The Hidden Losses of Over-Dependence on English English is often called the “language of opportunity.” It surely connects us to the world. But when a society gives too much importance to English, many individuals silently suffer. Here are a few real-life style stories (without names) that show how over-dependence on English damages confidence, careers, and culture. 1. The Village Student Who Lost His Dream A brilliant student from a small village studied in his mother tongue. He topped in maths and science at school. But when he appeared for competitive exams, he failed several times — not because he lacked knowledge, but because the question paper was in English. His dream of becoming an engineer was shattered. 2. The Job Seeker Rejected in Interview A young graduate had strong technical skills in computer programming. But in the job interview, he could not answer fluently in English. The interview panel rejected him, even though he was better than other candidates. His skills went unnoticed, just because of a language barrier. 3. The Employee with Low Confidence One employee in a multinational company did all his work sincerely. But during meetings, he kept quiet because discussions were in English. Slowly, his colleagues thought he was ‘not smart enough.’ He lost promotions, not because of lack of work, but because of lack of English fluency. 4. The Cultural Disconnection Many children today speak English at home and school, but forget their mother tongue. They can’t read or write their grandparents’ stories, poems, or songs. This weakens cultural roots and creates a disconnect between generations. Conclusion English is important, but it should not become the only measure of intelligence. Knowledge, talent, and character matter more than fluency. Over-dependence on English has silently destroyed dreams, reduced confidence, and weakened culture. The solution is balance: learn English for opportunities, but never forget the power of your mother tongue.