people and the number increasing exponentially has the potential to assimilate outsiders who want to learn English language, among others. English training institutes that have also added to Country’s income. India with English can promote itself as a global entrepreneur and economic superpower.



Trivia
• Dynamic Training Services India
• Started by an American Jonathan Charles Shifley
• Situated in Zakir Nagar area of South East Delhi
• English is taught by few Native speakers of the language
• Most of its beneficiaries belong to Muslim community
• It has a collaboration with Darool Uloom Deoband
• Has around 100 students
• Students from country like Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey.

The Secret Lives of Third Gender

Coated in cheap rouge, kohl and garish red lipstick, Koyal walks about the busy streets of Delhi with an attitude that might shake your confidence. But beneath that masque is an individual who is pressed by the societal norms. This is the individual who copes everyday with taunts, humiliation and tries to compensate it by maintaining a “peaceful” family life.

She (as Koyal likes to be referred) is a Eunuch. She sits next to me in a park with a deep cut on her forehead and a fractured arm. When I ask her what happened, she looks into my eyes and replies sternly “my husband beat me”.

In a country like India that frustrates women with its overbearing patriarchy, some Eunuchs like to be beaten up by their partners. According to them women are physically weaker so the act of being physically hit by a man nurtures their feminine instincts. Maishy Charan, a student who worked with Project- Kaivalya shares excruciating details- “She would tell me how she would get slapped and abused at the smallest affair, but never did she hit back.”

The status of Eunuchs in our country has drastically changed from being close confidants of Emperor’s in royal Mughal Court to a life of poverty and destitution. It is perhaps the outcast and ill treatment by the society that forces their perverse and obscene behavior in public.
As we kept ourselves busy with the conversation, we were joined by Rajani. With long dark tousled hair, droopy eyes and long chin, the tall 50 year old looked at me rather suspiciously. Koyal introduced her as the Guru- the head of her Eunuch clan. Outcast by the society, a Guru probably has the most integral role to play. The Guru teaches the young eunuch everything about the clan customs. The family of fellow eunuchs provides a caring environment where they feel a sense of security.

But the freedom that exists in this community is not without some restrictions. “It is strictly hierarchical where each eunuch’s life is governed and regulated by the superior” explains Rajani.

Eunuchs have a complicated network system and also have an informer for every event in the neighborhood. Part of the money for subsistence comes through this. The As soon as a baby is born into the family and one hears the tinker of the ankle bells, one finds the Eunuchs. They sing and dance and create a commotion outside the house until they see they baby, after which they ask for exorbitant amount of money. But the occasion has an alternate motive as well, if they find the baby a eunuch, they take the child away to the ghettoes to be raised.

The evolving role of technology is bringing a new change in the dating pattern for them. Thirunangai.net, is country’s first dating site for Eunuchs may perhaps bring a refreshing change in the way relations are perceived by eunuchs. “Thid is indeed a very innovate step to bring Eunuchs into the mainstream society” says Anuradha Mukherjee, NAZ Foundation.
Every year, Koovagam Festival, yearly gathering of eunuchs at Villupuram in Tamil Nadu attracts attention all over the country. This is the only festival which is exclusively celebrated by the eunuchs.They organize beauty contest where the criteria of winning is on the personality and knowledge about HIV. The significance of this unique festival is to mainstream these people along and showcase their talent. They converge from all over the country for a unique matrimonial ceremony.

After hours of conversation, I stood up to leave. As I began to stand up, Rajani reached out and placed her hand on my head, mumbling some words. I left the place with what I really believe was a Eunuch’s blessing