Teaching and Learning English Language and Literature in India: Existential Humanities in the 21st Century Classroom

This book re-orients and enriches the existing teaching and learning processes of English language and literature in an Indian context. It foregrounds and critiques the relevance of existential humanities in the classroom (both pedagogy and research), re-contextualizes classroom interactions with reference to everyday lived experiences and ethical choices, and fosters critical humanistic thinking among teachers and learners. It offers a unique perspective on existentialism drawn from various cultures by intertwining it with Indian cultural and philosophical underpinnings, enabling readers worldwide to appreciate the diversity of existential thought. This book introduces lesser-known non-Indian as well as Indian literary works to a global audience, highlighting how existentialism permeates and connects various genres and styles of global writing. It provides insights into how language nuances convey existential ideas in diverse linguistic contexts, encouraging a deeper understanding of how existentialism transcends language barriers. Through a comparative lens, this book enables readers to compare and integrate Indian existential themes with those from other cultural and literary landscapes. It equips educators worldwide with tools to incorporate diverse existential perspectives into classroom discussions, fostering a broader understanding of human experiences across cultures.

This book foregrounds the crisis facing the teaching and learning of language, literature, humanities and social sciences in the post-truth era. It establishes the crucial need to re-invigorate these domains for a truly inclusive, progressive and harmonious society. Most importantly, this volume offers crucial classroom strategies, practical lesson plans and precious insights from classroom experience to teachers and researchers. 

Dr. Kaniphnath Malhari Kudale is a distinguished scholar and educator in English Studies. He holds a B.A.in English and M.A. in English from the University of Pune (now Savitribai Phule Pune University, SPPU) and a Ph.D. from The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad. His doctoral research, “Orality and Cultural Resistance: Exploring Dhangar Folklore Praxis of Western Maharashtra,” reflects his deep engagement with indigenous knowledge and oral traditions. He has taught at Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, MREC Hyderabad (Now M R deemed to be University Hyderabad), the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal, and SR University, Warangal, and currently serves as Associate Professor of English at Guru Nanak Institutions Technical Campus (GNITC), JNTU Hyderabad. Dr. Kaniphnath has published six books, including Trauma and Memory: Reflections Beyond Boundaries (Springer Nature), several Springer chapters, and numerous papers in reputed journals such as Routledge, Elsevier, and Sage. Assistant Editor of the International Journal of English Research, he is also associated with the International Ecolinguistics Society and the Research India Foundation. He is the Founder of Sharayu EduPro, EduuMentu'U' fostering innovative learning and global academic collaboration.(sharayuedupro.in)  (https://www.eduumentuu.com)

Dr. Rositta Joseph Valiyamattam is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, U.K. A gold medallist and PhD (UGC Senior Research Fellow) in English literature from Andhra University, she served as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities, University of Edinburgh, U.K. She has taught for over 12 years at prestigious institutions including St Joseph’s College for Women and GITAM University, Visakhapatnam where she was Head of the MA English programme. A consultant Editor with Orient BlackSwan India, she is also Cambridge English facilitator at Sancta Maria International School, Hyderabad. Having specialised in Post-Colonial and Subaltern Studies, Dr. Rositta completed a research project on the agency of Mumbai's slum-dwelling women during the Bombay Riots, under the guidance of renowned sociologist Prof Patricia Jeffery, University of Edinburgh, UK.  Dr. Rositta's first volume of poetry 'A Poet's Promise' (2025, Black Eagle, USA) has received a warm reception globally. Her doctoral research 'Personal and National Destinies in Independent India: A Study of Selected Indian English Novels' was published by Cambridge Scholars, UK in 2016. She has also published two English textbooks for the Universities of Pune and Madras with Orient BlackSwan India, apart from two edited volumes, over 40 academic publications and 30 paper presentations at global platforms. She has been a prolific columnist for  several national magazines and news websites. She is the recipient of two best research paper awards from IIM Kozhikode (2021) and NIT Warangal (2024). She volunteers with NGOs for education and women’s empowerment, apart from mentoring students for prestigious global programmes such as ISP-MUN and IAYP and running a YouTube Channel on Communication Skills and Personality Development since 2021. (Website: www.rosittajoseph.com)

Dr. Rupesh Kotte is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Cultural Studies at Christ (Deemed to be University), Central Campus, Bangalore, and a Civitas Dei Alumni Board Member at the Institute for Human Ecology, Catholic University of America, USA. Formerly, he served as Head of the Department of English and Associate Dean for Mentoring and Advising at SR University, Warangal. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and India Studies from the English and Foreign Languages University (formerly CIEFL), Hyderabad, and has presented at international conferences hosted by St. John’s College, Oxford University, and the University of Leeds. A recipient of the Champion of Dignity Award from the World Youth Alliance and the National Youth Award from ICYM, he has represented India at global youth dialogues. He has also received travel grants to attend the Bergen Summer Research School at the University of Bergen, Norway, and the Civitas Dei Fellowship at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., USA. His research explores the intersections of literature, philosophy, and the ethics of plurality, with a particular focus on phenomenology and existentialism. He is currently working on a collection of short stories for children that blend moral insight with the timeless charm of fables.

Dr. Veerya Nayak Gugulothu is a scholar and an academician with extensive experience in the field of English Language Teaching. He holds a Ph.D. and an M.Phil. in English Language Education from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, India, with a Masters degree in English from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. His professional journey covers various roles, including Assistant Professor at Kamala Institute of Technology and Science, Singapur, India, and Lecturer at Goutham Degree and PG College, Hanumakonda. Throughout his career, he has excelled in teaching, research, and academic leadership, demonstrating proficiency in subject material preparation, classroom management, and online teaching. He has received special appreciation and awards for his outstanding performance and contributions from various organizations, in particular for his extension lectures and invited talks.