Growth of English in India

The 'Queen's Language' English stepped into the Indian subcontinent along with the British people. The Englishmen came to India with the purpose of business and trade. They established the British East India Company on the 31st of December, 1600. This marks the beginning of the English language in India.

The British government which ruled India through its political agent had made several policies for the proper administration of its colonies. The Charter Act of 1813 had several major influences and impacts on the education of Indians and the growth of the English language. The government inserted a clause according to which a minimum amount of one lakh per annum was dedicated to educating the natives of India. This promoted the spread of English literature in India. The Charter Act also promoted the production and publication of English books in India. English education in India was carried out by two different sources of different characters, one being the Christin missionaries and the other being the Semi Rationalist movement. The Christian missionaries encouraged the education of the regional languages along with the Western subjects in the English medium of instruction. Lord Macaulay is considered one of the prime personalities who firmly supported the cause of the education of Indians in the medium of English. 

Thomas Babington Macaulay

Indians not only learned the English language but also used it to throw away the British Empire from Indian soil. Indians also started producing literature in English which became a separate branch in English literature called 'Indian English Literature'.