Influence of Foreign Languages & Literature on Indian Languages
Art & Culture › Language & Literature · Topic 9.21
Foreign languages influenced Indian languages through contact by trade, conquest and religion. Persian and Arabic, spread by the Delhi Sultanate and Mughals, gave thousands of words in administration and law and helped create Urdu. Portuguese brought printing to Goa in 1556 and words such as almirah and balti. English, promoted by Macaulay's Minute of 1835 and Wood's Despatch of 1854, introduced the novel, short story, essay, free verse and journalism into Indian languages, and Indian English writing now wins international prizes. India also gave back: the Panchatantra went to Persia and Europe, and Sanskrit and Pali spread across Asia.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Language & Literature
At a Glance
- Main sources Persian, Arabic, Turkic, Portuguese, English
- Printing in India Goa, 1556
- English education Macaulay 1835, Wood 1854
- Indian English Tagore Nobel 1913 and Booker winners
- Reverse flow Panchatantra, Sanskrit, Pali abroad
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Language & Literature
Where Does It Fit?
This is the last topic of the macro on language and literature. It looks across all the languages covered before it, and shows how contact with outside languages changed vocabulary, forms and genres. Previous topic: Urdu Literature. Next topic: Metallurgy (Iron Pillar of Delhi, Harappan Bronze Work).
How Did Each Foreign Language Influence Indian Languages?
| Language | Period and influence | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Persian and Arabic | 13th to 19th century; administration, law, courts, poetry, Sufism | kitab, dukan, zamin, kalam, daftar, diwan, farman, pargana; Urdu |
| Turkic and Chagatai | Delhi Sultanate and Mughal courts; military and court terms | bahadur, tope, begum, khan, Baburnama |
| Portuguese | From 1498; Goa, Kerala, Bengal | almirah, balti, chabi, pav, mez, padre, batata |
| Dutch and French | 17th and 18th century; coastal trade | Few lasting words; Dutch and French influence stayed local |
| English | From the 18th century; administration, education, law, media | school, station, doctor, railway, court, committee |
| Others | Greek, Chinese, Tibetan and Southeast Asian contacts | Scattered words; origins of some are disputed |
What Did English Education and Printing Change?
| Event or factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Printing, Goa 1556 | The Portuguese printed the first books in India; Tamil books were printed by Jesuits at Kollam in 1578 |
| Serampore Mission and Fort William College (1800) | William Carey printed in many Indian languages; Fort William College encouraged prose in Bengali, Hindi and Urdu |
| Macaulay’s Minute (1835) | English made the medium of higher education |
| Wood’s Despatch (1854) | Led to universities at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1857 |
| New genres | Novel, short story, essay, drama, free verse and literary criticism entered Indian languages |
| Press | Newspapers and magazines in Indian languages grew in the 19th century |
| Indian English | Tagore (Nobel 1913), R. K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai |
| Hobson-Jobson | A glossary of Anglo-Indian words by Yule and Burnell (1886) |
| International recognition | Geetanjali Shree’s Tomb of Sand won the International Booker Prize in 2022, and Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp won it in 2025 |
What Else Should You Remember?
- Alternate view: Contact is two-way, so scholars speak of language contact and borrowing, not simple influence
- Persian in daily speech: Words such as khabar, saal, hawa and kitab are in everyday Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi and Marathi
- Urdu: Urdu itself is the main product of Persian-Indian contact, as in Urdu Literature
- Indian words in English: English took words such as jungle, bungalow, pyjamas, shampoo, loot, verandah and juggernaut from Indian languages
- Panchatantra abroad: It was translated into Pahlavi in the sixth century and Arabic as Kalila wa Dimna, and then reached Europe
- Sanskrit in Asia: Sanskrit and Pali shaped the languages and scripts of Southeast Asia, such as Thai, Khmer and Javanese
- Orientalists: William Jones founded the Asiatic Society in 1784 and proposed the link between Sanskrit and European languages
- Missionary role: Missionaries compiled dictionaries and grammars, such as Gundert for Malayalam and Caldwell for Dravidian languages
- Dravidian comparison: Robert Caldwell wrote the Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian Languages (1856), which showed that Tamil and others form a separate family
- Linguistic Survey: George Grierson led the Linguistic Survey of India from 1898 to 1928
- Concerns: Critics argue that English dominance weakens Indian languages in schools and jobs, while others see it as a link language
- Policy: The three-language formula and the National Education Policy 2020 stress mother tongue instruction and multilingualism
- Heritage links: Foreign-language manuscripts are conserved under National Mission on Manuscripts
- Related: Persian contact is covered in Persian Literature
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Loanwords: Portuguese and Persian examples
- Printing and education: Goa 1556, Fort William 1800, Macaulay 1835, Wood 1854
- New genres: Novel and short story from English models
- Reverse flow: Panchatantra to Persia and Europe
- Common errors: crediting Macaulay with the Despatch of 1854 or placing printing in Bengal first
As an analytical point, Indian languages absorbed foreign words and forms and grew richer from them, but unequal power of English in education and jobs is a challenge. A multilingual policy that values mother tongues alongside English serves both access and heritage.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Factual Dates and loanwords
- Modern history Education policy
- Policy Multilingualism
What Came Next?
