Latin and Roman languages were popular in their heyday because those empires exerted unparalleled influence and captured most civilisations of the time.
French gained popularity due to the influence of the European empire and more so the Roman Catholic system which inspired billions of followers.
English obviously doesn't need much of an explanation. It is currently THE global language because of the influence that UK once exerted through all of its colonies (India included) and following that the foundation of America- which went on to become (arguably) the greatest nation in the world.
Most people with foresight are already taking Mandarin lessons because indications are China will soon replace America as the new world leader. Chinese citizens have managed to form a truly diverse global society, partly because of their manufacturing scope and largely because of their population.
Despite the influence they exert though, the Chinese refuse to recognise English as the medium for communication. At least a majority settled in their own country either don't know even a little of this global language or outright refuse to speak it. It is their inherent pride in their culture and language and endearing stubbornness that has led people who hope to be world leaders or in the forefront in any other field, to look to Mandarin and perhaps learn it, despite its difficulty level and various dialects.
India too is on everyone minds and lips. It's the natural successor to China. The low labour costs combined with the fiercely increasing population indicate that we might in the foreseeable, if not immediate future be world leaders, and yet I see no one jumping to learn Hindi. That's because of the obvious lack of respect that we seem to display for our own mother tongue. In India a dying breed of minority takes pride in knowing and conversing in Hindi. Pride instead follows with perfect use of English. This is so sad because even though we are not a British colony any longer, we have very successfully internalised our inferiority by displaying pride in another country's language, just like we display pride in being fair, and use fairness creams, or ogle over Caucasians as if they are somehow better or higher up.
Hindi could've one day been a language that the world wanted to learn to converse in to be able to impress Indian entrepreneurs, pioneers, leaders. But it seems all it requires to impress Indians to is display that we are inferior, by anyone who has adapted the myth of Caucasian supremacy. Ironically I am a part of that problem, writing this very article in the language I am so unabashedly criticising because I am not eloquent enough in my mother tongue to adequately express myself.
Let's strive to take more pride in who we are and the language we speak and the world will be amazed to see us grow into what we have the potential to be.
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