The importance of linguistic diversity in Indian classrooms requires recognition as the present times mark an increase in job opportunities, migration and quality educational services. India is known for its cultural diversity, so why not the Indian classrooms be transformed to let diversity co-exist? As we are witnessing a paradigm shift, we need to address the issues of effectively managing linguistic diversity in Indian classrooms. 

Going by an article, research on 2400 languages shows that nearly half of the world’s language diversity is at risk. With more than 7000 languages existing around the world, what interests the linguists are differences among these in terms of grammar, cultures and knowledge structures. When such diversity is compromised by not getting passed on to children, language falls into a slumber eventually leading to its death. 

We are losing language at an alarming rate; we are losing linguistic diversity; the windows into our history are getting shut. Colonisation and globalisation have endangered indigenous languages. When a language is lost, an indigenous individual or a community severs ties with its ancestry and traditional body of knowledge. 

Further, linguists are of the opinion that when a language is lost, we lose grammatical diversity as well. Grammar is a set of rules of a particular language that sets sense apart from nonsense. A well-formed sentence in English requires tense. But that’s not the case in other languages. Several indigenous languages don’t go by the English grammatical rules but still stand correct. Keeping this fact that grammar changes from place to place and also with time, linguists aren’t interested in correct grammar and are more into studying the rules across the world to get an idea of how minds work and how the transfer of meaning takes place. Grambank is one such database that showcases a dazzling variety of languages around the world. With an extensive database of language grammar, we can study and answer as many research questions about grammar and how much grammatical diversity we stand to lose if the crisis isn’t stopped. 

Coming back to the current reality of Indian classrooms, it tends to favour one language, that is, English. Exacerbated by globalisation, it has led to its standardisation. When the knowledge embedded in folklore finds no utility outside, it tends to side itself with the roost in the power hierarchy. The homogenisation process is regrettably unstoppable given the association of English with economic opportunities. 

Not undermining this aspect of English, we must also throw light on the potential that bilingualism poses. Researchers are of the opinion that native languages can be used as a classroom resource. Teachers maintaining monolingualism must be made aware of the cognitive and linguistic advantages of bilingualism. Additionally, effective training must be provided in translanguaging practices that have been adopted in countries like Canada and the USA to accommodate all languages spoken in the classroom to counter linguistic hegemony by preserving linguistic heritage. 

An inclusive linguistic environment starts within a classroom- the smallest unit of the knowledge structure around the world. Translanguaging fosters active participation, dissolves power hierarchy, enables language sustenance and diversity and instils a sense of identity among students. The findings in the research should be implemented in classrooms to bridge the gap between research insights and practice. Extensive teacher training is imperative in enriching the cultural tapestry of India’s education system.