This closes the macro on language and literature. Next topic: Metallurgy (Iron Pillar of Delhi, Harappan Bronze Work).
Key People and Terms
- Loanword Borrowed word
- Macaulay’s Minute 1835 English education
- Despatch 1854 education plan
- Link language Common language
- Hobson-Jobson Anglo-Indian glossary
- Orientalist Scholar of Eastern languages
Related Topics in Maarg Manthan
Study this topic together with these linked topics from other subjects.
- Linguistic Background – Language Families of India (Ancient History)
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- First press in India: Goa, 1556.
- Fort William College: 1800.
- Macaulay: 1835; Wood: 1854.
- Tagore Nobel: 1913.
- Panchatantra reached Persia and Europe.
Do Not Confuse With
- Macaulay’s Minute and Wood’s Despatch 1835 medium decision versus 1854 education plan
- Persian and Arabic words Different sources, often mixed
- Hobson-Jobson and Linguistic Survey Glossary versus survey
Memory Hook
Persian for courts, Portuguese for press, English for new genres.
Mains Angle
Questions ask whether foreign languages enriched or threatened Indian languages. These points give a balanced frame.
- Enrichment Vocabulary and new genres
- Threats English dominance
- Policy Mother tongue and multilingualism
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Assess the impact of foreign languages on the growth of modern Indian languages and literature.”
How to Answer
- Contact Persian, Portuguese, English.
- Gains Words, genres, press.
- Concerns Power of English.
- Way Balanced policy.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
How did foreign languages influence Indian languages?
Foreign languages influenced Indian languages through loanwords, new literary forms and printing. Persian and Arabic gave administrative and cultural words and helped create Urdu, Portuguese brought printing and everyday words, and English introduced the novel, short story, essay and modern journalism.
Who introduced printing in India?
The Portuguese introduced the printing press in India at Goa in 1556. Jesuits then printed books in Tamil at Kollam in 1578, and later the Serampore Mission under William Carey printed books in many Indian languages. Printing helped standardise prose and spread newspapers.
What was the effect of Macaulay's Minute and Wood's Despatch?
Macaulay's Minute of 1835 made English the medium of higher education, and Wood's Despatch of 1854 led to the founding of universities at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1857. They created an English-educated class and brought Western genres such as the novel into Indian literature.
Did Indian languages influence other languages?
Yes. The Panchatantra was translated into Pahlavi in the sixth century and then into Arabic and European languages. Sanskrit and Pali shaped languages in Southeast Asia, and English borrowed words such as jungle, bungalow, pyjamas, shampoo and loot from Indian languages.
Why is this topic important for UPSC?
Prelims asks about loanwords, the dates of printing and education policies, and Indian English writers. Mains uses it for the interaction of cultures, the colonial education system and the debate on English versus mother tongue, and it is a good topic for balanced analysis.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The first printing press in India was set up by the Portuguese at Goa.
In 1556.
2 Macaulay's Minute was issued in 1854.
It was 1835; Wood's Despatch was 1854.
3 The Panchatantra was translated into Pahlavi.
In the sixth century.
4 Fort William College was founded in 1800.
At Calcutta.
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