“Learning from roots” Language , culture and community in practice Experiences from Multilingual Classrooms of Odisha

ISBN: 978-9-34-785985-4

Publication Date: March 21, 2026

Format: Paperback

Language: English

Pages: 384

Edition: 18

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Learning from Roots: Language, Culture and Community in Practice is an insightful and deeply grounded exploration of Multilingual Education (MLE) within the tribal and multilingual contexts of Odisha. Situated at the intersection of education and anthropology, the book brings together research, policy analysis, and lived classroom experiences to present a nuanced understanding of how language shapes learning.

The narrative traces the evolution of multilingual education programmes—from conceptual foundations and policy design to implementation in real classrooms and engagement with local communities. It addresses critical challenges such as language discontinuity between home and school, the marginalization of indigenous languages, and the broader question of educational equity.

Drawing from field-based insights, the book emphasizes the importance of recognizing and integrating community knowledge systems into formal education. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all model, it offers context-sensitive reflections that can inform adaptation in diverse multilingual settings across India and beyond.

This work invites readers to rethink schooling as a process that must listen to and learn from the linguistic and cultural realities of children. It is not merely a documentation of a programme but a call to make education more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the voices of communities often left unheard