Identity Reconstruction of Subaltern English Learners : Language, Liberation, and Leadership in South Asia

This book presents a qualitative study of language learners in the Global South who overcame insurmountable odds to acquire the English language. Drawing on rich data from successful non-elite, or Subaltern, learners, it explores the intersection of leadership development and English acquisition, documenting their identity reconstruction and metamorphosis.

The authors provide a detailed overview of the position of English in the modern world as well as the unique historical relationship between the language and South Asia. They then examine the determination of marginalized individuals to acquire English and introduce the term Liberative Motivation to define their desire to break out of restrictive class/caste-based silos. Filling a crucial gap in the narrative of English in South Asia, they explore the influence that English acquisition has on Subaltern identity, leadership, and self-esteem. The participants’ stories are deeply moving, demonstrating that for the Subaltern, dignity, respect, inclusion, and an educated identity are near impossibilities without knowing English. The authors propose the ‘Subaltern Self-Determination and English Acquisition Framework’ to encapsulate the interplay of factors in the Subaltern’s journey toward English, and they argue that the denial of English education borders on the denial of a basic human right in our present reality.

A unique account of the learning experiences of Subaltern populations, this book is an essential read for scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students with interests in Subaltern studies, English language acquisition, identity, and leadership, and human rights.

Aamir Hasan holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University and a PhD from Western Michigan University. He has decades of professional experience across private elite and public non-elite schools, tertiary education, and the nonprofit sector. His work with refugees is extensive, and he is passionate about teaching English to marginalized and displaced people. Aamir's doctoral research focused on leadership development among underserved English learners, and he is currently developing a mission-driven organization, English for All, that aims to provide English instruction―particularly in spoken English―to vulnerable populations globally. He can be reached at aah835@mail.harvard.edu or at info@englishforall.org

Nadeem Hussain is a PhD in Public Policy candidate at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He has co-authored two books, The Economy of Modern Sindh: Opportunities Lost and Lessons for the Future, and Agents of Change: The Problematic Landscape of Pakistan K-12 Education and the People Leading the Change. Nadeem writes on a range of subjects covering governance, poverty, inequality, and social change. His areas of research interest include public finance, political economy, institutions, economic growth, and private sector development. He contributes op-eds to leading English newspapers.