LANGUAGE AND IMPERIALISM
Grammar (language) has always been the consort of the empire, and forever shall remain its mate. It is a tool a tool for the state control over the shape of people's everyday subsistence. It is a toll for conquest abroad and as a weapon to suppress untutored speech at home. (For Queen Isabella his Grammar would be, he argued in his petition for support of publication) a tool to colonize the language spoken by her subjects.
Nebrija: Grammatica Castellana (1492)
I was greatly delighted with my new companion, and made it my business to teach him everything that was proper to make him useful, handy, and helpful; but especially to make him speak, and understand me when I spake, and he was the aptest scholar that ever was.
(Daniel Defoe: Robinson Crusoe)
It is impossible for us with our limited means to attempt to educate the Body of the people. We must at present do our best to form a class who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern-a class of persons Indian in blood and colour, but English in tastes, in opinions, in morals and in intellect.
(Macaulay's Minute of 2nd February 1835; Macaulay, 1835 pp.249)
I am very much interested in the question of Basic English. The widespread use of this would be a gain to us far more durable and fruitful than the annexation of great provinces. It would also fit in with my ideas of closer union with the United States by making it even more worth while to belong to the English speaking club.
(Winston Churchill, 1943)
Ideological World War III has started and there is no certainty that it is well won yet. In spite of the fact that this is a war for men's minds, there exist no Joint Chiefs of Staff planning such a war, no war production authority concerning itself with material for such a war. These questions are by and large, in our society, left to the private initiative of the type that one sees in the Georgetown Institute of Language and Linguistics.
In this war for men's minds, obviously the big guns of our armament is competence in languages and linguistics.
(Mortimer Graves, Executive Secretary of the American Council of Learned Society, 1950, quoted in Newmeyer, 1986, p-56)
There is a hidden sales element in every English teacher, book, magazine, film strip and television programme sent overseas.
(British Council Annual Report, 1968-69 pp. 10-11)
English is, moreover, an export which is very likely to attract other exports-British advisers and technicians, British technological or university education, British plant and equipment and British capital investment. There are clear commercial advantages to be gained from increasing number of potential customers who can read technical and trade publicity material written in English.
(British Ministry of Education, 1956, para.10)
Second language programs can be viewed within this marketing framework. It is clear that we are suppliers of a product (or service) which consumers need and avail themselves of. Students are consumers who pay for our product directly (from their own pocket) or indirectly (through subsidies given to them or us). We are like 'corporations' which on the basis of certain management decisions produce a service which we hope will be purchased by many and which will please all buyers. We advertise the products (some of us more, others less), we hire personnel to deliver the project (teachers), and we build and administer the locations where the product changes hands (schools and classrooms).
(Yorio, 1986 p. 670)
Post-colonial responses to
LINGUISTIC IMPERIALISM
Let us be clear that English language has been a monumental force and institution of oppression and rabid exploitation throughout 400 years of imperialist history. It attacked the black person who spoke it with its racist images and imperialist message; it battered the worker who toiled as its words expressed the parameters of his misery and the subjection of entire peoples in all the continents of the world. It was made to scorn the languages it sought to replace, and told the colonized peoples that mimicry of its primacy among languages was a necessary badge of their social mobility as well as their continued humiliation and subjection. Thus, when we talk of 'mastery' of the Standard language, we must be conscious of the terrible irony of the word, that the English language itself was the language of the master, the carrier of his arrogance and brutality. Yet, as teachers, we seek to grasp that same language and give it a new content, to de-colonize its words, to de-myself its meaning, and as workers taking over our own factory and giving our machines new lives, making it a vehicle for liberation, consciousness and love, to rip out its class assumptions, its racism and appalling degradation of women, to make it truly common, to recreate it as a weapon for the freedom and understanding of our people.
Searle
English education was carefully rationed and conferred as a privilege to a selected few and it created a distinct social difference in all the former British colonies: India, Malaysia and Singapore. Promotion of certain forms of education and culture were inextricably bound up with colonial rule. In social and cultural realms English vs. vernacular education was an extension of the divide and rule and was sustained as an effective colonial policy to increase class and ethnic divisions in the country.
(In the Philippines) the American regime was committed to making a showcase democracy, and school, English, and a literate citizenry were central to this goal.
