In India’s changing educational landscape, literature isn’t just for language or exam scores—it’s becoming central to building critical thinking skills. Literature’s power comes from its complexity: stories bring moral dilemmas, flawed characters, and multiple perspectives. When students engage with such texts, they are forced to interpret meanings that aren’t immediately obvious, to ask why rather than accept what’s given. This trains them to read between lines, spot bias or contradictions, and consider diverse worldviews.

The article argues that literature supports empathy too—by stepping into another’s shoes, students better understand different cultures, social issues, and histories. As India’s NEP 2020 and assessment reforms emphasize inquiry, reasoning, and analytical thinking, literature becomes a natural tool for those aims. Practically, that could mean introducing more varied texts, encouraging classroom discussions, reflective writing, and resisting rote learning. Teachers should guide students in evaluating texts, asking questions, and forming their own interpretations rather than memorizing summaries. Ultimately, literature’s role in classrooms is about shaping thinkers—not just readers—and preparing students for a complex world.