This volume is a collection of scholarly papers that explore the complex issues concerning English Studies in the present Indian context. The discussions in this volume range from historical perspectives to classroom-specific pedagogies, from sociological and political hierarchies to the dynamics of intellectual development in the English language environment. Interrogating both policy and practice pertaining to English Studies in the context of Indian society, culture, history, literature and governance, the chapters seek to formulate contemporary perspectives to these debates and envision alternative possibilities. Since the introduction of English to India more than 2 centuries ago, the language has transmuted the very fabric of Indian society, culture, history, literature and governance. The idea of India cannot be conceived in its entirety without taking into consideration the epistemological role that English has played in its formation. The present globalized world order has added dimensions to English Studies which are radically different from those of India’s colonial and postcolonial past. It is therefore imperative that the multitudinous shades and shadows of the discipline be re-examined with inputs drawn from the present context. This volume is for scholars and researchers of English literature and language studies, linguistics, and culture studies, and others interested in exploring new paradigms of engagement with the disciplinary formulation of English Studies in India.

This book examines the status of English Studies in India, aspirations pinned on the subject by students, teachers, policy-makers and society in general, and how these are addressed at the higher education level. It presents analytical background discussions of the history and policy environment, and offers open-ended, multi-faceted and multi-vocal accounts of particular aspects of contemporary Indian English Studies, including curriculum, pedagogy, research, employment, relation to Indian vernaculars and translation studies. Reconsidering English Studies in Indian Higher Education is an invaluable source for anyone interested in: The relevant histories and higher education policies Professional concerns, including employment, management, teaching and scholarly practices, and negotiations in terms of socio-cultural life Student attitudes, experiences and aspirations Management ethos and academic work in a comparative perspective, informed by the situation and debates in the United Kingdom and United States of America The context of global English Studies and globalization The book will be of primary interest to academic readers such as students, teachers and researchers in English Studies in India, Britain and wherever the discipline is pursued at higher education level Suman Gupta is Professor and Chair in Literature and Cultural History at The Open University. Richard Allen is Professor Emeritus at the Department of English at The Open University. Subarno Chattarji is Associate Professor at the Department of English, University of Delhi. Supriya Chaudhuri is Professor Emeritus at the Department of English, Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

• The book focuses on the teaching of English language and current studies in the pedagogy of language in Indian schools • It discusses issues of (second) language acquisition and learning, ELT studies, literacy studies and critical pedagogies in language and literature. • Will be of interest to teachers of secondary and higher secondary schools, teacher educators, curriculum designers and developers of language, teacher education institutions, departments of education and those working in the areas of language education and literacy across US and UK

Right from its formal introduction in India in 1835, through Thomas B. Macaulay’s Minute, English has been intrinsically linked with the employment prospects of Indians. During their regime, the British promoted English education to fulfil the requirement of English-knowing Indians for administrative purposes. Owing to globalization, the last few years have witnessed the opening up of thousands of lucrative job opportunities for graduates proficient in English. English has gained importance in India as the language of opportunities. In colonial India, English education was a passport to government jobs, while in the twenty-first century, proficiency in English is essential for private sector jobs. This book examines the development of curricula in English in Indian universities vis-a-vis the needs of second language learners studying in Special English programmes of Bachelor of Arts (BA). It also reflects on how globalization has strengthened the connection between English and employment.

With globalization, English has become an economic necessity and Indians have realized that they have the 'English advantage' over many other countries like China and Japan. India has shed its colonial complexes towards English and has come to terms with the language; Indians have separated the English language from the English. The Story of English in India presents historical facts in a socio-cultural framework. The book is a must for all teachers and students of English; it will be useful for all those interested in the politics of language and education in India. Key issues discussed: - Are we indebted to the British for introducing English in India? - What was the role of English during India's struggle for freedom? - Has English united India? - Has English divided India into two - the English knowing classes who govern and the non-English knowing masses who are governed? - Will English ever become an Indian tongue spoken in the great Indian language bazaar? - What will be the future of major Indian languages in the wake of the English onslaught? Will it end in linguistic imperialism and cultural colonialism?

A classic work in postcolonial studies, Masks of Conquest describes the introduction of English studies in India under British rule and illuminates the discipline's transcontinental movements and derivations, showing that the origins of English studies are as diverse and diffuse as its future shape. In her new preface, Gauri Viswanathan argues forcefully that the curricular study of English can no longer be understood innocently of or inattentively to the imperial contexts in which the discipline first articulated its mission.

Futures for English Studies brings together chapters by leading writers across the curriculum area of English to investigate how the component parts of English (literature, language, and creative writing) are located institutionally in higher education and to explore the interdisciplinary prospects of a subject which spans the humanities and social sciences. Through explorations of changing foci in a variety of contexts, the book examines the value and purpose of teaching and researching English language, literature and creative writing in the twenty-first century, both within Anglophone countries and the wider world. The contributors, all practicing educators and researchers in the field, bring a wide range of perspectives to the theme of the development of the discipline, and illustrate that the strengths of English Studies as an academic subject lie not only in its traditional breadth and depth, but also in a readiness to adapt, experiment, and engage with other subjects.