Foley (1984)
English as a Second language (ESL) is an imported new empire.
Mukherjee
In ESL the puerile structure of content was not and is not about transmission of skills or critical understanding of concepts. It is geared to receiving situational instructions and learning how to assimilate as an 'object' into a structural order into a value order, into a cultural order, into a linguistic order, and above all, into a racist order.
Mukherjee
The Indians, West Indians, Pacific Islanders, Singaporeans, Malaysians, Maltese, Africans and Sri Lankans (Ceylonese then) discovered that they had learnt the same nursery rhymes, studied virtually the same selection of poems, the same plays and novels; read the same grammars, the same language series (Ballard's Junior and Senior Fundamental English); consulted the same collection of model essays; debated the same topics; had the same selection of History, Geography and Hygene texts; had gone through the same rituals on Empire Day-come sunshine or rain-and, in many instances, knew 'God save the Queen' better than their recently adopted National Anthem.
(Thumboo, 1988)
Sources:
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Ekusher Dalil: MR Aktar Mukul
Jagriti, Jatiotabad o Ekushe: Shamszzaman Khan
A Glimpse into Language Movement: Prof Abdul Gofur
Ekush: The Sanctuary of Existenc: Ziaban Chaudhury
Children of Ekushe: Syed shamsul Haque
Neglected Politics in the History of Language Movement: mostafa Hossain
Vacillating Minds: Anisuz Zaman
Present Reality and 52s Language Movement: Zubaida Gulshan Ara
Unfinished Monument (An Interview with sculptor Hamidur Rahman): Shahriar Kabir
Bangali for a month and Muslim for another Month: Meer Nurul Islam
Syed Nawab Ali Chaudhury: Abu M Motahar
Ekusher Katha: Shahidullah Kaiser
Ekusher Dupurey: Fazle Lohani
A Forgotten Day of Language Movement: Sheikh Mahabubul Alam
The Wall of English: Mohammad Jahangeer
The Ekushe I Saw: Kazi Motahar Ali
February of 1952: What happened in Dhaka: Doctor (Capt) Abdul Baset
Language Movement of 52 in Chittagong: Azizur Rahman
Language Movement in Sylhet: Dewan Mohd Ajraf
Language Movement in Bogra: Golam Mahniuddin
Emotion Defied Obstruction that Day: Sufia Ahmed
Few Blood Stained Moments of 21 February 1952: Mostaque Hossain
Rajshahi in Language Movement: Justice M Ansar Ali
Ekushe Book Fair: Wakil Ahmed
Our Shahid Minar:Tanjin Hossain
Known for their moderation the people of Bangladesh took the inspiration for an independent state of their own from the historic language movement of February 21, 1952, in which a number of young students gave life to uphold the cause of their mother tongue, Bangla. Bangladesh was then the eastern part of Pakistan which had become independent hardly five years ago in 1947. The students of Bangladesh resisted the move of the rulers of the new country to impose on them a state language in which few of them could speak. 
Located in the Northeastern part of South Asia between 2034' and 26338' north latitude and between 8801' and 9241' east longitude, the country is bounded by India on the east, west and north but for a small strip of boundary with Myanmar on the southeast. The Himalayas are very close to its border in the Northwest. Located on the Northern shore of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh provides a natural bridge between South and Southeast Asia.
The hospitable people of Bangladesh are known for their warmth. The war of independence only renewed the history of a brave and valiant nation with a tradition for moderation, tolerance and liberalism. The freedom loving nation always resisted foreign domination and hegemony.
Historically, the people of the land were an admixtures of various races. Austro-Asians were the first to arrive followed by the Dravidians from western India, the Aryans from Central Asia and the Mongolians from Tibet and Myanmar. Arabs, Persians, Turks, Afghans, Armenians also contributed to the diverse melting pot. 
Tropical climate coupled with rains and bright sunshine made Bangladesh a land of green vegetation. Mangoes, jack fruit, guava, bananas, cocunuts watermelons and lichis are among popular fruits that grow abundantly.
Bangladesh is the home to about 200 species of mammals. Most of the hilly areas are covered with deep forests. The biggest forest is the Sunderbans, the world's largest mangrove forest is, however, in the estuarian marshy plains in the Southwest providing natural habitat to the world famous Bengal Tigers. An estimated 400 of the majestic species wander in the the Sunderbans. Elephants are to be found in the forests of the Hill Tracts. Six types of deer could be seen in the Sunderbans and the Hill Tracts. Of them, the spotted deer, Sambar and the barking deer or Barosinga are more common. Leopard, wildcat, bear, Jackal, monkey, wild boar, buffalo, ox and gayal are also found.
