It’s really unfortunate that the common man in our country is largely deprived of the fruits of the digital revolution, because most computing in India is in English. But Harsh Kumar feels that divides are part of human existence, and since bridging of the digital divide is some way off, we should learn to live in peace with it

Recently, I attended an international conference at which one session was devoted to discuss the ‘Digital Divide’—the gap between those able to benefit by digital/information technologies and those who are not. One non-resident Indian professor from a US university discussed the different studies conducted in the USA on this issue. He discussed the digital divide between people in different age groups, regions, religions, socio-economic groups, etc.

He also elaborated on the efforts of the US government to tackle this issue and to reduce the gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’ Not surprisingly, Indians in the US were not on the wrong side of this divide. Unfortunately, a majority of Indians in India definitely are on the wrong side.

The problems due to the digital divide assume greater significance in our context because the language issue is very closely linked to it. Computers in India essentially have interfaces in English, a language that is spoken by only about 5 percent of the people. The remaining 95 percent have no opportunity to utilise information technology to the fullest and reap the rich dividends available.

Drastic action
Our problem is therefore, more acute. On the one hand we have digital divide problems on account of the ethnic/social/ cultural/economic differences between people within the English-speaking group, and on the other hand our major problem is that 95 percent of the population cannot even use computers because the language interface is unfathomable to them. This large majority, therefore, remains on the wrong side of the divide and will continue to remain there unless something drastic is done. Will all of them have to first learn English before using computers or will someone in the government or non-governmental organisations wake up those who matter and demand through agitation on the streets or petition to the courts demanding that computer access is made possible in Indian languages?

It is high time that the non-English-speaking common man demands a ‘level playing field’ vis-à-vis the English-speaking section of the country, and also in comparison with the citizens of other countries like China, Japan, Korea, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, etc. The citizens of these countries and many others have access to computers in their native languages, and therefore, they can join the mainstream and take advantage of advances in information technology. I also hope and pray that the plea for a level playing field gets as much importance, if not more, as the plea being made by the different confederations of industries against unfair competition from foreign companies.

We have to appreciate that tackling the issues surrounding the digital divide is very important, particularly for the welfare of our non-English speaking population, because unlike other technologies, infotech is not language neutral. Earlier, while harnessing other technologies, those few who knew English could study the relevant books and manuals and set-up the factory/plant and then many others would run it without knowing a word of English and still benefit from the technology. The same is difficult with computers, when the operating interfaces continue to be based on English alone.

Divides are everywhere
Of course divides have existed, and continue to exist, with all kinds of technologies. Printing technology was invented centuries ago but there still are people who cannot read or write. The automobile and railways were invented in the 19th century but even now there are regions where there are no roads or rails. The telephone and electricity were invented over a hundred years ago, yet there are people who do not have access to phones and there are millions who live in villages yet to be electrified. When the printing divide, electricity divide, transport divide and the phone divide have all existed for decades, it is perhaps over-ambitious to think that the digital divide can be eliminated.

At peace with IT
So, am I wrong in worrying so much about the digital divide? Divides have existed over the centuries, and continue to exist, and new ones will come up in the future. Moreover, the digital divide appears benign and it is not as fatal as the weapon-technology divide was during the 19th century. This divide has always played a decisive role during wars. While reading the book “Queen of Jhansi” by Mahasweta Devi, I learned that this divide was so pronounced in those days that in a particular battle close to 6,000 soldiers from our side died fighting the first war of independence, while the tally on the side of the East India Company stood at only four casualties and 15 wounded. Compared to this, the digital divide seems harmless; and if it’s here to stay we should learn how to live in peace with it.

I do hope some NGOs and IT companies take up studies in this area. I am making this genuine appeal because I am sure that no one will listen to the plea of the non-English-speaking common man for giving him a level playing field against the elite in our country and against the citizens of other countries.

Harsh Kumar is Advisor - IT at Hindustan Petroleum. He can be contacted at harshkumar@hpcl.co.in