Sunil Khilnani's essay, "Gandhi and Nehru: The Uses of English," explores

the contrasting approaches of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru towards

the English language in the context of India's struggle for independence.

Gandhi, the iconic leader of India's independence movement, viewed English as

a tool of oppression and sought to discard it in favor of promoting regional
languages like Hindi. He believed that English had been imposed by the British
to maintain their colonial control and that it perpetuated a hierarchy within
Indian society.

In contrast, Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, embraced English as a means of

modernization and global communication. He saw it as a language that could
unite the diverse linguistic and cultural groups within India and enable the
nation to participate effectively in the international arena.

Khilnani's essay delves into the complex relationship between these two leaders
and their differing perspectives on the role of English in India's quest for
independence and nation-building. Ultimately, it reflects on the broader
question of language's significance in shaping a nation's identity and its struggle
for self-determination.