Diverse races, by getting assimilated, have made Bangladesh a natural melting pot of civilisation. Rooted deep is a heritage reflected in its art, architecture, dance, drama, music and paintings.
It was in the early part of the 20th century that modern Bangla literature made its way into the contemporary world literature through the works of the great poets like Rabindranath Tagore. Kazi Nazrul Islam and Michael Madhusudan Dutta. Though it is difficult, for his diverse works, to typify Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet of Bangladesh, the people love to call him rebel poet for his poems which teach one and all to protest all sorts of wrong and exploitation.
God has endowed Bangladesh with some rich natural resources. Natural gas with 97 percent methane content has been found in large reserves in different parts of the country. Total gas reserve is estimated to be about 30 trillion cubic feet. A total of 17 gas fields have been discovered by now. Recorded history suggests Bangladesh was a land of plenty before it had fallen under British colonial rule in the middle of the 18th century. The country aspires to stand on its own and looks forward to establishing to an egalitarian society.
The nature has been at its best in Bangladesh to provide the country with stunning scenic beauty, varied flora and fauna, mighty rivers, long sunny beaches, large mangrove forests, ancient and historical relics, archaeological sites and colourful tribal life. Efforts are on to develop the attractive tourist spots further to promote tourism.
Dhaka, the capital city has an exciting history and exquisite cultural background. Dhaka is a well known centre of cultural activities. Founded in 1608, the city enjoyed the glory of being the capital of this land time and again. 
The country's biggest sea port and its second largest city, an ancient place, is known for more than a dozen shrines of Muslim saints incluing Hazrat Byazid Bostami and Hazrat Amanat Shah.
Founded in 1798 by Captain Hiram Cox of the East India Company Cox's Bazar known for its natural sea beach in the worlds considered the country's best tourist attraction. An unbroken stretch of golden sands rolls down into the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal in the fascinating backdrops of a long chain of green hills running parallel to the beach for about 100 kilometers. The tourist resort has modern motels, rest houses and some other facilities for visitors.
Tourists love to visit Rangamati and Kaptai situated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Rangamati with its vast lake and enchanting scenic beauty is a holiday spot. Rangamati with its rich tribal and colourful cultural life draws ,many tourists. Kaptai which sprangout of damning the Karnaphuli river, draws travellers from home and abroad, keen to catch glimpses of its picturesque surroundings.
The serene coral island, floating in the vast expanse of the blue sea off the coast of Chittagong, offers the tourists an opportunity to enjoy sunrise and sunset.
Known throughout the world as the natural home of the world famous Bengal Tigers, Sunderbans is the largest mangrove forest on the planet. Spread over an area of 6000 square KMs along the country's coastal belt of the Bay of Bengal on the Southwest, the Sunderbans remains a popular tourist spot. A network of rivers and creeks criss-cross the deltaic swamps with lush green vegetation. Sunderbans is a natural sanctuary of wild animals and birds. . The sight of a herd of spotted deer grazing leisurely its river banks, rivers coming out of the deep forests easily stirs one's imagination.
Known as the land of Hazrat Shah Jalal, the great saint who came to this part of the world to preach Islam. Sylhet is an attractive tourist spot with its beautiful hills and hillocks, terraced tea gardens, orange orchards, rivers and rivulets, stones rolling down the hills and an exotic touch of ethnic culture. Over 150 tea gardens of the area produce about 50 million kgs of tea a year, about 30 million kgs of it is exported after meeting the domestic requirement..
The eighth century relic is among the country's oldest archaeological sites, situated 12 KM off Bogra town in northern Bangladesh. Excavations have unearthed the ruins of the earliest known capital of ancient Bengal.
The ruins of the seventh century Buddhist monastery was discovered at the Mainamati-Lalmai ridge situated about eight kilometres west of Comilla town in a range of low hills. Once a famous seat of an important Buddhist culture. Large scale excavations there brought to light the history of Buddhist rulers who ruled independently as kings during the seventh and eighth centuries.
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